Why Is Christianity So Exclusive? - Does Christianity Still Make Sense?

Over the years, I’ve had lots of conversational encounters with different non-believers. If you have some non-believing friends yourself, it won’t take long before you hear the objection that Christianity is too exclusive. For many people, as I’ve heard them say it, getting to heaven is like climbing a mountain. There’s not just one way. Lots of paths will get you there. While that’s true for climbing a mountain, it’s not the case for getting to heaven. There are not several paths leading to our eternal destination. This line of thinking is rooted in religious pluralism. And that’s not foreign to our culture. In fact, one of the reasons God’s people went into captivity was because they sought to adopt the gods of the surrounding nations. God wasn’t a fan of religious pluralism then, nor is he now. Religious pluralists can be detected through statements such as these:

“It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere.”
“As long as it works for you and makes you happy, that’s what counts.”
“There is no such thing as ultimate (or absolute) truth.”
“There are many ways to God.”
“It’s rude to say one person’s religion is better than another’s.”
“It takes everyone’s truth to equal the truth.”
“What makes you think your religion is right and everyone else’s is wrong?”
“Only narrow-minded people believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven.”
“It would be unfair for there to be only one way to heaven.”

Do any of these statements sound familiar? I trust they do. That’s because sentiments like these express the mindset of many Americans in our culture today. Here’s what we need to know: Religious pluralists are more than ready to raise their objections against Christianity. The real question is are we ready to furnish them with answers? All truth claims are exclusive. That doesn’t mean the claims are true, but what is claimed to be true by others is exclusive, even if it seems inclusive. For example, the polytheist who believes in many gods will say you’re wrong if you believe in one God or no gods. Isn’t that exclusive? Atheists are exclusive, believing in no God or gods, and they’ll say you’re wrong if you claim there is a God or many gods. Isn’t that exclusive? Even the pluralist is exclusive and will say you’re wrong if you don’t adopt pluralism. Isn’t that exclusive? You get the point. The question comes down to this: Is Christianity true? If it is, then yes, Christianity is exclusive, because by definition whatever is true excludes whatever is opposed to it. But here’s the key: While Christianity is exclusive in its claims to be true, it’s universally inclusive with its invitation to everyone to believe those claims. Just some food for thought.

Thought to Chew On:

Truth claims are by nature exclusive, in that they exclude false claims. A circle is round and therefore not square. You get the point.

Scripture Passages:

• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
• There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
• I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God (Isaiah 45:5).