The Frustration of Exclusivity

On Thursday evening, during a casual conversation about religious issues, a friend remarked, "I just don't like those religious people who think their religion is the only right one. It is frustrating." I hear this type of statement quite often and want to offer the reasoning behind Christianity's claim to be an exclusive religion, i.e., the only way to God.

Before offering the reasoning, however, it is important to note one key issue. My arguments are based on an understanding of the Bible that the book is indeed God's word to humanity. Though God's word to humanity was given through fallible human authors, the message was given through the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 3:16-17) and the text is, therefore, without error (inerrant) and does not fail in what it teaches (infallible). The text of the Bible is something to be taken extremely seriously as it deals with the eternal state of men and women.

The arguments for the exclusive nature of Christianity come, as one would expect, from the Bible. Two main texts are usually used in reference to the exclusivity to Christianity: John 14:6 and Acts 4:12.

First is Jesus' statement as recorded in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me." Here, Jesus says he himself is the way to God the Father. Christians from all times throughout history have understood this verse to mean, simply, that Jesus is the only way to God the Father since Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life. Notice Jesus does not say a way, a truth, and a life, meaning that other ways exist. The definite article here indicates exclusivity.

Second is Peter's statement recorded in Acts 4:12. Caiaphas, Annas, John, Alexander, and those who were of high-priestly genealogy were questioning Peter and John concerning some of their actions. At one point, Peter, speaking with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8), said to the religious leaders, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." We know from Acts 4:11 that Peter is speaking about Jesus in verse 12 making Jesus the only name given under heaven through which salvation is possible. This is, like John 14:6, a very exclusive message.

From these key texts, and numerous others, comes the exclusive understanding of Christianity. Though this may be frustrating to some who hold to a more relativistic form of religion ("True for you but not for me"), this is the clear teaching of the Bible.

Next post: the intolerance of tolerance.