The Only Way

Christmas: a celebration of the coming of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, but One who is rejected by most of its inhabitants, as they pursue other spiritual pathways or none at all. From a Christian perspective, false religions are those that deny the divinity of Jesus and His claim to be the only way of reconciliation with Father God. Each time Jesus alluded to His divinity, as He walked on the Earth, the religious leaders became particularly angry and sought to kill Him. His claims remain the major stumbling blocks today for those of other world faiths.

Our attitude to this world needs to be gracious but uncompromising when it comes to the foundational tenets of Christian belief. We can show respect for the sincerity of those with a different belief, but we are not called to show respect for what they believe, for this simply gives endorsement to a spiritual pathway that is leading them to destruction.

And there is another caution to observe: false religious practices within Christianity, which can be defined as any practice within the Church that is deemed to be needed for our salvation, beyond a simple surrender to Jesus and His teaching. This is what Paul was seeing in the churches of Galatia as they sought to follow certain pointless rituals that were actually giving opportunity to the enemy. The gospel message is clear: Jesus is the only way and following Him is all that He asks of us.