Do All Religions Lead To God?
Do all religions lead to God? Why is Christianity so ‘exclusive’? To answer this question, first, we need to explain why there are so many religions in the world.
If you live in Asia, as I do, you will be surrounded by people of different faiths. Unlike the West, where the existence of God is hotly debated, in Asia, almost everyone believes in a god or gods.Why does man seek to give recognition to a power or powers beyond himself?
God says in Isaiah 43:21:
the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
Man was created to worship God. But the Fall has alienated man from God.
However, God has put eternity in our hearts (cf. Ecc. 3:11). This means that we have a sense of eternity in our lives; we possess an innate knowledge that there is something more to life than what we can see and experience in the here and now. The quest for 'something more to life' has led man to seek a relationship with a higher power or powers. But why didn't their search lead them to God of the Bible? Instead, why are there so many religions?
The answer is found in Romans 1:19-21.
For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day. Rom. 1:19-21 {TLB]
Paul says human beings can know and see God's truth because God has made it known to man. But because of man's inherited sinful and rebellious nature, many people reject God's truth and seek their own way to understand Him instead of accepting and submitting to it. Here is where we find the basis of "many religions.” Many people do not want to believe in a God who demands righteousness and morality. They do not want to believe in a God who declares it impossible to earn a place in heaven. They do not want to seek a relationship with a God who is sovereign and omnipotent. They prefer to believe that God is some aloof mystical force that accepts people into heaven if they follow certain rules, obey certain laws, and/or follow certain steps.
The existence of so many religions is a demonstration of humanity's rejection of the one true God. Before the Fall, God created man in His own image. After the Fall, man created god in his own image. We've replaced Him with gods we like.
The born-again Christian, however, is confident in the divine revelation which is his/her duty and privilege to proclaim.
[Divine revelation - God has revealed Himself through nature (Romans 1:18-21; Psalms 19); through providential dealings (Romans 8:28); through miracles (John 2:11); through direct communication (Acts 22:17-21); through Christ (John 1:14; and in the ultimate sense, through the Bible (1 John 5:9-12), for no knowledge of Christ (who is the image of God) can be acquired except through the Scripture, which testifies of Him (John 5).]
Christians understand that every man, whatever his religion, race, or moral virtue, is a sinner and sin always alienates man from a Holy God. So, all of us alike need forgiveness, and all of us stand in need of a Saviour. After all, a sinful man can never save himself or anyone else. It is precisely this point, that the New Testament is most unequivocal, for Jesus Himself is reported as saying:
'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' – John 14:6.
Do all religions lead to God? Since Jesus is the only Way, and the only Truth, and the only Life, then the answer to this question is, no. This is the stand of any Bible-believing Christian who is held captive by the Word. And because Christians take this stand, Christians are vilified for being intolerable and disrespectful. As the world talks about inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, Christianity can seem embarrassingly behind the times, ignorant, unenlightened, and archaic.
Let's think about this. If God could have dealt with man's sin and its consequences in any other way, wouldn't God have spared His Son the agony of Calvary? Surely that would make no sense if all religions lead to God. For this reason, Christians cannot compromise the gospel to which they are committed.
By the way, is Christianity the only religion that claims exclusivity? No. All major religions are exclusive, because they have irreconcilable differences.The heart of every religion is uncompromising commitment to a particular way of defining who God is or isn't, and accordingly, what life is all about.Therefore, the notion that Christianity is the only religion that claims exclusivity is, therefore, incorrect.
Jesus is worthy of my worship. I have found no other being in the universe who compels my adoration as He has done.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your tender mercies and unfailing love. Thank You for providing a way for sinners to be reconciled back to You. Thank You for enlightening our hearts to say “yes” to You when You called us.
Father, we know that it is Your desire that all people be saved and understand the truth. We confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the only gate by which people are saved.
Gracious Father, we cry out to You to clear the way so that Your Gospel may be preached in every city, state, country, and continent. Since the harvest is plentiful, continue to send laborers to proclaim Your Word of salvation to the unsaved. We ask You to remove the scales that keep our unsaved family members, friends and those who consider us as enemies, from seeing Your goodness and faithfulness. Surround them with the counsel of the godly so that they acknowledge their sinful nature, seek repentnece, and recieve the Only Way, into their lives.
Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to You, the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.