Only one

First, check out this article on Fox News about faith in America.

Is anyone else as disturbed as I am by it? I find it appalling that so many people of faith--whatever that faith might be-- think that there are alternative paths to heaven. Our culture is so concerned with tolerance that we've abandoned Truth; we don't want to offend, so instead of boldly sharing our beliefs, we apologize for them, as if believing them is criminal.

Now, I don't claim to be a theologian, but I am a believer, a daughter of Christ, and I know what the Bible teaches. So when I hear that a vast majority of believers think there are multiple paths to one destination, I can't help but get riled up.

Consider some of the claims:
1. All roads lead to heaven.
-Uh, no, they don't. As the article referenced, Jesus states, "I am the way, the truth, and the light; no one comes to the father except through me." Now, if we believe that the Bible is God's Truth, then we have to believe this statement by Christ. We can't just pick and choose what we want to believe; if we do that, then we're basing our faith on lies and personal opinion. Faith then becomes us-centered rather than God-centered.
-If all roads lead to heaven, then why bother believing? Seriously. Why not just do away with religion and faith all together if they all have the same result? Sound absurd? Of course it does! It's like too many kids' sporting competitions these days; we can't say that one team won the division or the championship because it might hurt everyone else's feelings. But when we negate the joy of winning, we negate the purpose of the game. Hard work, perseverance, determination, team work, and even graciousness all become obsolete. Isn't that what happens when we equalize all religions?
As a believer in Christ, I know how difficult it is to walk with Him daily; faith is hard work. I'm not perfect, and I never will be, but I know that I must persevere. Through perseverance, God will develop my character and my faith. Challenges to my faith and character (just like an opposing team in a sporting event) push me to trust in the Truth; I know that my Coach won't tell me wrong. He has the team's best interest at heart. Fellow believers develop the ability to work together, just like a team. Independently, we can do nothing; but together, in Christ, we are strong. When we encourage each other in our walks with God, when we hold one another accountable, when we support one another in the challenging times, we as a team win. For in those moments, we demonstrate the awesome power of God in our lives and His ability to bring such diverse people together. But what about graciousness? That leads me to the next point...

2. God is gracious, so that's why He provides many paths to heaven.
-Yes, God is gracious, however, grace is extended to only those who have accepted it. Grace cannot be earned, yet many other religions teach that it must. For them, salvation is about what one can earn, and, in a sense, about hierarchy. Yet, grace is undeserved forgiveness. Grace depends solely on the giver; the beneficiary can do nothing but accept or reject it. That's why Christianity is so different from other religions. God's given us the ultimate pass; He sacrificed His only Son so that we might be forgiven. If, and only if, we accept that Truth, can we actually receive His grace.
-What bothers me is that too often people misinterpret what it means to be gracious. Grace doesn't mean tolerance; grace involves holding firm to a set of beliefs and then extending a pass (of a sort) to those who realize that they've violated those beliefs. We can't earn it; we can't buy it. I am as sinful as the next person, and there's nothing I can do to earn grace, but because I know that I am sinful, I can accept God's gift. He's given me an escape route, even though I don't deserve it.
-The other problem with this argument is that those who use it forget to mention that there are also consequences for our actions. Grace doesn't mean that all is fine. God forgives me for my sins, however, I do have to accept the consequences for my actions. For example, a parent might forgive a child for lying, but that child must now rebuild his parent's trust. He might also be punished for a time for lying. That doesn't negate the forgiveness, it just means that there are consequences.

3. A truly just God would not willingly condemn people to hell.
-Again, people who believe this statement do not understand the nature of God. Yes, God is just. He is fair. And ultimately, He wants what is best for us. But in His infinite justice, He has given us free will. We can choose whether or not we will accept His Son as our Saviour. Only a just God would give us a choice; an unjust God would mandate belief.
-A just God honors our decisions, even when they hurt Him. Our choice is salvation through Jesus Christ or some other alternative. If we choose salvation, then we will one day fellowship with God in heaven. If we choose the alternative, then we choose to be separated from Him. Why is that not just? He's honored our decision, even though it upsets Him. It's like in the classroom; if a student has a vocabulary quiz, he can choose to study or not to. If he studies, he will earn a good grade. This, of course, makes me happy. However, if he doesn't study, he will fail. Though that disappoints me, as an educator, I have to "honor" that decision by awarding the student the failing grade. Does that make me unjust?

Being a believer and follower of Christ does not mean that I'm intolerant; I respect those who firmly hold to their faith. However, I want others to share in my belief because I know, without a doubt, that there's only one way to salvation. I've received this wonderful, amazing gift that is offered to everyone, so why would I not want to share it? If I believe so passionately in this Truth, then doesn't it make sense that I would reject any other paths? Doesn't it make sense that I would want others to experience it, too?

Besides, if faith in Christ is wrong, what have I to lose? Nothing. But what about those who don't believe in Christ? What if they're wrong? What have they to lose? Everything.