Are All Religions a Path to God?

“All religions are a path to God,” declared Pope Francis as he spoke to an interfaith youth assembly in a recent visit to Singapore.

Francis’ further added, “If you start to fight: My religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t. Where will that lead us?” as reported by a Catholic news outlet Crux.

The Pope then used this analogy. “Each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and they are different paths [to God].”

Not surprisingly, the Pope has received criticism from both Catholic and Protestant leaders.

US Christian commentator Billy Hallowell wrote in The Washington Times: “The pontiff tossed petrol on the proverbial flames of concern when he went off-script, delivering a head-scratching monologue seen by some as undermining the Christian Gospel.”

Reacting to the Pope’s comments, Bishop Joseph Strickland, who oversaw the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tyler, Texas, until his dismissal by the Vatican last year, said in a social media post: “Please pray for Pope Francis to clearly state that Jesus Christ is the only Way. To deny this is to deny Him. If we deny Christ, He will deny us, He cannot deny Himself.”

Yesterday’s headline in a post by Cal Thomas, a conservative Evangelical columnist bluntly read: THE POPE IS WRONG (AGAIN). Regarding the Pope’s assertion, Thomas wrote, “Where to begin to deconstruct this nonsense?” First, if all Faiths are equal, why did Jesus have to die? He could have stayed in heaven and avoided the pain of crucifixion and rejection. Second, we are not all God’s children anymore than you who are listening are my children. I would have to adopt you, which is what God did for us through the sacrifice of Jesus.”

As a non-denominational preacher and writer, who seeks to follow the teaching of the Bible, I will take Jesus at His word when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6).

This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus under the cover of darkness (John 3:1-5). Jesus told him, “You must be born again” if you are to enter the Kingdom of God. He further explained that He must be lifted up to die, and then spoke one of the most quoted passages in the Bible. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Furthermore, the apostle Peter boldly proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah whom the Jews rejected. Then declared, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ax. 4:12).

The apostle Paul also preached the same gospel and pronounced, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Thus, Paul constantly affirmed in his letters, “We preach Christ crucified…”(1Cor. 1:23). Even in Paul’s day, preaching Christ as the exclusive way to God was foolishness to some, and a stumbling block to others. Yet, he confidently said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16).

Different religions are NOT like different languages. Some religions reject Jesus as the Christ. Others believe that their so-called “prophet” or religious leader is more important than Jesus. In fact, not all religions accept the Bible teaching about the nature, character, and personality of Jehovah God.

Sadly, even some in the religious world who claim to love Jesus and follow Him have strayed away from His fundamental teaching and the doctrine inspired by the Holy Spirit and revealed to the apostles. Remember, crying, “Lord, Lord,” is not enough. We must “do the will of Father,” Jesus taught in the Mountain Message (Matt. 7:21). In fact, Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Today’s ecumenical message by deluded religious leaders may appeal to the masses who accept a counterfeit gospel, but it’s not the message of the Bible.

Finally, consider these words of Jesus just hours before He died on the cross. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman