“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” – 1 John 2:23
It’s very popular in our wonderfully diverse and pluralistic culture to say there are many paths to God. This view is becoming increasingly popular among American Christians. Why? Because it feels nice. Nobody’s feelings get hurt. Nobody gets offended. Moreover, if true, it relieves us of the heavy, life-changing obligation to be deeply concerned for the spiritual wellbeing of those who don’t know Jesus. Saying there are many paths to God makes us sound understanding, open-minded, and sophisticated. If we say this, then nobody around us will get too mad at us for our faith.
Unfortunately, the claim there are many paths to God is completely false and utterly contrary to the plain teaching of Jesus! There’s only one way to God the Father and that’s through God the Son, Jesus the Christ. If you like Jesus and claim to like and care about what He said, then you are indeed burdened with obligation by this truth. Jesus was quite clear and Scripture is consistent: to know Jesus Christ is to know God and to deny Christ is to remain separated from God.
This will offend many in our world today. It will offend modern sensibilities and sincerely held religious beliefs. It will sound close-minded and make us less popular. Too bad! The stakes in this matter are eternal. Because Scripture is clear, Christians must shoulder the burden of concern for the eternal destination of those around us who don’t know Christ. Our obligation to go, baptize, and teach people to follow Jesus remains while all around us are billions of people who face an eternity separated from God (by their own sin) unless they experience the gracious reconciliation that’s only offered through faith in Jesus.