Exploring Deeper - Is Christianity Too Narrow?

I might have mentioned a while back that my church, along with about 370 other Austin area churches, are going through a study discussion some of the most asked questions about life, faith, and God called Explore God.  The campaign has been going on for about 4 months or so, but is now focused on a 7 week sermon study discussing these questions in our worship services.  I would like to eventually write about each topic, but I'll start with our current week and catch up later.  So....enjoy! 

"Is Christianity too narrow?"  That is a strange question when you think about it, but I get it.  Essentially we are asking is how can Christianity be relevant in a culture that has more access to religion than it probably ever has?  Are not all religions essentially leading to the same "God?"  In a land that promotes freedom of choice, can we not just pick out which religion "best suits us" and follow that one?

These are questions that I have considered many times.  It is an interesting conversation to have because, yes, I believe their are common threads throughout all religions.  For the most part values such as love, charity, peace, and compassion are all elements of major religions.  So what gives Christians the right to claim that Christianity is the only true religion?

There was a video that I really liked put out in the early stages of the Explore God initiative (can't seem to find it now, so they must have taken it down).  One of the commentators on the video said that he believes all religious paths will eventually lead to Jesus.  Some of you may be appalled by that statement, but I think I understand what he was getting at.  As I mentioned above, most religions hold things like love, compassion, peace, etc...I think that the commentator is suggesting that if a person truly seeks those things in life, they will eventually have to come face-to-face with Jesus Christ because he is the epitome of those things.  That is not to say that I believe all religious paths lead to God, but rather that a collision with Jesus is inevitable when searching for those things in life.  

Another thought I have been having this week is how this question of the narrowness of Christianity is set in a beautiful paradox as a believer in Christ.  On the one hand, yes, Christianity is narrow.  Jesus, himself, said it several times in his ministry that the narrow way to the Father goes through Him (Matt 7:13-14; Luke 13:22, John 15:1-17, John 14:6).  In the Old Testament we read things like "I am a jealous God" and "You shall have no other gods before me."  It seems that following God is in fact "narrow" in terms that God has called us to a specific path.

However, on the other side of this coin is the fact that this path is open to all.  Verses like John 3:16 which state that "God so loved the world that he gave his only son" and Romans 5:12-21 which speak of Adam's sin which condemned all people is now reversed because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for all people.

I had a professor in college who always said "When Paul speaks of 'all people' he means 'all people.'"

So, "Is Christianity narrow?"

Yes.

"Is God's love for everyone?"

Yes.

As Christ-followers I believe this is what we are called to:  To share the great love of God with all.  So as we speak with those who are spiritually curious, let us look for opportunities to share the love and compassion of Jesus Christ with them.