All paths lead to God – or do they?

Tolerance and diversity are buzz words that are used a lot in our culture, especially when it comes to religious belief or otherwise. Pluralism says that we should accept all religions and live in harmony because all roads lead to the same God; we are all on the journey up the mountain but just on different paths. Agreed we must love each other, however, there are some fundamental problems with this nice sounding approach that need serious consideration before we all share a group hug. Firstly, the portraits of God, Jesus and ultimate reality offered in the different sacred writings of the various religions are so contradictory. Unless God is not altogether truthful, it is not possible to argue for pure pluralism. Secondly, pluralism claims to have discovered a higher truth than all other religions; that is that we are all a bit deluded and in fact all religions are the same. This claim of a higher reality or enlightenment assumes an intellectual high ground that exceeds any of the claims of the world religions. Yet if asked to define clearly what this higher reality actually is, pluralists are remarkably vague and incoherent in their description of this God or greater reality.

I think pluralism is attractive, not because it offers a clearer and new perspective of a personal universal God that is some combination of all world religions. But its foundation is that it cannot tolerate the claims of the different religions, especially Christianity and Islam. The idea of judgment and consequences for people’s actions and choices is not palatable. Neither is the idea that any one of the major religions might be right and hold the ultimate truth. So therefore there must be a different reality, but one that they cannot clearly define. They know what they don’t like but they struggle to articulate clearly the reality that they claim is the higher and superior knowledge. To put it another way, pluralists like some of what Jesus say but not all of what Jesus says.

Tolerance comes from the Latin word tolerare, meaning “to bear” something harmful or contrary. To gently bear another in love is truly tolerant, not to embrace all of their views into yours or agree on everything. True tolerance does not involve accepting every view point as true and valid; it involves treating with love and humility someone who holds to different opinions and values without being untrue to yourself.

“True tolerance does not involve accepting every view point as true and valid”

Pluralism I believe delivers much less than it promises. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life – no one comes to the father but through me”. Does that mean that people who have never heard of Jesus won’t be in heaven? No. But does that mean all paths lead to God? No. If God has revealed himself and Jesus is the Son of God, then we have to submit our will to his no matter how intolerant the world tells us we are. But we must do all things in love; love for God and love for others.

Grace and Peace – Garry

Growing up in our faith

A couple of weeks ago my two sisters and brother and I visited my parents for a special family catch up. As we sat around the living room we realised that this was the first time in 25 years that we had been together, just as a core family without spouses or grandkids or friends. It felt a bit odd with just us kids and mum and dad again after nearly a quarter of a century. However things were different now. We were adults who had lived a lot of life and no longer self-centred teenagers who treated home something like a free B&B. As we reflected and talked I realised that we all appreciated mum and dad a lot more and that our relationships with them and each other were much more mature and adult. It was different but in a good way.

As another year has passed and we reflect on our journey with God I hope that we can look back and see that we have also grown in our relationship with him as our heavenly Father. As each year passes and we grow in our faith and spiritual maturity, God wants us to move from being “infants” as Paul describes, to sons and daughters who have a deeper and more mature relationship with Him. I have been a Christian for about 30 years now and don’t treat God like I used to when I was younger. My relationship with him is deeper and more thankful, despite the struggles and trials of life that have come my way. Yes there are more “shades of grey”, but there are also more vibrant colours as I have learned to walk with Him. I no longer expect things of him that are motivated by my own selfish desires. I understand the value of suffering and know that God uses difficult times to grow me and bring me closer to himself if I will allow him.

“The longer and deeper the relationship, the greater the trust and love grows as we share experiences, both difficult and joyful.”

The longer and deeper the relationship, the greater the trust and love that grows as we share experiences, both difficult and joyful. We need to be “bigger on the inside” than we are on the outside. As we grow in our relationship with God then he can fill us more with his Spirit, and out of that flow to others around us who need his love. This year my prayer is that individually and as a community we will grow into a greater maturity of faith as we walk with Jesus. That we might grow bigger on the inside and be filled more and more with the Holy Spirit. Not only that we might be blessed but that God might overflow through us to a needy and hurting world.

Grace and Peace – Garry

Remember the 'dots'

A couple of years ago we put up a map of greater Adelaide on the wall of the church and got everyone to put a red dot on the map where they spent most of their time during the week. This highlighted the “reach” and “footprint” of PBC between our weekly Sunday gatherings – and the spread was huge. We also did a map of the world and looked at all the places PBC has people serving! Many of us don’t live near the church but it was encouraging to see how much of Adelaide (and the globe) had someone from PBC in it most days.  So although we are limited a bit in “local mission” we have this massive opportunity to be missional every week across our city and beyond. Starting more “programs” may not be the most effective thing we can do. Rather if each of us were open to God using us and actively praying for him to use us in the places we spend most of our time, I believe that would be extremely missional and dynamic. If Sunday is a time where we get “fed” or “grown” in our faith, then that surely should overflow and be worked out in the places we find ourselves each day.

“If Sunday is a time where we get ‘fed’ or ‘grown’ in our faith, then that surely should overflow and be worked out in the places we find ourselves each day.”

This doesn’t and shouldn’t be hard work! Rather it should be a natural thing where everything we do and all the relationships we have are a place and opportunity for God to be at work. Even in the most mundane and boring tasks of life. Our lives, our choices, and the way we go about our tasks should stand out in a culture that is often self-consumed and materialistic. We only have one life to live and our church mission statement exhorts us to live that life wholeheartedly for Jesus. That does not mean we have to be cheery and happy little Christians who never have problems. But even the way we deal with suffering and hardship can be an amazing testimony to those around us of Gods amazing grace and love. Our dependence on God to get us through can speak volumes.

I believe if we start the day offering a short prayer of availability to God and genuinely mean it, then he will take that and open up conversations with people in the most unexpected places. I think the Holy Spirit wants to partner with us where we are every day and all he needs is an invitation from us to say we are ready and willing to be used. So where is your “dot” and how can God be at work in and through PBC Monday to Saturday? Because the “dots” matter!

Grace and Peace – Garry