One Way!
I just read the stunning and disappointing findings of a survey Probe Ministries conducted in 2021 on religious beliefs and attitudes toward cultural behaviors. They polled 3,106 Americans ages 18 to 55 from all religious groups, including 717 respondents who identified as born-again Christians.
Here’s one of the numbers that jolted me: 70% of born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God, yet 60% of them claim they shared their faith with someone else at least annually with the intent of converting them.
Say WHAT??? Two questions immediately came to mind when I read these responses.
What Bible are these so-called “born-again Christians” reading? Did they somehow miss:
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).
“Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 2:5).
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).
2. Why would these respondents share their faith when they believe all religions teach valid ways to God? That is irrational, contradictory, and really a waste of time and effort.
Okay, Jeff, calm down! At least there were still 30% who believed Jesus is the only way and hope, right? Well, the problem is messaging that confuses a watching world about the reality of the truth of Jesus Christ. This messaging is coming from a growing number of “claimers” of the faith who may not actually be “possessors” of the faith. This is what Jesus told us to expect (Matt. 7:13–14, 21–23).
The survey also revealed that among the top reasons given by “born-again Christians” for not telling others about their faith were these top three:
“They can get to heaven through their different religious beliefs.”
“We shouldn’t impose our ideas on others.”
“The Bible tells us not to judge others.”
Ugh. If this survey is even close to representing the thinking and beliefs of “born-again” people, the church is in for some dark days ahead and needs a radical wake-up call to repent.
May God help us to remain Bible-saturated, Jesus-loving, gospel-sharing people no matter what trends may come and go in the church and in our sin-soaked culture.
Remember Jesus’ essential words: “and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). Not all proclaimed truth is real truth and, sadly, we live in a world that thinks all truth claims are equally valid, which tragically can lead to someone’s eternal downfall.
Pastor Jeff