Bible Q & A

Are Christians intolerant?

It seems every year more and more Christians are giving in to what is often referred to as "tolerance" in popular culture. They are browbeaten into accepting the idea that if a person claims there is one way to God, that person is somehow intolerant and hateful. By those standards, Jesus must be considered intolerant and hateful.

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Jesus claimed that he, and his sacrifice, is the only way to God. No one can get to Heaven but through Jesus. Does this mean that all other religions that teach a different way to Heaven or Nirvana or eternal enlightenment and incorrect? It sure appears so. So all those people are not going to Heaven when they die? That's correct, according to Jesus.

Does such exclusiveness imply intolerance and hate? First of all, it has nothing to do with hate. The claim of hate is simply empty rhetoric. Secondly, such exclusiveness is not intolerant if it is based on truth. Logically, we know two things that are opposite cannot both be true. Jesus claimed that he was the only way to God. Other religions claim they have the only way or that there are many ways to God. Such claims are in direct contradiction to the claim of Jesus. That means that Jesus' claim and those other claims cannot both be true. This is called the law of noncontradiction. Two opposing things cannot both be true.

If the claims of Jesus are true, to repeat those claims cannot be considered intolerant. In fact, to state something that is not true when dealing with the subject at hand is the height of cruelty, considering the consequences. What people need to be concerned with is the truth of the matter. If the truth makes others feel bad about their existing beliefs, that's unfortunate but at least they have a chance to change those beliefs before it's too late. One who believes the truth is much better off eternally. For example, if a person believes his $5 bills are only worth two $1 bills each, his or her belief system needs to change. When it does, he or she will be a lot better off. How much more valuable is a person's eternal destination?

So what is the truth? Elsewhere on the WWCW, there are numerous arguments for the existence of God. Since only about 5% of the population are atheists, I will assume that at least the majority of people believe God exists. So the real question is: Who is the God that exists? I argue that the God that exists can only be the God of the Bible in a paper called, Who is the God that Exists? Only the Bible is not self refuting and is not so contrary to logic that it is disproved. All other religions fail the necessary tests for accuracy and truth.

The Bible is often claimed to be a Western religious document. Though it has become popular in the West, its origins are far beyond any geographical location. As I argue in the paper previously mentioned, the Bible is a message system given to us by the creator of the universe. It is given to all people of all nationalities. Jesus came to earth to make the ultimate sacrifice for everyone. He died and rose from the dead so that everyone can spend eternity with God. That fact is the truth and the truth cannot honestly be considered intolerant.

Out of love for his or her fellow man of all nationalities, Christians need to stand for and exclaim the truth for the good of all who do not know the truth. We must do this no matter what the consequences. People are just too important to God to do any less.

I want to learn more about how I can have a relationship with the creator of the universe.

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