It can be very difficult to live a Christian life and uphold your biblical principles in a world that is based on individualism and pluralism. In a true pluralistic society, people believe in all kinds of different ideas and tolerate any beliefs even when they don’t match their own or make sense.
I am my own individual, and I have the right to believe whatever I want to believe. No one has the right to convince me that what they believe is right.
This philosophy is not unique to our time or the American culture. It was also popular in the Roman Empire during the time of Jesus. In Acts 4:1-13, Peter and John were preaching to the people. The religious leaders interrogated them because they were preaching the gospel, and the leaders questioned their act of kindness when they healed a lame man. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered, “Salvation is found in no one else [but Jesus], for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The religious leaders were troubled because in Rome you were allowed to believe in any god or many gods. No one had the right to force their god on you, so the religious leaders of that day saw the apostles as arrogant because they claimed their God was the only God.
How can we Christians claim that, out of all of the world’s religions, we have the only answer for our society today? When we say Jesus is the only way, the truth of that statement goes deeper than a societal belief in a person’s right to an individual preference.
In a pluralistic and individualistic society when we say Jesus Christ is the only way and the Word of God is the only standard for life and practice, we, as Christians, are often considered exclusive and proud. The world says religion is subjective and should be private. Society says Jesus is not the only way and that all religions are equal. Society challenges, “Who are you to say your God is right, your way to heaven is right, and mine is wrong?”
Our postmodern society says there is no absolute truth. If there are no absolute standards, people think they can believe whatever they want. There is no right or wrong. They are left to their own understanding and whatever their minds tell them to do is permissible. If taken to an extreme, slavery, child abuse, and murder are then acceptable. Lying, cheating, and stealing are okay because there are no absolutes.
So how do we reach our culture for Christ without appearing prideful, exclusionary, or arrogant? Let’s look at the claims of Jesus.
Jesus said, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In Acts 4:13, the religious leaders knew Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, but they were astonished by their courage. They knew these men had been with Jesus.
The only way the world will know that our faith, the Word of God, and Jesus are the solution to mankind’s problems is to see that we have been with Jesus. We must live out transformed lives so people can see Christ living in us. It is often said, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” There was something unusual and unique about Jesus and the Christian faith because of how his followers cared for others. Our faith is couched in servanthood, not in dominating or controlling people. Our faith brings healing and comfort to those who are hurting.
No other god has left his throne to live among broken, desperate, and lost people.
No other god has lived in poverty or washed the feet of those whom he created.
No other god has suffered unjustly.
No other god has been beaten and nailed to a cross.
The Christian God demonstrates true love and care for broken humanity. People will never be transformed through intellectual debates, arrogance, exclusive posturing, or self-righteous attitudes. It is hard to argue against Jesus when the results of the gospel transform lives. Underneath all of the debates, arguments, and hostility to the gospel, there are cries for love, hope, and the meaning of life.
As we share the good news of the gospel and care for people in a Christlike way, we will draw people to Jesus. My brothers and sisters, that’s how the world will know that Jesus is the only way and that the Word of God is the only standard for life and practice in a pluralistic society.
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