Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

True or False Quiz

An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

(T)

Los Angeles is the most populous city in the U.S. (F — NYC)

The letter “T” is the most common letter in the English language.

(F — "E”)

The sun makes up 99.8% of the mass of our solar system.

(T)

The sun makes up 99.8% of the mass of our solar system.

(T)

It is morally wrong to commit murder.

(T)

It would be morally wrong to steal from your neighbor, even if it wasn’t against the law.

(T)

New series, You Asked For It.

The question for this morning:

How can we say that Jesus is the only way to God?

We say that because we believe it is true.

The Problem of Religious Exclusivity

Our society believes it is arrogant and intolerant to insist that your religion is right and to convert others to it.

Is the problem religion or exclusivity?

Christians say that Jesus is the only way to God because we believe it is true.

“Truth by its very nature is exclusive.”

— Ravi Zacharias

People of every religion, philosophy, ideology, culture, and society believe things about the world, and they believe that those beliefs are true (that’s what it means to believe something).

It is impossible to believe that anything is true without also believing that opposing views are false.

If you believe that it’s true that the sun makes up 99.8% of the mass of our solar system, then you must also believe that the idea that Jupiter is bigger than the sun is false, and people who believe Jupiter is bigger than the sun are wrong.

If you believe that it is morally wrong to commit murder, then you must also believe that people who commit murder have done something immoral.

If you believe that you are right in saying people should not convert others to their religion, then you must also believe that people who think it is good to share their faith are wrong.

Subject

Is it possible to believe in exclusive truth and yet be inclusive people?

Illustration: 1 + 1 = 2, not 11

The Religious Problem

The Religious Problem

Religion by its very nature is also exclusive.

Religion claims to be true, and since truth is exclusive, religion is also exclusive.

Christianity is no exception.

Religious exclusivity is a problem, not because of the exclusive nature of truth, but because of the way religion responds to the exclusive nature of truth.

Religion says, “Believe in exclusive truth and be exclusive people.”

But this leads to division, judgmentalism, hatred, injustice, bigotry, violence, etc. — the very problem of religious exclusivity.

Anti-Religion says, “Reject exclusive truth and be inclusive people.”

But this doesn’t actually fix the problem.

Three Questions

The Religious Response to Exclusive Truth

Believe an exclusive truth

Be an exclusive people

But this leads to the very real problem of religious exclusivity.

The Anti-Religious Response

Throw your brain in the trash by pretending there’s no such thing as truth.

All religions are equally valid and basically teach the same thing.

All religions are equally valid and basically teach the same thing.

All paths lead to the top of the mountain.

Christianity vs. Islam… Jesus is God or Jesus is not God, but both are not equally valid religions teaching the same thing.

What we believe doesn’t affect the actual truth that corresponds to reality.

You might believe I’m Travis Kelce, 6’ 5”, 260 lb tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, but no matter how sincerely you believe it—it’s not true.

Each religion sees part of the truth, but no religion can see the whole truth.

The blind men and the elephant…

All religions are equally false; no religion is true.

Tolerate only those who agree with you, while pretending to be an inclusive people.

Therefore, it is arrogant and intolerant to insist that your religion is right and to convert others to it.

This is itself an arrogant and intolerant statement that claims to be right and attempts to convert others to its view.

“I will not tolerate your intolerance.”

The problem with this solution is that all of these popular ideas not only reject the very idea of truth, they also ultimately lead to division and intolerance.

None of them offers any real solution to the problem of religious exclusivity.

We have to find a way to believe in truth without creating division.

Is it possible to believe in exclusive truth and yet be an inclusive people?

The Real Question

We’ve seen the problem of religious exclusivity, and we’ve seen that the anti-religious response to the problem doesn’t actually solve it.

The belief that Jesus is the only way to God is an exclusive belief.

But every belief held by anyone is an exclusive belief because truth, by its very nature is exclusive.

So, the real question isn’t how can we say Jesus is the only way to God; the real question is:

Is it possible to believe in exclusive truth, and yet be inclusive people?

The Hope for All in the Gospel

Every human being is made in the image of God ().

In my boys’ Jesus Storybook Bible, there’s a phrase that resonates so deeply in my heart.

It says, “And they were lovely because He loved them.”

.

We are saved by grace, not by anything we do.

Christians are not “special” or superior to others.

Every human being is a sinner by nature and by choice ().

Every human being who is saved is saved by grace (, ).

.

Christianity is the most inclusive religious movement in the history of the world!

God wants every human being to be saved ().

.

We love even our enemies.

The Greek word translated “all” in v. 6 means “all.”

Christianity is the most inclusive religious movement in the history of the world!

V. 7 — We are heralds proclaiming the good news that God wants all people to be saved.

Why, because we’re arrogant and intolerant?

No! Because of what Jesus said in .

Christians don’t share Jesus with others because we are arrogant and self-righteous.

We don’t try to convert people because we think we’re better than they are.

We want to see people set free from addictions and sorrow and pain.

We want to see lives transformed.

We want to see people filled with joy and peace.

We want to see hurting people comforted and sick people healed.

We want to see lonely people loved and those who are struggling encouraged.

Most of all, we want as many people as possible to never die forever.

We don’t share Jesus with others out of pride; we share Jesus with others out of love.

Conclusion

How should we respond?