In some of the recent US elections we’ve been forced to deal with the legitimacy of non-Christian religions in the US. For seemingly political reasons candidates have made them all appear equal as not to offend any voters. The sad thing is that many of us actually believe all roads and faiths lead to heaven.
Following 9/11 we were preparing to go to the field to work with North African Muslims. We were researching Islam…and everything we read broke our hearts. Around the same time Oprah hosted a multi-faith prayer service to honor the victims of 9/11. They had people from various faith backgrounds lead in a prayer time from their respective religions. My dad commented to me afterwards that he was especially moved by the Muslim call to prayer. He said it was so beautiful and proved to him that all roads truly do lead to heaven.
Eight years later I live with countless mosques in sight, even as I write this. I hear the call to prayer go out across the city five times a day, alot of times it occurs at the same we’re worshiping or praying. The god they serve is not the same God that I serve. I serve a redemptive God, a God I can personally know. I serve a God that is powerful enough to create all that I see and yet still care enough to be involved in the intimate details of my life. I serve a God who values life and condemns murder. I serve a God who created both man AND woman in His image and instructs us to honor each other. I serve a God who has a standard that I cannot live up to and yet he offers me forgiveness and mercy through His crucified Son.
To say that both are the same, that both paths lead to heaven is purely political rhetoric. Sometimes I wish it were true….when I spend time with good, devout men that I care about it…and they continually reject the Gospel…I wish it were true. When I drive through the countryside and see village after village of people who have never heard the truth of the Gospel….I wish it were true. When I see the little old lady drive by on her donkey, selling fresh milk…the woman I can’t approach due to cultural norms and the fact that speaks a different arabic than I do…I wish it were true. I can touch them, but I can’t reach them. My heart breaks…and I wish all roads led to heaven. But they don’t….and that’s why we must keep sharing and praying…because the truth is, Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Grady,
I had Almost an M over for lunch recently, and he told me I should talk to you. Is there any chance you could email me (from whatever email address you’d prefer to use) at my registered email address?
I’d really appreciate it.
Grace and peace,
Rhology
I found this article entitled “Love in the Time of Missiologists” and wanted to circulate it among you guys called to Europe:
http://canterbridge.org/2008/10/12/love-in-the-time-of-missiologists-why-you-cant-not-hope-paul-and-eva-toms-lectureship-in-global-christianity-gordon-conwell-theological-seminary-october-9-2008/