I occasionally come across people who say that all religions are true. They claim that God is like a mountain with many roads to the top. It doesn’t matter which road you take as long as you love others and treat them with respect. However, there is a logical problem with this idea.
Jesus clearly claimed to be the only way to God. He said, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Luke 10:22 ESV).
He also said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 ESV).
Therefore, if all religions are true, then the teaching of Jesus is false because he claimed to be the only way to God. But if the teaching of Jesus is false, then biblical Christianity is false. And if biblical Christianity is false, then not all religions can be true. Do you see the logical problem?
So rather than making the untenable claim that all religions are true, I think it’s more helpful to examine the central truth claims of each religion individually. What does it teach about the nature of God and the nature of humanity? What does it teach about the definition and origin of sin? What does it teach about authority and the epistemological foundation of knowledge? And what does it teach about salvation and the way to face death with boldness? And if every religion isn’t true, then suddenly their answers to these questions become very important indeed.
About Will Stern
Originally from Colorado, Will Stern is the pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church in Garnet Valley. He majored in violin performance for his undergrad and taught violin for a number of years before being called into ministry. He studied theology at Duke University and Westminster Theological Seminary.
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