John 14:6

I received an e-mail yesterday that contained some interesting questions about the above verse which I felt that many of you may also have or may have been asked. Because of this, I decided to send this out as a “Sharing Bread” today in hopes that in some small way it may benefit others.The Question: I do have a question for you. In light of what is going on in the world with religious fervor in the context of “my religion is better than yours”, I have a problem with the exclusivity of John 14:6. You see I believe that my God, Yahweh, is THE God of the Universe and is all powerful. He is not just the God for this planet and indeed not just the God for the Christians and the Jews. I believe he is a loving God as well. So what happens to the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc.? Does the Tower of Babel have any meaning here...that God intentionally separated us, and our languages, for our own sake and now we have misinterpreted the good intention to the point that it puts us on a course of global conflict?The Response:It was great hearing from you! I appreciate your kind words and I am also very grateful to be given the opportunity to delve into God’s Word for clarity and insight to your questions. I love doing this so you may receive more than you bargained for! It is always a profitable assignment to think through what you believe and why. Scripture tells us: 15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)
To begin with, it was never my intent to espouse “my religion is better than yours” in writing “Sharing Bread”. Neither God nor His Holy Word needs my humble defense. My purpose is to state as clearly as I know how the Truth from the Bible so that others could perhaps glean insight and be more willing to appropriate these truths into their lives. Our world is woefully short of Christians who know God’s Word and strive to live according to it. The Bible is my Authority. It is Truth. It is also intellectually dishonest to pick and choose what we want to believe from it. The Bible simply does not give us the option of deciding which parts to believe are inspired and which are not. All of Scripture is God breathed as stated:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:15-17 (NIV)
Having stated thus, if you do not hold to the inerrancy of Scripture, this will probably be a mute note for you. My beliefs are based on the Truth of Scripture. I took the liberty of highlighting parts of your e-mail in an effort to include all the points you bring to light. Thus done, the words “I believe” red flagged me. On what or whom are you basing your beliefs? Jesus indeed claims exclusivity in John 14:6 YET, His call is to ALL! It is exclusive in that He is the only way to God but open in that all are invited. This call would of course include Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus or any other living human being. According to the Bible, Jesus is the only access to God – whoever you are! Scripture again states: 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:16-21 (NIV) Indeed, God is all powerful and loving (Praise Him!). In His love, He provided Jesus to save us from our sins. God is also righteous and long suffering giving us an opportunity to come to salvation through faith in Christ. Yet, there will come a day when His righteous indignation will come forth. Isaiah brings this to light as well as many other passages similar to this found throughout the New Testament: 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. 7 Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man's heart will melt. 8 Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor.
They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. 9 See, the day of the LORD is coming --a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger-- to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. 10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. 12 I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. Isaiah 13:6-13 (NIV)
Your citing of the Tower of Babel in Genesis brings up an interesting point. Babel was a deliberate rejection of God’s instructions to “fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1) and stood as a flagrant example of the corporate pride of man. Their desire was to make a name for themselves and NOT to bring glory to God. Not too dissimilar to our day and time – there is simply nothing new under the sun. Interestingly, Scripture states in Genesis 11:2 that the men “had moved eastward” indicating their departure from their intimacy with God. Whenever we move away from intimacy with God we get into trouble! There is no end to the depravity of man. Conversely, there is no end to the love and grace of God. Corrie ten Boom stated once: "There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still".There are many things in Scripture that will remain “veiled” until we see His face, as Paul states in I Corinthians 13: 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Cor 13:11-12 (NIV)
I have learned enough about God to know that just because I may not clearly understand His actions; His purposes are always loving and righteous. Whenever I am confronted in my spirit with the “it’s not fair” mentality, I spend some time reflecting on the last few chapters of Job (38-42), where God asks blameless Job: 2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Job 38:2 (NIV); basically stating, “Who is this with impaired vision that darkens my counsel (purpose) with words without technical know-how???” (Job 38:2). Once again, I appreciate the opportunity to share reflections of God’s Word with you. Blessings! Beth