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Sincerely Yours

by Kathy Brown on September 24th, 2009 | 5 comments

One objection to Christianity is that it claims to be “the only way.”  This criticism is often accompanied by a sympathetic insistence that those who are Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, New Agers, Secular Humanists (or anyone other than Christians) are sincere.  That is the characteristic that seems to mean so much in our culture.  Oprah is applauded when she tears up and believes with her heart that all religious roads lead to the same place, whether that is reality or not.

Let’s get up next to two important ideas and think about them: 

(1)Sincerity is the measure of Truth. Suppose someone has a bacterial infection.  In order to get better, the doctor lays out two pills.  One is arsenic and the other is an antibiotic.  Each medicine bottle is labeled “dose to be taken every day twice a day for two weeks.”  What is the difference which container is emptied if both are ingested with good intentions and sincere belief for healing?  Obviously the content of what we take into ourselves matters.

(2)Christianity is the religious worldview that is exclusive, not inclusive.  Two years ago I found myself in a mosque. Before long, someone came over to welcome me and a conversation ensued that took me quite by surprise.  This Muslim began praising the broad-mindedness of the Islamic faith.  The comparison was made to Christianity which, it was pointed out to me, is very narrow-minded.  Granted, that is an argument that most with a Biblical worldview have heard many times before.  It is so absurd that it hardly needs a reply.  Which religions refuse the contention that man is a sinner before a Holy God and needs an Advocate to get into right standing in order to restore fellowship with Him?   Every single non-Biblical one; thus they are exclusive.  They reject any notion of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  Biblical Christianity and its Old Testament foundation are not based on how man can work to fulfill the requisites of a particular ideology.  The proper description of Christianity is that it includes anyone (anywhere) that is willing to receive, through a Savior, what they can never earn for themselves. 

As we encounter everyday banter, we may have opportunity to broaden the thinking of others.  It is likely that our “sincere” side may be well-taken, but perhaps not so much the object of our devotion.  But, that’s to be expected.  We actually tolerate the exclusivity of another worldview.

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This website was established by Kathryn M. Brown. Kathryn was commissioned as a Centurion in 2008 after participating in BreakPoint’s Centurions Program. This is a study program founded by Chuck Colson of BreakPoint and Prison Fellowship to equip Christians to train others with a biblical worldview and to turn the world right-side up through biblical thinking and living. For more information, visit www.breakpoint.org/resources/centurions.