I had a great conversation this morning about the difficult question that formed the theme for last night’s message: “Is Jesus the Only Way to God?” Because of that conversation, I feel it necessary to expand on what was discussed.
Obviously, it is cast as a difficult question because there are specific implications to either of two definitive answers (yes and no). The purpose of this discussion, along with the other questions in previous weeks, is two-fold:
1.) There will be difficult questions that arise as we grow in our faith, and we should not shy away from them. Asking questions, even those that raise doubts, is OK. This is how you come to a fuller understanding of your faith.
2.) The world is a big place, and it is in this context that we experience God. We want you to continue in your faith long after you graduate high school and to be connected to your church. Truly, your pursuit of faith is often accompanied by tough questions and, very often, answers that do not seem adequate. Seeking those answers is all a part of growing in your faith.
With that in mind, here are a few takeaways from last night that I hope will contribute to a broader understanding of what we believe:
• God is bigger than religion. God is bigger than us. We do not and cannot have a complete understanding of God — what we have is Christ, the fullest representation of God and his character. We desire that all people come to know him. Jesus is The Way.
• God is at work in all people, in all places. God’s grace extends to all people, in all places. His grace is unrestricted. “Grace, love and communion belong to God, and are not ours to determine.” (PCUSA Statement, 214th General Assembly)
• We affirm truth wherever we find it, because all truth comes from God.
• Our approach to non-Christians should be marked by Christian love, kindness and humility. If we live the way Christ taught us, we will point others to him.
I hope this gives you a better understanding of how we, as Christians, should approach last night’s question, and the challenging questions of faith that you are sure to encounter moving forward.
We hope to see you next week as we begin the Bible Project. See this space for more on that in the coming days.
The Pipe 