“One of the mistakes humans make is believing there is only one way… There are many paths to what you call God… There couldn’t possibly be just one way… With the millions of people in the world there couldn’t possibly be one way.” So said Oprah Winfrey on her television program back in the early 1990s. You may see it for yourself here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb2RUpMDk34
Thankfully, there were two women in the audience who stood up to her baseless pontification and pointed out that Jesus is the only way. In the face of Oprah’s ridicule, one responded, “Just because you say it doesn’t make it so.”
Jesus made this point perfectly in John 14:6 when He told the eleven, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” Now, either Jesus is right, and Oprah is wrong or Jesus is wrong and Oprah is right. And if Oprah is right, why is she willing to accept Jesus as one of many ways to God if He is a liar?
May I add to this present error of thought another problem? I speak of the idea that we can do just about anything in religion so long as we attach Jesus’ name to it and profess to offer it in service to Him.
Jesus spoke to this very issue in Matthew 7:21-23 when He said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
Following Jesus as the way necessitates doing things His way. His way is THE way. This means those things we believe and teach must be in accordance with His specific teaching and that of His apostles. Our worship must be His way – John 4:24. Our teaching about salvation from sin must be His way – Mark 16:16. Our teaching about any matter of doctrine must be His way, because His way is the Father’s way (John 12:48-50).
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Col 3:17).
0 Comments