All Roads

WE’RE sure you have heard the illustration before, and maybe you have even used it as an argument for one church being as good as another. This is known as “Syncretism” or if you prefer, “Universalism,” where an absurd attempt is made to amalgamate all religions and their doctrines into one lump and claim that it doesn’t matter what road (church/religion) you choose to follow, they all eventually lead to God. This has been a common argument with denominationalists – however, taken to its logical end (which they will always disagree with) all roads, meaning all doctrinal belief systems must be included - not one can be left out. Is the person claiming to follow Christ, going to agree that Muslims, Buddhists, or Taoist, among others will also lead to the one true living God of heaven? That’s where they argument leads, if not, why not?

While it may sound like a good argument to defend against those of us who understand God is narrow minded (Matthew 7:13-14), it is not a sound argument. Just apply this same argument to mathematics, physics, biology, or a multitude of other disciplines and you would be laughed out of the room, and rightfully so. Despite what Modernists, relativist or situationists say, truth is absolute – it has always been absolute and will continue to be absolute until this world ends. That said, should we not expect the same approach be taken for religion as we do for anything else in life? Without a doubt!

Why should anyone think God and His Word can be approached any differently? We can know with certainty that God’s Word is the truth (John 17:17; Titus 1:2). His Word informs the honest and openminded student there is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ and His one and only church (Acts 4:12; 10:43; John 8:24; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). God wants everyone to be saved, not just a pre-selected few as the determinist Calvinist believes and teaches, but every single human being who has ever lived or shall live (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4).

Because it is God’s desire that we all repent and obey His gospel (Hebrews 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8), then it is certain that all roads do not lead to heaven or to a relationship with God. There is example after example in the Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments that prove this to be the case. If all roads lead to God, then what is the purpose of giving us His written word, since it doesn’t matter what we believe, teach or practice religiously? Not to mention that God has told us He will judge us all in the end by His Word (John 12:48). Why? Why judge us from something that doesn’t matter? Something that doesn’t have one ounce of authority or exhortation meant to motivate us to unity of the faith?

The apostle Paul, though inspired by God, apparently didn’t have a clue that unity was not required for a heavenly home when he wrote, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as you are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all…” (Ephesians 4:3-6). Paul didn’t say “multitudes of bodies, multitudes of hope, of faith, of Lords, etc.”. – he said there is only ONE!

God gave us the most confusing book ever! A book that teaches there is only one way to Him, yet don’t worry, because it doesn’t matter. A book that teaches we are born sinners, yet that is not true, we are born innocent (Matthew 18:3; Ezekiel 18:20-21). A book that teaches once saved always saved, yet you had better test your faith constantly, and be very careful that you don’t fall from grace (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5; et al). The problem is that God is not the one causing the confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), it is men who have twisted the Scriptures to make them appear they are teaching their error. Just like the, all roads argument, another of Satan’s clever lies.

Judaism is not a road anyone should be on because it does not lead to God or heaven. Judaism was a temporary system that was meant to lead all men and women to Christ (Galatians 2:23-27). God has since replaced that system with Christianity. Islam is not a road anyone should be on because it does not lead to God or heaven. Islam is a religion built upon terror and not love. It does not recognize the Bible as the only Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Hinduism and Buddhism are not roads anyone should follow because they do not lead to God or heaven. They are religious systems built upon idolatry, and second chances which God has commanded against (Acts 15:20; Hebrews 9:27). Roman Catholicism is not a road anyone should be traveling because it too is built upon idolatry and traditions of men (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). All Protestant denominations (Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Reformers, Pentecostals, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Disciples, and non-denominationalists) are roads the devil is very pleased exist, because they help capture the souls of millions for his cause.

All roads lead to God and heaven is only fitting for those that care nothing about the truth. As it is a logical impossibility for all roads (religious systems) to lead to the same place when they all believe, teach and practice different things. If you decided to travel to Kansas City for the weekend and took highway 15 or 54, you know you would never arrive in Kansas City unless you diverted from either of those Highways. The same is true of the spiritual. Scripture speaks of “roads,” often using the words “path” or “way,” which is synonymous for life (Proverbs 1:15; 9:6; 13:15; Acts 16:17; 18:26; 24:14).

Jesus reduced life choices to only two options when He said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). In other words, Jesus said there are only two roads – the road to Heaven, or the highway to hell. Unfortunately, the majority of people will refuse to heed God’s warnings and will choose the broad highway to hell. God said salvation can only be found in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Matthew 17:5). He didn’t say it would be through Mohammed, Confucius, Buddha, John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Knox, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, the Pope, or Charles Russell, et al, God said it would only be in Christ.

The eternal mind of God planned the perfect religious system that would provide man a relationship with his God – Christianity. Within Christianity, it would be the church of Christ, and only the church of Christ. That is where the narrow way is located. You don’t believe it? Then prove us wrong. Please show us where we have erred.