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While Christianity teaches that Jesus is the only path to God, this means that other religions also deny the claims of Christianity. The purpose here is not to come to a point where everyone agrees, but rather to discern within the disagreement which claim is true and what to do about it.

Since this writer is only qualified to comment in depth about the Christian point of view, we will address the issue from that angle.

Christianity claims that Jesus is the only way to know God. This is a narrow statement that Jesus Himself makes. He asks us to enter by the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14) and says that He is that gate (John 10:7-10). He claims to be the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Now with such a clear claim, we only have the option of believing Jesus’ claim or rejecting Him. Once we have decided which claim is truth, we must act accordingly or else we will be hypocrites.

This narrow claim does bring about conflict, but the bible does not teach us that the purpose of life is the aversion of conflict. The purpose of life is to glorify God because that is what we were created for. Nevertheless, God is a God of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:23) who desires peace, but His primary desire is that peace exist between God and man and because of that peace shall exist between men. We have peace with God through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1), who is our only mediator with God (1 Timothy 2:5). Once we have peace with God, His Spirit will live in us and make us at peace with one another.

Trying to fabricate peace among men without first making peace with God through Jesus Christ is a futile exercise, as the whole of human history will bear witness to. Jesus tells of a time soon to come when there shall be lasting peace on earth – after He returns to judge the earth and bring those who believe in Him to heaven to be with Him forever.

I would like to state clearly that the bible supports legal and social tolerance of other religions – we do not seek to persecute them or exclude them. However, our teachings also make us distinct and unique, with different claims of truth and a different God and worldview – this we cannot deny. We cannot twist our beliefs to match those of other religions.

Now that Jesus has made His claims clear, the choice for every man is laid bare – either believe what Jesus claims, or disbelieve. We need to remember that it is not our calling to fabricate false peace between men, but seek peace with God through Jesus Christ.