Yes, and no. It is a common enough analogy supporting a common enough fallacy, the idea that all religions are simply different paths that meet at the top, finding God. If it’s a fallacy, and it is, then in what sense is it true? It is true that everyone, in the end, meets the true and living God. There is no path that leads, ultimately, away from Him. The question isn’t whether all men will meet Him. The question is, when we meet Him, will we find His grace and love or His just wrath? All those who climb the mountain will find the former. All those who seem to think that their efforts can bring themselves to paradise are fruitless, futile and foolish. Every effort made by every man to secure salvation is simply something else we need to be saved from, to repent of.
When I hear this notion, “All religions are different paths to the same god” my mind immediately translates it into, “I know nothing about religion.” It is true enough that almost every religion is some variation of self-salvation, some different path up the mountain. The Christian faith, however, doesn’t meet that definition, doesn’t follow that path. The Christian faith is not about how men climb up their way to God but about how God descended His way down to men. It isn’t about how we sought Him out but how He sought us out. It isn’t about what we’ve accomplished for Him but what He has accomplished for us. It isn’t about the way up the mountain but the way down.
Every other religion begins with, “Here’s how.” The Christian faith begins with “Here’s Him.” They say, “You can do this.” He says, “I have done this.” The Christian faith may be old, widely believed, grounded in a holy book like Judaism and Islam. It is not, however, the same. For the message of old, rested in by all who believe and taught in the Holy Book is that we are dead in our sins; He suffered for us; and as we rest in Him we are welcomed into the loving arms of the very Father who sent Him for us.
The path to heaven comes down. He, having been brought down, lifted up, buried and raised, carries us up with Him. Hallelujah, hallelujah!
This is a brilliantly written explanation of why the Christian faith is different from all other religions. Thank you for this! The truth resonates in my heart and mind, and this post presents God’s truth as found in Scriptures like Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” I am grateful for men like you who proclaim and explain the Word, clearly and boldly.
Thank you Wayne.