QUESTION:

It seems that I have been having some difficulty explaining to a friend of mine why exactly I believe in Christianity and not the hundreds of other faiths that exist in the world, why our faith is the "correct" one. He wants to know how is it that God can condemn people who believe in many other religions to hell because that is the only thing that they have been exposed to. I’ve been asked this question in different contexts many times before but never been able to give a concrete answer, neither for those who’ve asked or personally. I’d like to get some insight into this, if possible.

ANSWER:

Why believe in Christianity rather than the (supposedly) hundreds of other religions?

Because it’s true.

This is simple enough isn’t it? While some religions might provide you with a way, some truth, and a life, if biblical Christianity is true, then Jesus of Nazareth is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life, and no one can come to the one true God except through Him (John 14:6).  If biblical Christianity is true, then there is no other name by which human beings can be saved (Acts 4:12) and therefore no reason to search for salvation elsewhere. Christianity is exclusive, so if it is completely true, it excludes any other religion from being completely true.

If you have followed this so far, then you can see that the real issue isn’t whether you have inductively surveyed every religion in the world and exhaustively compared and contrasted each against the others (after all, neither has your friend!). The question is: is Christianity true?

Now I haven’t proven that Christianity is true and reasonable simply by asserting it. That is the task of Christian apologetics, which is what this website is all about. If all the relevant domains of human knowledge (history, science, philosophy, etc.) yield sound reasons and solid evidence in favor of the truth of Christianity, we are well within our rights to submit to that truth and follow Jesus. It is not based on simple-minded ignorance or arrogance (as your friend seems to be suggesting), but based on reasoning from the available evidence, like any other rational decision.

Are adherents of other religions being unjustly condemned to hell for not being exposed to Christianity? According to the Bible, it is human sin that represses God’s truth and motivates the creation of flawed false religions in its place (Romans 1:18- 25). It is each individual’s own evil acts that condemn him before God (Isaiah 59:1-2), not his "not being exposed to Christianity." As the apostle Paul said, "Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31). Jesus is their only sure way to be reconciled to God, so spreading this saving message is essential.

Dan Conder