Views: 1<\/p>
\u00a0The term pluralism<\/em>, when applied to religion, lauds diversity. Wikipedia<\/em> states: \u201creligious pluralism holds that no single religion can claim absolute authority to teach absolute truth.\u201d It insists that various religions (e.g., Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, et al.), are all equally viable in their respective \u201ctruth claims.\u201d Acceptance of the diverse (and contradictory) concepts of deity (e.g., dualism, polytheism, pantheism, Greek mythology, monotheism, et al.) logically follows for the pluralist.<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the ultimate pluralist was Bah\u00e1’u’ll\u00e1h, founder of Bah\u00e1’\u00ed Faith. He taught \u201cGod is one\u201d and that Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, and (predictably) himself are all God\u2019s messengers.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Christianity does not allow Christians to (1) force their religion on others, (2) prevent non-Christians from practicing their religion, or (3) seek to make converts by any means besides preaching the Gospel of Christ (Mark 16:15\u201316). However, one simply cannot believe the Bible and believe in pluralism.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The Bible unabashedly reveals and describes one God, the Creator of all things, Who alone is worthy of honor and obedience by His creation (monotheism). Hundreds of passages from both Old and New Testaments forbid the worship of anything or any being besides the \u201ctrue and living\u201d God. The great summary of them all is the first of the Ten Commandments, which solemnly begins: \u201cThou shalt have no other gods before me\u201d (Exo. 20:3\u20135). One may disagree with and reject what the Bible teaches in this regard, but none can deny that it so teaches.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Likewise, one cannot accept pluralism and Bible teaching concerning the identity of God\u2019s \u201cmessengers.\u201d Although Abraham was not really a messenger of God, God spoke to him on many occasions (e.g., Gen. 12:1\u20133; 15:7; 17:1; 18:23\u201332; et al.). Moses was indeed God\u2019s prophet and lawgiver. Upon his death, the Bible said of him: \u201cAnd there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face\u201d (Deu. 34:10).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Jesus is not merely \u201cone of God\u2019s messengers.\u201d He is the Messiah\/Christ of the Old Testament prophets (Mat. 1:21\u201323; Luke 1:26\u201333; Acts 3:19\u201326; et al.). He alone is the Savior of mankind from sin and its eternal consequences (Luke 19:10; John 3:16; 8:24; Heb. 7:25; et al.). He alone\u2014not Krishna, Buddha, Mohammed, Baha\u2019i, nor any other\u2014can bring men to God (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5\u20136). Again, men may reject this teaching, but the Bible undeniably teaches it.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/em>Denton, TX, April 27, 2007].<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1 Note: \u00a0This MS is available in \u00a0larger font on our Brief\u00a0Articles\u00a0page.] \u00a0The term pluralism, when applied to religion, lauds diversity. Wikipedia states: \u201creligious pluralism holds that no single religion can claim absolute authority to teach absolute truth.\u201d It insists that various religions (e.g.,…<\/p>\n