I recently stumbled upon an advertisement for Pluralism Sunday. Here’s a taste of what they’re serving up:

Progressive Christians thank God for religious diversity! We don’t claim that our religion is superior to all others.

My question to someone espousing such an inclusivist view: “If your religion isn’t superior, why do you bother with it?” If you believe this, then you don’t believe Jesus (John 14:6) and you aren’t a Christian. The only thing you have left to say is that Jesus was a good teacher; and that has no merit whatsoever.

So, since you aren’t actually a Christian… You’re right! Your religion isn’t better than any other.

We recognize that other religions can be as good for others as ours is for us.

If you hold to this belief you will derive the same benefit as adherents to Buddhism, Mormonism and Hinduism. Since this religion has nothing to do with Christianity, it yields the same fruit as all the others: nothing.

If other religions are just as good as Christianity, why did Jesus command we make disciples of all
nations? (Matt 28:19) Why did Paul bother to evangelize to people who already had religion? (Acts 17:24-31) Why are the epistles filled with admonishments to evangelism? Christianity is superior to all other religions – it provides the grace that is absent from all the rest.

A Christianity that credits Christ as equal to Gandhi, Buddha or Mohamed has no salvation.

We can grow closer to God and deeper in compassion—and we can understand our own traditions better—through a more intimate awareness of the world’s religions.

There is nothing wrong with growing closer to God or growing deeper in compassion. Problem arise, however, when they are approached improperly: when fellowship is with the wrong god (since, again, this isn’t related to the Christian God) and compassion becomes an end in itself. From this worldview they are tools of serving humanity.

Christianity is about serving God. (Gal 1:10)

Granted, this service certainly manifests itself in the service of humanity (Matt 25:40). The difference is that one is done on behalf of and to Christ. The other is done to the god of secular humanism.

On PLURALISM SUNDAY, churches celebrate elements of other world faiths in their sermons, litanies, and music; many feature speakers and singers from other faith traditions.

Thanks, but I’d rather celebrate Jesus. (Eph 3:20-21)

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Further Reading:
Is Your Faith an Impostor?
“Am I a Christian?” Where is your Righteousness?
Pyromaniacs – The Neo-Liberal Stealth Offensive