I Doubt That - Q3
Question
Question:
So I struggle with thinking Jesus is the way (for me) but not THE way. I have
always felt that each person finds their way to heaven.
Answer:
Thank you for your honesty—
that’s a deep and thoughtful question, and you’re not alone in wrestling with it. Many
people, especially those who care about others from different backgrounds and beliefs, struggle with the idea that Jesus could be the only way to God.
First, it’s okay to begin with where you are. Christianity invites people into a relationship,
not just a system of belief. And questioning or wrestling with faith often means you’re engaging sincerely.
1. Jesus’ own words make and exclusive claim, but with an inclusive invitation.
In John 14:6, Jesus says:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
This is a bold, exclusive claim. But Jesus didn’t make it as a harsh ultimatum—
it was said tenderly to His disciples just before His death, as a comfort. He wasn't just giving them a theological bullet point; He was offering Himself as the trustworthy way to God.
The invitation of Jesus is open to all—regardless of background, race, past, or intellect
(John 3:16, Matthew 11:28). The exclusivity is in the way, not in who gets to come.
2. The Early Church Struggled with This Too—and Held Firm in Love.
The first Christians lived in a pluralistic world, surrounded by many gods and belief systems. But they still declared, as Peter did in Acts 4:12:
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Yet they didn’t force this truth—
they lived it out through love, service, and humility, often at great personal cost. They believed Jesus wasn’t just a truth among many, but the one who embodied truth itself.
3. What About Those Who Never Hear of Jesus?
That’s a common question behind this struggle—
and the Bible gives us hints but not full closure. What we do know is that:
• God is perfectly just and merciful (Genesis 18:25).
• He desires all people to be saved and to know the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
• He has revealed Himself in creation and conscience (Romans 1–2).
So we trust God’s character with what we don’t know, and hold onto Jesus with what we do.
4. Why Jesus as the Way Still Matters:
If Jesus is who He said He is—the Son of God, God in the flesh—
then He doesn’t just show us the path, He is the path. His life, death, and resurrection weren’t just good examples; they were the bridge between a holy God and a broken world.
Believing in Him isn’t arrogant or dismissive of others—
it’s responding to the love of a God who came to find us. And part of following Him is also being a witness of that love to others, not with pride, but with compassion and patience.
A Final Thought:
It’s okay to wrestle with this tension. God can handle our questions. But don’t let the desire to honor others’ experiences keep you from embracing what you may know deep down to be true. Jesus is not just one option on a spiritual menu; He is the bread of life offered freely to all.
So I struggle with thinking Jesus is the way (for me) but not THE way. I have
always felt that each person finds their way to heaven.
Answer:
Thank you for your honesty—
that’s a deep and thoughtful question, and you’re not alone in wrestling with it. Many
people, especially those who care about others from different backgrounds and beliefs, struggle with the idea that Jesus could be the only way to God.
First, it’s okay to begin with where you are. Christianity invites people into a relationship,
not just a system of belief. And questioning or wrestling with faith often means you’re engaging sincerely.
1. Jesus’ own words make and exclusive claim, but with an inclusive invitation.
In John 14:6, Jesus says:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”
This is a bold, exclusive claim. But Jesus didn’t make it as a harsh ultimatum—
it was said tenderly to His disciples just before His death, as a comfort. He wasn't just giving them a theological bullet point; He was offering Himself as the trustworthy way to God.
The invitation of Jesus is open to all—regardless of background, race, past, or intellect
(John 3:16, Matthew 11:28). The exclusivity is in the way, not in who gets to come.
2. The Early Church Struggled with This Too—and Held Firm in Love.
The first Christians lived in a pluralistic world, surrounded by many gods and belief systems. But they still declared, as Peter did in Acts 4:12:
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Yet they didn’t force this truth—
they lived it out through love, service, and humility, often at great personal cost. They believed Jesus wasn’t just a truth among many, but the one who embodied truth itself.
3. What About Those Who Never Hear of Jesus?
That’s a common question behind this struggle—
and the Bible gives us hints but not full closure. What we do know is that:
• God is perfectly just and merciful (Genesis 18:25).
• He desires all people to be saved and to know the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).
• He has revealed Himself in creation and conscience (Romans 1–2).
So we trust God’s character with what we don’t know, and hold onto Jesus with what we do.
4. Why Jesus as the Way Still Matters:
If Jesus is who He said He is—the Son of God, God in the flesh—
then He doesn’t just show us the path, He is the path. His life, death, and resurrection weren’t just good examples; they were the bridge between a holy God and a broken world.
Believing in Him isn’t arrogant or dismissive of others—
it’s responding to the love of a God who came to find us. And part of following Him is also being a witness of that love to others, not with pride, but with compassion and patience.
A Final Thought:
It’s okay to wrestle with this tension. God can handle our questions. But don’t let the desire to honor others’ experiences keep you from embracing what you may know deep down to be true. Jesus is not just one option on a spiritual menu; He is the bread of life offered freely to all.
Posted in I Doubt That