Religious communities tend to fall into either one of two categories:
Exclusivism- Some faith groups believe that they have a monopoly on God's truth. Subsequently, they are of the notion that if someone is not affiliated with their particular group, or does not subscribe to the beliefs and tenets of that group, that they cannot have a relationship with God. For them, a relationship with God is contingent on being a "member of the club," and affirming the ideology of the club.
Inclusion: There are other faith groups that believe that their belief system is the best expression of God's truth, but that a relationship with God is not contingent on being affiliated with them. They will even go as far as believing and saying that kernels (both great and small) of God's truth are found in all religious communities and belief systems. Some in this group might even subscribe to the notion that that there are "different paths leading to the mountain top." They will also engage, on occasion, with other faith groups in ecumenical and interfaith activities and dialogue.
The Christian Church tends to oscillate between those two poles. There are some Christian groups that are exclusive because they believe that all other groups (including other groups calling themselves "Christian") are false, and that their belief system is either satanically inspired, or generated by a sincere, but misguided interpretation of Scripture. Then there are other Christian groups that believe that their doctrine and theology is the best, though not perfect expression of God's truth. They will have fellowship (limited, albeit) with other Christian groups. They will not be quick to join the bandwagon of demonizing these other groups or consigning them to eternal condemnation.
The one area in which the Christian faith seems to reflect a spirit of exclusivism is that of the claim that Jesus is the only way to God. In the Gospel accounts, especially that of John, we find Jesus saying "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes unto the Father except through me." The writer of the book of Acts has Peter and the Apostles proclaiming that "there is no other name, given unto humans whereby we must be saved." And then we have the Apostle Paul saying that "there is only one mediator between God and humans, i.e. the man Christ Jesus." It appears that the thrust of the totality of the Christian Scriptures (New Testament) has an emphasis on Jesus being the only way to God. So the question then is, is Jesus really the only way for us to have a relationship with God? The answer to that question will depend on:
1. How we read Scripture. Many Christians read the Scriptures very superficially and disregard both context and the language which Scripture employs. They resort to what a good friend of mine calls the "quick to verse" approach, without taking into consideration the cultural and social context of the particular passage and text of Scripture that they are quoting. They also fail to ask if the language of Scripture in that particular passage is literal, allegorical, metaphorical, or symbolic. They assume that it is literal and that it must be taken at face value, with no questions asked.
2. How we view Jesus. Christian theology has historically affirmed that Jesus is the pre-incarnate God, who took upon Himself a human body in order to achieve God's salvific actions of liberation and redemption for all of humankind. It is precisely at this point that we encounter some complexity.
If Jesus is, as is believed in the Christian community, "God in the flesh," then what was Jesus before being humanly embodied? John tells us in his Gospel account that "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Then he goes on to mention that "the Word became flesh (human) and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father." John intimates very clearly that this entity referred to as "the Word" prior to His incarnation, and as "Jesus" after the incarnation, existed alongside of God, and was in fact, part of Godself prior to taking on a human body.
This then leads us to ask if this pre-incarnate being was manifested to and revealed to other cultures, nationalities, and races prior to taking on human form in Bethlehem of Judaea? Did other ethnic, national, and racial groups experience a "Christophany (manifestation of Christ)" prior to Jesus coming to earth as a human being? Is it possible that they had an encounter or experience "with the Word" prior to Jesus coming to earth? Is it possible that other groups experienced a Christophany after Jesus came to earth and prior to hearing the Gospel proclaimed to them? Is it possible that other groups have experienced the Christ even after the Christian faith came into vogue?
This writer believes in and affirms the "Christ principle," i.e. that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life." Having said that, however, I affirm this principle in a cosmic sense, i.e. that Jesus is not the exclusive or sole property of the Church. I believe in the Cosmic Christ, who is known through nature, and through various expressions, including some expressions which are not necessarily Christian. As a Christian in the Reformed tradition, which strongly emphasizes the sovereignty of God, I strongly believe that God manifests and reveals Godself through whichever manners and means He/She chooses to.
I have never read anything in the New Testament that says Jesus requires people of other faith groups outside of the Judaeo-Christian tradition to discard their prior beliefs in order to be considered His followers. Neither do we find Paul (Apostle to the Gentiles) badgering people about their beliefs nor requiring them to shed their prior religious baggage in order to be included in God's beloved community.
Will I as a follower of Jesus or as a Minister of the Gospel, ever tell a Buddhist, a Hindu, or a Muslim that for them to follow Jesus, they must stop being what they are? Since I have read or heard anything about Jesus doing that, and since I believe that people experience the Cosmic Christ in ways different than ours as a result of God's sovereignty, I would never do that.
I invite you, the reader, to share with us your position on affirming the Christ-principle without requiring that one must cease to be Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, or whatever. I look forward to your response and engaging with us on this subject.
Grace and peace,
Dr. Juan A. Ayala-Carmona
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