Introduction to the Scripture Reading

In a passage rich with many interesting and thought-provoking verses, I'd like to focus today on verse six - "Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." To start out, I'm giving you an opportunity to eavesdrop on a heated conversation of some preachers discussing this verse as they prepared to preach on it. (This is not from my imagination; this is a real conversation.)

Preacher Tom begins with:

I am the way, the truth, and the life ...
We may interpret this narrowly, and assume that it is only through the Christian faith that one is brought to eternal life; or we may interpret, as Paul vanBuren does, that Christ is the Torah for the Gentile world, it is through Him that the Gentile world is brought to the God of Israel. This openness represents the nature of the New Testament - and suggests that we are called to see Christ as the bridge, as the gate ... and not the wall that prevents others, who live in the throes of darkness, to be left out of saving grace.

Reverend Rick responds:

It is not this passage, when literally read, that is the wall that prevents others from grasping at God's grace. It is attempting to read into it what it does not say, as to appease the pluralists and the multi-culturalists who want to water down any semblance of Christian truth, that builds that wall. The wall is built, as it always has been, by our unwillingness to submit and obey. It is this wall that leads to evil in our school hallways and most importantly, our hearts.

If we cannot preach this passage without wincing, or worrying about what the multi-culturalists, the New Agers, the ecumenical-ists hell-bent on unity at the expense of truth might say, then maybe, just maybe, we're not ready to preach at all. It's time, for the pulpits and the pews of every Christian church, to unashamedly stand for the gospel and the transforming power of God's Holy Spirit, a power that can conquer the world for Jesus Christ. A power that requires submission and obedience. Are we up to the task? The world awaits our submission, Christ awaits our obedience.

Now Preacher Jennifer replies:

I have two responses... One is that you threw around more labels than the canned goods aisle after an earthquake.... Secondly, well, I won't wince when I preach from this passage, but I might if I were to hear you. Of course Christians are those who do confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But that is a basis for teaching and leading, not hammering and generalizing about everyone else out there. Even we Christians are guilty of violence - just check church history, old and recent. There is plenty of responsibility and blame for all of us when it comes to issues like evil in our school hallways. Singer-songwriter Ani DeFranco has a great line that has often made me stop and think...it goes something like..."Every tool is a weapon if you hold it right."

Wow! I'm wondering just why I chose this passage! When I asked someone in our congregation what they would say if they were preaching on this passage, they said they'd either call in sick, or select a different Scripture! But in a world where we live next door to people of different faiths, when we have co-workers from around the world, when our children attend school with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists, how will we understand our faith living in the midst of this diversity?

In a world where various people of faith including Christians claim to have a corner on the truth, and passionately - even violently - push that truth on others, how will we get along? And how do we understand these words, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.

Often these words have been used to support the view that Christians are right, and the only true faith, a view of exclusivity, of superiority, of judgement. From these verses (and some others) there are those like Preacher Rick who see Christianity as the only true religion. It's rather black and white. You're either "in or out," believe the right or wrong thing, are going to heaven or hell.

Most of us here find that view uncomfortable or inadequate or untrue. Still, John tells us Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. Are there other ways to understand what Jesus was saying? Diana Eck, a professor at Harvard University, and a person who has worked in interfaith dialogue for years, offers two other ways to think about the Christian faith in the midst of other faiths. [Encountering God, p.170ff]

Dr. Eck describes an understanding of Jesus as "the way" in what she calls "inclusivism." In this view (C. S. Lewis would hold to this view) people of all faiths are all searching for one God. Whether they use the name of "Jesus" or not in that search, says this inclusivist view, they are still on the way of Christ. It's what some call the presence of "the anonymous Christ." Perhaps the Buddhist does not name a commitment to compassion as "Christ," it is, nevertheless, of Christ, and a way of following "the way" of Christ.

For the inclusivist Jesus can be the fullest expression of God's character and truth, but other faiths contain some of that truth too. Dr. Eck writes, "Christians should not be fearful or suspicious, therefore, of discovering the presence of God, which we know in Christ, in the religious lives of people of other faiths." [p. 92]. So some of us will find a home in this viewpoint - all faiths contain truth, all faiths lead to one God, some people of other faiths follow "the way" of Christ, even if that is not what they call it.

Dr. Eck offers another way of thinking about this question - "pluralism." The pluralist recognizes all faiths as valid - all moving toward God - although they may call that God by different names. Every faith is a completely valid way to God.

In his book Reimaginging Christianity, Connecting Your Spirit Without Disconnecting Your Mind, Alan Jones writes, "We can't help living in a particular place in a particular time, and walking a particular path. But we don't have to despise others for their particularities."

The pluralist says, "My faith is one way. Your faith is another way. We take different paths, and all the paths are valid and go to the same place."

So perhaps pluralism appeals to you as a way to understand various faiths existing at once.

I see I've strayed from our particular verse. Let's return to that upper room with Jesus and his followers and consider the context, to see if we can find more wisdom and light. This verse seems, as one person put it, to have "grown legs and walked out of its context." So let's revisit it, back in its context.

The disciples are confused and anxious, wondering what Jesus meant when he said he was going away. He answered their fears saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. These words are spoken as words of comfort; they are words Jesus spoke pastorally. They are not doctrine. They were not intended to be a theological lecture. Jesus did not speak dogma. These words were uttered in love and compassion - not condemnation.

So I rejoice that we can fully commit ourselves to be followers of Christ and still respect - and even learn from - the diversity of other faiths. I can be deeply committed to my faith, and not have to despise all other ways.

Someone shared this helpful analogy: I fell in love with Ralph. I have committed my heart and life to him. He is my life partner. But this exclusive commitment to him does not mean that I reject the worth and dignity of all other men or all other relationships for that matter. I can retain a clear and passionate commitment to Ralph, while at the very same moment appreciate others with whom I do not have this same relationship. In the same way I can be passionate in my commitment to be a follower of Christ while also rejoicing in the diverse paths of many faiths. A diversity Rabbi Jonathan Sachs (Dignity of Difference: How To Avoid the Clash of Civilizations) believes was actually created and intended by God.

Jesus said, "I am the way." What is that way? It's not a set of directions, or a "roadmap." It's a relationship.

Jesus said, "I am the way." What is that way? Look at Jesus. It is the way of inclusion. It is the way that welcomes all. If we look to Jesus' life to see what the way, the truth, and the life mean, if we look to Jesus' life to see who God is, if we look to Jesus' life to see the way in which we are to walk, we see him

The way of Jesus, the way we are invited to journey, is the way of love, compassion, openness, respect, sacrifice, authenticity, integrity, and transformation.

Alan Jones said it. "The final test of anyone's belief is how we treat each other."

Right doctrine will not save your soul. Correct theology will not bring peace to your heart or our world. Living "The Way" will.

In this coming week what action could you take, what could you do to intentionally get to know something about someone different from you? In this coming year, how might you move from simply tolerating those who are different to actually learning from them, letting yourself be transformed by someone through whom you'll see God in a new way?

Jesus said, "I am the way"

He didn't leave us a map . . .
He left us a life . . .

And an invitation -
"I am the way.
Come, follow me."

What will you do?