The Only Way (John 14)

We live in a world where all religions are created equal.  The United States was founded on the principle that people can worship or refrain from worship however they choose in total freedom, and in that environment we have people from all faith systems.  The media encourages us to believe one of two things: all faith systems are valid or no faith systems are valid.  But in today’s reading Jesus highlighted one of the crucial foundations of Christianity.  Unfortunately, it’s the thing that makes Christianity unpopular: exclusivity.  Jesus said that the only way to the Father is through him.  It’s exclusive because of what he said and not because Christians have tried to make it that way.  But take note of this: other faith systems are based on behavior – did I behave good enough to get it?  Did my good deeds outweigh my bad ones?  Not so with Christianity.  Everyone gets in the same way: through Christ by believing that he died for our sins.  All faith systems aren’t equal, and to claim that Christianity is just like all of the others isn’t doing it justice.  In fact, if Jesus wasn’t telling the truth, then he must have been crazy or lying.  I don’t particularly want to give my life to a crazy person or one who builds his life on lies.  And yet there’s truth to the fact that I can’t ever behave good enough – no matter how much resolve I have – to earn my way into the good graces of any deity.  Thankfully, Christianity isn’t about what you do; it’s about trusting in what was done on your behalf.