A Convenient Distraction

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6).  It causes Christians trying to make sense of a very pluralistic world a fair amount of embarrassment.  Just how exclusive is this “no one”? 

 

We know plenty of people of other faiths—Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, and others—and for that matter, plenty of people of  no faith at all, who are people of good will, who care for the poor, who strive for justice and peace.  How can this be?  Surely “no one” is, at the very least, hyperbole.  Still, Jesus said it, and that means we must come to terms with it in the context of a world of many faiths and of no faith, in a world of vast challenges that require the cooperation of all across even boundaries of religion.  Jesus leaves us with a big question to ponder about where other faiths fit into the order of things. 

But there is a previous question.  In fact, what Jesus said about the way, the truth, the life, and coming to the Father was itself the answer to a question even if it leaves with a very great one.  Jesus spoke these words in answer to a question from one of the apostles, Thomas.  Speaking of Jesus imminent death, Thomas, as he is known to do, asked the question on everyone’s mind:  “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”  (v. 5)

It is a question worth asking.  Do we know the way?  That’s what Jesus was trying to get us to think about.

Thinking much about where Christians stand in relation to those of other faiths or of no faith is a convenient distraction from the main question—“How can we know the way?”—and its answer—“I am the way.”  I don’t have time to deal with the other one until I’ve dealt with that one.  Somehow, I think it may take me a while.

Peace,