Dub McClish
The term pluralism, when applied to religion, lauds diversity. Wickipedia states: “religious pluralism holds that no single religion can claim absolute authority to teach absolute truth.” It insists that various religions (e.g., Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, et al.), are all equally viable in their respective “truth claims.” Acceptance of the diverse (and contradictory) concepts of deity (e.g., dualism, polytheism, pantheism, Greek mythology, monotheism, et al.) logically follows for the pluralist.
Perhaps the ultimate pluralist was Bahá’u’lláh, founder of Bahá’í Faith. He taught “God is one” and that Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, and (predictably) himself are all God’s messengers.
Christianity does not allow Christians to (1) force their religion on others, (2) prevent non-Christians from practicing their religion, or (3) seek to make converts by any means besides preaching the Gospel of Christ (Mark 16:15–16). However, one simply cannot believe the Bible and believe in pluralism.
The Bible unabashedly reveals and describes one God, the Creator of all things, Who alone is worthy of honor and obedience by His creation (monotheism). Hundreds of passages from both Old and New Testaments forbid the worship of anything or any being besides the “true and living” God. The great summary of them all is the first of the Ten Commandments, which solemnly begins: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exo. 20:3–5). One may disagree with and reject what the Bible teaches in this regard, but none can deny that it so teaches.
Likewise, one cannot accept pluralism and Bible teaching concerning the identity of God’s “messengers.” Although Abraham was not really a messenger of God, God spoke to him on many occasions (e.g., Gen. 12:1–3; 15:7; 17:1; 18:23–32; et al.). Moses was indeed God’s prophet and lawgiver. Upon his death, the Bible said of him: “And ther e hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face” (Deu. 34:10).
Jesus is not merely “one of God’s messengers.” He is the Messiah/Christ of the Old Testament prophets (Mat. 1:21–23; Luke 1:26–33; Acts 3:19–26; et al.). He alone is the Savior of mankind from sin and its eternal consequences (Luke 19:10; John 3:16; 8:24; Heb. 7:25; et al.). He alone—not Krishna, Buddha, Mohammed, Baha’i, nor any other—can bring men to God (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5-6). Again, men may reject this teaching, but the Bible undeniably teaches it.
