Is There Only One True Faith?
This week, we’re diving into Chapter 3 of Confronting Christianity, which asks one of the most controversial questions in our culture today: How can you say there’s only one true faith? This is a tough chapter to summarize because it covers so many concepts. That’s why I’ll be pulling from both the book and insights from Kalos Church to help us process this conversation together.
The Story of the Blind Men and the Elephant
One of the most popular arguments for religious pluralism—the belief that all religions are equally valid paths to truth—is the ancient Hindu parable of the blind men and the elephant. Each blind man touches a different part of the elephant and describes it differently:
The trunk feels like a snake.
The ear feels like a fan.
The leg feels like a tree trunk.
The side feels like a wall.
The tail feels like a rope.
The tusk feels like a spear.
The lesson? Each man is experiencing only part of the truth. This story is often used to suggest that all religions contain partial truth but none can claim to see the whole picture. It’s a powerful analogy—but it has serious flaws.
Rebecca McLaughlin points out seven problems with this illustration:
The Problem of Respect – Disagreement is not the same as disrespect. True respect means engaging with opposing ideas, not simply accepting all beliefs as equally true.
The Problem of Truth – If all religions claim to be true but contradict each other, can they all be right?
The Problem of History – Religious truth is tied to historical events. If Christianity’s claims are historical (like Jesus’ resurrection), they can’t just be one perspective among many.
The Problem of Conversion – If all religions are true, why do so many people convert from one to another?
The Problem of Ethics – If religions teach conflicting moral values, how do we decide which are right?
The Problem of Monotheism – Belief in one God is by nature exclusive. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all claim there is only one God.
The Problem of Jesus – Jesus didn’t claim to be a way to God; He claimed to be the way.
Jesus’ Exclusive Claim
At the heart of Christianity is this radical claim from Jesus:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." —John 14:6
This is not an invitation to pick any path. Jesus doesn’t say, Follow whatever feels right to you. Instead, He makes an exclusive claim—one that forces us to decide what we believe.
Some argue that exclusivity is intolerant. But all belief systems draw lines somewhere. Even religious pluralism, which claims that all religions are equally valid, excludes those who say only one faith is true. As Kalos Church put it, false tolerance pretends to accept all beliefs until someone disagrees.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13–14 make this even clearer:
"You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
The Inclusivity of Jesus
At the same time, Jesus is radically inclusive. He invites everyone to come to Him:
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16
"This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth." —1 Timothy 2:3-4
Jesus welcomes all people, but He does not accept all paths. He offers the only way to salvation, not just one option among many.
Something happened 2,000 years ago that changed history—so much so that even non-Christian historians recognize Jesus’ impact. The question is: what do we do with that?
Discussion
Do you think it’s intolerant to say there is only one true faith? Why or why not?
What do you think about Jesus’ claim in John 14:6? How does it challenge cultural ideas of religious pluralism?
Why do you think Jesus' message is both exclusive and inclusive at the same time?
If someone asked you, “Why Jesus?” how would you respond?
What stood out to you most from this chapter?
If this conversation resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Let’s wrestle with these big questions together.
