Frankie Rodriquez

I can appreciate a fairly wide swath of theological differences within the Christian Church. But there is one doctrine that is being increasingly challenged…and I can have no part of promulgating it. For the sake of appearing tolerant or non-judgmental there are many who make the claim that Jesus is the way of access to God for them, but that Jesus is not necessary for those of other faiths. Their “access” to God may be something or someone else, but since we all worship the same God, they say, there is no need to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Therefore, there is no need to evangelize. We are made to believe that it isn’t very hip or cool or contemporary. Between the lines they are saying that any attempt to share the Good News of salvation in Jesus is intolerant, judging, inconsiderate and (get this) not very Christian.

The argument fails to engage the Christian canon of Holy Scripture and the very words spoken by Jesus and shared for the whole world to hear. Jesus’ most emphatic, clear and doctrinal statement is spoken when he shared a meal with them the evening prior to his execution. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” said Jesus in the most solemn of occasions. If there is one thing I want you to remember, he says, is that you must believe in me so that God will receive you into His presence.

The Greek Language of the New Testament has definite articles, but there are no indefinite articles. “The” exists but “a, an” do not. When a writer wants to convey an indefinite article it is done by not using the definite article. All manuscripts contain the definite article—“the” way, “the” truth and “the” life. They are unambiguous. This is the core of Christian doctrine and belief. It is the faith handed down to us by the Apostles. It is the message for which many have given their lives to proclaim.

I can do no less. Christianity was not founded on what Jesus taught but rather on who Jesus is. He is the Son of God, the Holy One who has come into the world, the Word, the Beginning and the End, the Savior and the Redeemer, the God who became man. Note the definite articles.

This new church plant to which God has called me will be based on the uniqueness of Christ. We will reach out to those who are lost and do not know their salvation. This new church will undertake the mission to minister in the truth of the authoritative and inspired Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. We will not want anyone to eternally die. My heart breaks for them. We will love and serve all folk, and we will share with them the wonderful work of salvation that we have received in our lives.

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