A respected friend who prided himself on his self-proclaimed atheism bombarded me with these questions: “If your Christ is the Truth as you say he is, doesn’t that make all other religions and beliefs false? Isn’t that more rather exclusive, arrogant and intolerant?”
I replied that truth by its very nature and definition is exclusive. Therefore, in its absolute character it does not meet the contemporary “politically correct” test. The truth is exclusive.
The law of non-contradiction in logic is that two opposite statements cannot both be true. The truth stands alone and contradicts other beliefs as an absolute, leaving no choice but to believe or not believe. An example of one of the most classic historical cases is Jesus the Christ who claimed not to be a way, but to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. He even went further in claiming himself to be God.
This exclusive claim of Christ to be the Truth presents a problem for those who say that there is no truth or that there is truth in all religions. “Political correctness” would say don’t go there. The legislative initiatives would try to deny the freedom to speak publicly of the exclusivity of the Truth, thus reducing it to the lowest common denominator: an unrecognizable drop of nothing. The prevailing culture of secular relativism has provided a platform for “political correctness” to thrive in the name of tolerance, but itself is becoming increasingly intolerant of the free expression of truth. Why should political correctness deny free speech as long as we have mutual respect for the rights of others to freely express beliefs, values, and uncovered truths? Anything less goes against First Amendment rights and even universal human rights. This intolerance disproportionately targets followers of Christ, largely due to their belief in his exclusive claims.
Jesus Christ made some incredible claims that could only be True if He were God. Dr. Peter Kreeft of Boston College said of Christ: “If He is not God as He claims to be, then He is an idiot, not a sage. If He is God, then all other religions, however great truths they may contain, they may be nothing more than torn pieces of the ‘seamless’ garment of Christ… The traditional triumphant claim of superiority over all other religions is not a claim on Christianity (and certainly not on Christians), but a claim of Jesus the Christ Himself.” Some say that Christ is “just one way to God among many.” It would be more intellectually honest for them to say that Christ is a liar because he claimed to be the only way to God and to be God himself. Fortunately, they can still say that without fear or threat and even be respected as human beings.
Can you imagine, in contrast to Dr. Kreeft’s statement, the response if a similar statement were made about Muhammad, the Koran, or a caricature of a Muslim or anyone else? Aren’t life-threatening responses the ultimate expression of intolerance? Is the cultural race to “political correctness” motivated by fear or freedom of expression? Every time writers, publishers, and citizens fear the repercussions and institute policies that deny free speech and raise the definition of “hate crimes” to deny that free speech, freedom will desert us. Ironically, the growing backlash to this prevailing “politically correct” culture is creating the hotbed for a brave new leadership to rise up and take back, secure and preserve the free speech we love. This is the genius of our founding fathers’ gift to us of the best, albeit finite, democratic system of “We the People” rising up to keep freedom’s cracked and imperfect bell ringing.
The world-renowned scholar and author, CS Lewis, clearly saw the problem of Truth, had rejected and rediscovered it when he wrote: “A man who was just a man and said the kind of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.” .Or he would be a lunatic, on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg, or he would be the devil from hell, or a madman or something worse.You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit him out and kill him like a demon, or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God, but let’s not come up with any condescending nonsense about Him being a great human teacher or just another prophet, He hasn’t gone away opening up to us, He didn’t mean to do it “.
Isn’t the arrogance of “political correctness” demanding tolerance greater than the arrogance of a statement of Truth offering choice? Since truth by definition is exclusive, it does not necessarily follow that it is dispensed arrogantly. In fact, the Bible commands to “speak the truth in love.” Both politically correct advocates and Truth believers may share their beliefs, but believers, particularly Christ followers, are the main targets of discrimination. A good scientist would not dismiss a phenomenon without first examining its essence, content, and evidence. Interviews over the past 50 years have confirmed that most people who dismiss Christ’s claims have not taken the time to carefully examine his claim to be the Truth. Most have never read the entire Bible or even the Gospels where Christ’s claims are found, made in the first person.
The biblical approach to Christ’s claim to be the Truth comes with an offer and a choice. There can be no love without choice. Living is choosing. If Christ is the Truth, then we have the option of considering his claims and the evidence for those claims. The truth can stand the test of scrutiny and can set those who are honest seekers free. The rewards are amazing, because by finding Christ, who claimed to be the Truth, we are freed to be all that God intended us to be. It is our exclusive choice. The Bible says: “Choose yourselves today whom you will serve…” “You can know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The invitation as presented in the Scriptures is: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” That is an option offered with an RSVP, as well as an option to not RSVP.
Extending an election invitation is not imposed proselytism. If you choose not to believe, then you bear the consequences of your choice. You are likely to go your own way independently of God, living a life of “quiet despair” with no certainty of hope, heaven, meaning, or purpose, simply chasing the wind. Your mode is self-gratification, “eat, drink and be happy because tomorrow you will die.” This could lead to an unnecessary lonely and bitter ending.
Doesn’t choice have more virtue of purpose than being “politically correct” that imposes an empty demand for meaning and denies freedom of expression to others who disagree? Does having the choice to choose Truth, and the freedom that flows from embracing it, offer a greater certainty of being freed to be all that God made you to be? It’s up to you. It’s your choice. Isn’t it better to be right if Christ is the Truth than to be politically correct and live with the uncertainty of what is true and risk being wrong? If the truth determines one’s destiny, as well as the meaning and purpose of one’s life here, does it not deserve the highest priority to examine all the evidence in your search for the truth?
The ultimate mark of tolerance is in the freedom to choose. The truth is irreducible and therefore demands a verdict either by our choice or by our fault. For the believer that decision means a certainty of Hope now and forever and for the unbeliever a future of uncertainty empty of Truth. “You can know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”
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