This was originally written for Evangelicals Today magazine. I repost it every year on September 11.
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September 11, 2001. As always, I phoned my dad to wish him a happy
birthday. I was getting ready for bed in Manila. He was getting ready
for work in Mississippi. After a brief discussion about the US stock
market, I handed the phone to my three sons so they could speak to their
grandfather. As soon as we hung up, I heard my wife calling, "Quick,
you have to see this. A plane just crashed into a building in New York!"
Like thousands of others around the globe, I was glued to CNN for the
next few hours, watching in disbelief as three more planes crashed,
killing thousands, wounding a nation, and terrorizing the world. Over
the next few days the news moved me to tears, to anger, and to prayer.
I was amazed that the same news producers who usually mock and vilify
preachers, were now putting them on primetime asking their perspective
on the attack. The line-up included Billy Graham, Franklin Graham, TD
Jakes, Dr. James Dobson, and others. Courtesy of CNN, these men probably
preached the gospel to more people that week than at any other time in
their lives.
Of course, the newscasters interviewed plenty of "experts" who had
nothing to say, but kept talking anyway. I did not know whether to laugh
or cry when they interviewed novelist, Tom Clancy. I suppose he
qualified as an expert on terrorism because he once wrote a novel about a
hijacked plane that crashed into a building. It's a sad commentary on
contemporary culture when all it takes to be an expert is the ability to
make up a good story. Here's what Mr. Clancy had to say about the
situation: "We need to be careful not to overreact to this. We must
realize that WE ALL SERVE THE SAME GOD OF LOVE."
Do we all serve the same God? Do all religions present a God of love?
Tom's comments about the tragedy are typical of most post-modern
pseudo-intellectuals. Unfortunately even Christians get sucked into this
pagan way of thinking. It is my hope that the events of September 11
will forever expose and crush the following myths that corrode the
foundations of the Faith.
THE MYTH OF RELIGIOUS SINCERITY
Anyone who was ever attempted to be a witness has heard some variation
of this statement: "As long as you are sincere, it doesn't really matter
what you believe or which religion you follow." It seems that sincerity
has replaced truth as the ultimate religious issue of our day.
Unfortunately, many today are sincerely wrong.
Suppose we are both on a sinking ship and neither of us can swim. We
are told to get into the inflatable lifeboats and we will be safe. We
both sincerely believe what we are told and act accordingly. You get in
one boat and I get in the other. One problem: my boat has a hole in it
and sinks. It does not matter how sincerely I believe the boat will save
me, if it has a hole then my sincerity is useless. Unfortunately many
people sincerely believe in religions and philosophies that are filled
with holes, destined to sink.
Don't ever forget that the pilots who crashed into the World Trade
Center towers, killing thousands of innocent people, were very sincere
in their service to their god. This is the result of elevating human
sincerity above divine truth. Let September 11 be a reminder that truth,
not sincerity is the ultimate issue.
THE MYTH OF RELIGIOUS EQUALITY
Another common myth everyone engaged in evangelism has heard goes something like this: "All religions lead to the same God."
If one person studies and practices the teachings of the Bible,
another the Koran, another the Veda, another the Book of Mormon, will
their values, beliefs, and lifestyles be the same? Of course not,
because all religions are NOT basically the same, they are fundamentally
different.
For example, Jesus taught his followers to love and serve pagans in
hope that they will voluntarily turn to the true God. Even if this has
not been obeyed in history, this is what Jesus taught. And it is a far
cry form declaring holy war on infidels and unbelievers.
So, do all religions ultimately lead to the same God? Do all roads
really end up at the same place? Does it matter which road you take if
you are trying to go home? Of course it matters because all roads do not
lead to the same house. If you take the wrong road, you will not reach
your destination, no matter how sincere you may be.
When Thomas said to Jesus: "Lord, we do not know where you are going,
so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5) Jesus did not answer: "Thomas,
my son, it does not matter which way you go because all paths
ultimately lead to God."
No! Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Jesus was very
narrow. He said there was only one way, not several options.
May the same acts of violence that took the lives of thousands of
innocent people also destroy the myths that blind the minds of millions
around the world.
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