Mondo Gonzales, Pastor of CrossRoads Community Church – New Lenox
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV).
We live in a time when one of the worst things to be called is intolerant or narrow-minded. The relativistic culture today is one that seemingly accepts all opinions as being equally true or valid. According to this reasoning, no single person has the right to proclaim that they have the Truth (with a capital T). This is especially true as it comes to religion. One common idea is that all religions somehow lead to God and heaven. What does the Bible say about all these? Jesus spoke very clearly in the above verse that all other religions that don’t enter through the narrow way lead to destruction. Jesus also said that He is the narrow way that leads to life and that apart from going through Him, no one will get to heaven or God (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
So… the question remains, “Is God narrow-minded?” The answer is “Yes!” The Bible teaches that God has offered only one way of salvation for humanity and that it is through His Son Jesus whom He sent to this earth because of His great love for us (John 3:16). Now some might argue that God is somehow unfair or outright intolerant by rejecting any religious belief that doesn’t go through His Son Jesus. However, I believe this misrepresents God’s amazing and generous love for mankind (1 John 3:1). Let me explain.
The Bible teaches that every person on earth has fallen short of God’s standard and is worthy of eternal judgment (Romans 3:23; 6:23). So what does God owe the world? Due to God’s holiness, He owes this world and all its sinfulness nothing but judgment, wrath, and punishment. Now before we get too gloomy, we must also remember that the God of the Bible is a God of compassion, love, forgiveness, and mercy (Exodus 34:6-7). Looking down at humanity and realizing that He would be right to judge all of us due to His holiness, God instead has chosen to graciously offer us ONE way of salvation. This is certainly not because we deserve it, but because He is gracious. This one way was made available by the sending of His Son Jesus to come down and die on a cross as our substitute (Isaiah 53:4). The reason God will not accept other ways is because He has offered one way that is free (Romans 5:16). God paid the ticket to heaven for us by offering us His Son. Why then should He accept any other religious attempt when He has done it all through His Son? We must repent of our sins and put our faith in Jesus as the only way to heaven (Acts 17:30). Intolerant? Maybe it is, but God has spoken and He doesn’t care what humanity thinks. He is God, we are not, and He has demonstrated His love through the giving of His Son (Romans 5:8). We should be ever thankful that we have been given even one way, instead of judgment. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
Gonzales, Mondo. "Is God Narrow-Minded?" New Lenox Patriot 19 July 2007, Sec. A-6.