Tue 21 Nov 2006
Basically, Jon Meachem and Sally Quinn of Newsweek & the Washington Post Company ask a question about a faith-topic and then let their panel of religious experts have at it. The public then is allowed to respond to the individual responses. Not a bad concept – and it actually allows for discussion on a topic that seems to only bring division among people.
Their question today deals with truth, something we Lutherans tend to take seriously. From the On Faith blog site:
If some religious people believe they have a monopoly on truth, then are conversation and common ground possible? If so, what would be the difficulties and benefits of such a conversation?
On the matter of truth, Christians believe in the exclusivity of their faith. We believe and confess that the only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. After this point, all Christian denominations deviate. As Lutherans, we take this point seriously and say unequivocally that it is faith alone in Christ that saves without any work of the Law. As such, this truth is central to who we are, both in and out of church, while at worship or at work.
When Pontius Pilate asked Jesus “What is truth?,” we Christians have an answer that we don’t waver from. It is the truth of faith in God that is at our core and what makes us different than any other religion in the world.
Talking with people of different faiths is something that we Lutherans don’t do very well. I could even venture to say that we don’t talk very well with our brother and sisters in other Christian denominations, much less with other religions. The reason is simple: Our doctrine and beliefs are set as is our unwavering faith in the truth found in Holy Scripture that we tend to not want to deal with the matter of talking with other religions. We don’t accept the notion that other non-Christian faiths are true. We pray that all unbelievers come to faith in Christ. Again, Christianity is an exclusive faith. That is why, in my opinion, discussion on the topic of truth will be hard.
This is not to say that I agree with our sheltered existence; I think we can talk with those of other faiths and still be as bold as Saints Peter and Paul. And it doesn’t mean we disrespect those who aren’t Christian because our Lord Jesus wants us to love our neighbors.
An interfaith discussion on truth will always be hard because the topic has to be centered on the individual’s truth core – and for Christians is must be Holy Scripture, a book that other religions, on a whole, reject. But this type of discussion can be fruitful so all people can understand what makes religions tick.