There can't be only one true faith? John 14:1-11

A practice sermon written to shadow the sermon series at my church on BIG questions. Sept09

In the context of our question, faith is belief in a world view. A world view is what we use to perceive and understand the reality of life. Therefore faith is our belief in a particular set of values and truths to represent the reality of life.

Does everyone have a world view? YES
Is there only one true world view? YES

Why... because there is only one world! Sometimes we joke about so and so being in another world but the truth is we all live in this one.

Therefore there are two world views. The right one and the wrong one. Is this Dave's special interpretation of the world? Has he lost it? No this is a Biblical truth. As we discussed last week we live in a personal world therefore the very truth this world is built on is personal. So the question becomes who is truth? God is Truth. So what are the two world views taught in the Bible. The first is when we confess the trinitarian God of the Bible as the truth and the second is when we do not. The true world view is Christianity and the false world view is idolatry.

Well that's the answer to the question but just before you all ask for your money back what I would like to do is show you exactly why this is true. To do this I would like to borrow a framework from someone else which really helps to clarify how I can make the sweeping statement that only two world views exist.

Everyone has a world view. Some are constant and stable and others are opportunistic and emotionally driven. In fact when someone's world view is too far off the scales we institutionalise them. We call them deluded and keep them in a safe place out of harms way.

The most stable world views are the ones we call religions. The top five being:

Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Chinese traditional religion
Buddhism

Religions are generally based on what I will term absolute world views. You also get your partial world views which are useful to include:

Atheism
Communism
Humanism

The absolute world views we have already discussed, there are only two. Christianity and Idolatry. These two lists rearrange a little more helpfully. The devil has only a limited number of ways to manipulate the truth and we can see this produces those two further lists.

First Christianity the absolute trinitarian world view can be distorted producing the other Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons etc.

Secondly Christianity the absolute trinitarian world view can be flipped on its head to produce Buddhism and Hinduism and their various incomplete copies, Chinese traditional religion, Atheism, Communism, Humanism etc.

From these two main questions are raised. Firstly what does a Christian world view look like when flipped on its head and how do all those seemingly radically different world views fit together under that banner. Secondly how can we claim Christianity as the true Abrahamic world view and the rest incomplete copies?

Among the world views closest to the top of these lists there is a common agreement that at the beginning reality was perfect and subsequently something has gone wrong to upset that. The aim therefore is to know what perfect looked like and find a way to get back to it. We can see this in Christianity and the other Abrahamic religions. The same is also true in the second list which I would like to demonstrate.

Thousands of years ago in Asia far removed from the Abrahamic religions people looked at reality and saw life was full on unities. One world, one sun, one sky, one people and therefore concluded that unity was that beginning perfection. Lets just pause a moment and realise how powerful a concept this really is! If unity is perfection then all is one. Unity becomes the god. So when all is one, all is god and therefore you become God. Now to our fallen nature that is not too hard a concept to swallow. In fact its rather a nice thought. So nice a thought it is what the Bible teaches us was the original sin. Flipping reality completely on its head. Instead of God being God everything he created becomes god. I don't know about you but I find this fascinating. Let us see how this idea unfolds and what consequences this type of thinking produces. So unity is perfection, all is one and one is god. What then has gone wrong? What prevents unity? Diversity! What causes diversity within unity? Desire! What causes desire? Relationships! I tell you this concept is simply eloquent in its deadliness. It truly contains power!

These are the first 3 spiritual laws of Buddhism.

1)Suffering is. Basically everything suffers. It is the identification of the lack of perfection in reality.
2)The cause of suffering is desire.
3)The cause of desire is relationships.

This needs a little explanation just to be able to capture this concept. So just to recap all is one. You are part of all and all is part of you. All that is physical is one. If you had stubbed your toe it would be painful and you would desire it to stop. A relationship is set up between you and your pain and you suffer. However if you realise that you are the pain and the pain is you, all is unity. All you need to do is no longer desire to be rid of the pain, get rid of that relationship and you no longer suffer. So to be free from relationships is salvation. This new age thinking has also made it over to the west. Relationships are seen as problematic. Marriage is problematic. What is the solution? Don't get married! The extreme form of Buddhism looks to reduce all diversity. They look for sensual deprivation reducing all forms of relationship. Life in its essence they see as breathing. Breathing is life. Enlightenment is seen as an awakening to the fact that all is unity. The Zen Buddhist say “If you can see the Buddha, kill him.” This means if you think reality is outside of yourself you have to kill that idea and realise that true reality can be found within.
So what is wrong with this view of the world. As I have said previously it is the devils ploy to completely flip reality on its head. God is three and a relational being, other centred. The devil is one, un-relational and self orientated and he models his perfect reality after himself. This unity he presents is only attainable if we free ourselves from all relationships. What he does is look to destroy our very nature as image bearers of God! This is a powerful and deadly teaching. We need to challenge people on there beliefs in this system. Let's not also be tricked into thinking that this is only linked to eastern religions, it is shaping our western culture right under our noses. Atheism and evolutionism find their roots in Buddhism and Hinduism.

The Chinese traditional religions may seem out of place in this list but a quick explanation will also show the continuity between these world views. The Chinese traditional religions see the original perfect reality is found in balance. They observed that life is full of opposites. Dark and light, female and male, low and high. These opposite are what the Chinese see as the manifestations of yin and yang in the natural world, complete opposites within the greater whole. Suffering they see as coming from unbalance. When there is disharmony and unbalance suffering is produced. This also is a powerful concept draw from the natural world but the consequences are devastating. There is no good, good is just found in balance. There is no evil, evil is just unbalance. Therefore there can never be victory. Love can never win over hate but for harmony to be reached the goal is for the two to be in balance. A total balance is only reached when the yin and yang become static. What is achieved when the opposites become static? Unity. Again the aim become unity, a static balance between the yin and yang. In the static unity there is no place for relationships. Everything again becomes one. Unity is god. Self is god!

This unity is a gospel. Its good news for those who accept it. You are accountable only to yourself. Salvation is within yourself to accomplish. Pride becomes the greatest virtue instead of the greatest vice! Let us be aware this gospel is being preached loudly in the secular world!

How to we challenge this gospel? We must present the true gospel and show just how weakly this gospel of unity this gospel of self matches up with reality!

Let us take a look at reality and the Bible's world view. Let us look at this world view from two different angles. First from observation of the natural reality that we see around us and then from what God has revealed to us in his word.

In life we experience unity and diversity. Are either of these a problem? Does either of these cause suffering? Were either of these a result of the fall? What does God reveal to us about unity and diversity?

The Bible reveals to us that unity and diversity can be found in the persons of God. The underpinning truth of reality is personal. This personal truth is in three persons. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There is only one God but three persons. Each person is God but the Son is not the Father and the Holy Spirit not the Son. What we see revealed within the Godhead is a diversity within a unity. Do we see this relationship of trinitarian unity and diversity within reality. Yes we do. Individually we are called to a trinitarian relationship of unity and diversity. We are called to love God with all our heart mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourself. In marriage we are called to be a trinitarian unit of husband, wife and God together in relationship.

So neither unity or diversity is a problem or a cause of the suffering but they need to be in their right setting. Total unity is death. Total diversity is death. When unity and diversity are brought together correctly we experience rightly that part of God's image that he created us in.

In life we experience form and freedom. Are either of these a problem? Do either of these cause suffering? Were either of these a result of the fall? What does God reveal to us about form and freedom?

The Bible reveals to us that form and freedom can be found in the persons of God. Each person in the Godhead has an individual form. Parts of the Son's form is obeying and going. Parts of the Father's form is of commanding and sending. Parts of the Holy Spirits form is empowering and encouraging. When God is faithful to his form freedom is the result. When the son is faithful to the forms of his obedience he is free to be God and the saviour of the word. Jesus did not automatically go to the cross, he was not automatically obedient. But he was faithful to his form and was freed to be the saviour of the world. Do we see this relationship of form and freedom within reality. Yes we do! Individually we are called to the form of male and female. As male we are called to leadership and work. As females we are called to support and bear children. When we are faithful to our forms we are freed with in our humanity.

So neither form or freedom is a problem or a cause of the suffering but they need to be in their right setting. Total form is death. Total freedom is death. When form and freedom are brought together correctly we experience rightly that part of God's image that he created us in.

In life we experience objectivity and subjectivity. Are either of these a problem? Do either of these cause suffering? Were either of these a result of the fall? What does God reveal to us about objectivity and subjectivity?

The Bible reveals to us that objectivity and subjectivity can be found in the persons of God. The diversity and relationships within the Godhead makes space for the subjectivity of the objective truth that is God. The Father the Son and The Holy Spirit are all God and they don't change. They all see perfectly. The Father views the son perfectly from his point of view and the Son views the Father perfectly from his point of view. The Father is not the son and therefore the points of view are different and the differences are perfect. This is the foundation of the objectivity and subjectivity we find in reality.

So neither objectivity or subjectivity is a problem or a cause of suffering. When objectivity and subjectivity are brought together correctly we experience rightly that part of God's image that he created us in.

In life we experience sequence. Is sequence a problem? Does the presence of before during and after cause suffering? Is sequence a result of the fall? What does God reveal to us about sequence?

The Bible reveals to us that sequence can be found in the persons of God. A theme that we often see in the Bible is actions that happen before the foundation of the world. They happen outside of time. This suggests a sequence. A point at which this hadn't occurred, a point at which it was and then a point after it had been decided. In 2 peter 3 we read. “...with the Lord one day is as a thousand years...” That is easy to swallow 1:1000 ratio but then he continues. “...and a thousand years as one day.” So sequence outside of space is another dimension. In space sequence is measured in time but with God sequence is measured in eternity. Eternity is not infinite time but every point of time is present in every point of eternity. Sequence is measured, quite literally, in another dimension with God.

So sequence is not a problem or a cause of suffering. When we see sequence correctly we experience rightly that part of God's image that he created in us.

In life we experience an authority structure. Is this a problem? Does this cause suffering? Was this a result of the fall? What does God reveal to us about authority structure?

The Bible reveals to us that authority structure can be found in the persons of God. The Father has authority over the Son. The Father sends and the Son obeys. Does that make the Son any less God. Not at all! Just as an earthly father having authority over his son does not make the son any less human. Do we see this relationship authority structure within reality. Yes we do within all sorts of relationships. In marriage, in families, in employment and in the church.

So is authority structure a problem or a cause of suffering. When we see authority structure correctly we experience rightly that part of God's image that he created in us.

In life we experience needs. Are needs a problem? Does the presence of needs cause suffering? What does God reveal to us about needs?

The Bible reveals to us that need is found in the persons of God. The deeper needs. The need to be seen, the need to affect, the need to be loved. These needs are present in the Godhead but then are also perfectly meet within the Godhead, within the community of the trinity. To have those needs perfectly met is full joy. Do we see this relationship need within reality. Yes we do, we all experience these needs.

So need is not a problem or a cause of suffering. When we see need correctly we experience rightly that part of God's image that he created in us.

In life we experience identity and personality. Is identity and personality a problem? Does the presence of identity and personality cause suffering? What does God reveal to us about identity and personality's?

The Bible reveals to us that identity and personality is found in the persons of God. The identity and the personality of God is 'other centred'. The identity of Jesus is not found within himself but in the Father and the Holy Spirit. Identity is only possible within relationships. Relationships are only possible through being 'other centred'. 'Other centred' is only possible in submission. The persons of the trinity submit to one another. Each person empties himself to fulfil the needs of the others. As each is filled twice over the love within that relationship is God's power. For us the love in that relationship is just mind blowing. No wonder Biblical language is always straining to capture this for us! Do we see this identity within reality. Yes we do, from the very beginning. It was not good for Adam to be alone. His identity was not complete till Eve was created. Then Adam's identity was found in God and Eve and that was perfect, perfectly 'other centred'.

So 'other centred' identity is not a problem or a cause of suffering. When our identity is 'other centred' in God and one another we experience that part of God's image he created in us.

In life we experience 'self-centredness' . Is this a problem? Does this cause suffering? What does God reveal to us about 'self-centredness'?

The Bible reveals to us that 'self-centredness' is NOT found in the persons of God. Back in Genesis 3 it is revealed where this aspect of 'self-centredness' that we see in reality originated! The Devil deceived Adam and Eve into thinking that we didn't need to be 'other centred' and dependant upon God and one another but we could be 'self centred' and independant'. We didn't need to rely on God or one another we could go it alone. Identity is founded in relationship so when our identity switched from 'other centred' to 'self centred' the relationship on which that identity was founded was broken. The relationship between us and God and between one another was broken. This broken relationship is not static either it continues to build. It is like we are all in debt and each 'self centred' act deducts further from the relationship. These 'other centred' acts the Bible calls sin. Each of us is in debt and with no credit between us we cannot even help each other!
Jesus came into creation and became part of creation. He then performed one particular act in time and eternity that was totally 'other centred'. This other centred act was as both God and human. This act took place between heaven and earth, time and eternity, us and God bringing together the two again. This act was the crucifixion. Jesus gave, as God and Man, an 'other centred ' sacrifice of the perfectly innocent. God the Father poured out his wrath on the Son in our place, forcing complete separation of the Son from the Father, complete death. This death was not the result of sin Jesus had committed but the result of Jesus taking all our sin upon himself, all our 'other centredness'. He did this in perfect obedience and perfect other centredness. Because of this his death swallowed up all other death all other separation in victory. His death, his separation on our behalf completely satisfied God's justice. This completed act of Justice has such a power that it did not only bring Jesus back from death, back from the imposed separation, back into other centred relationship with the Father but it will remake the whole of creation into 'other centred' relationship with the Father. If we accept this power for ourselves we will be born again, into eternity, new creatures, other centred creatures. A new creature born into eternity, no longer only in time! The Christian life therefore, while still here in creation, is to continue to empty ourselves of self centredness, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, trusting that God will fill us that he will supply all our needs. The more room we make for him the more he can fill us, the more he can meet our needs. Alongside that as Christians we are called to empty ourselves of 'other centredness' to receive from and give to one another.

So what the false world view of idolatry wants us to believe is that the cause of this world is less complex than the product. The devil is trying to deceive us into thinking that the underlying truth from which this world comes forth is unity. He looks to reduce all to 'one' and that 'one' to self. Where as the reality of reality is that it is far more complex because its creator is far more complex. God is the underpinning Truth. Therefore Truth is relational, truth is personal, truth is 'other centred' and that is why reality is relational and personal and 'other centred'. This is how it will be when all is remade, through what Jesus did on the cross, in eternity!

Why is Christianity the only true world view because only Christianity is founded on true reality. How do we know this... because it is found all around us. God's image on creation is plain for all to see!

Romans 1:20

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”