Truth

I have recently been to Romania and it was an amazing trip. On the plane on the way home I got talking to a Hindu guy, a really nice chap called VJ. We commented that it was a shame that our society doesn't allow us to talk about eternal things, it is almost a taboo subject. We therefore put that aside and got into an interesting debate, one of the points I would like to bring up here....
VJ basically commented that we should live and let live, that saying I had the truth in Jesus Christ was simply to dogmatic, to exclusive and was in some way responsible for the intolerance we see in society. So many people, he said, think there view is the right one, what we need is to accept everyone, that the answer to life is what you make it yourself, each to their own.
I agreed with him that we should tolerate others, that we should accept everyone, however I pointed that his arguement was doing the very thing that he was arguing against. He was basically saying his view was the right one and others had it wrong. Unfortunately the thing with the truth is that it is always exclusive, by definition the number 2 cannot also be number 3 and 4. It can only be number 2, that is the truth, therefore this excludes all other numbers. The important thing is to establish that truth.
Every worldview that I have explored accept for one says that you have to reach a certain standard in order to be accepted. You have to be a good person in order to get to heaven, this then gives rise to pride which is really the cause of so many problems. You see if it is about attaining a certain grade, then either you are going to succeed at that (pride) or you are going to fail (failure). The result is the ones who succeed are your buddies and the ones who don't are your enemies, the good and the bad.
You see Christianity works on the basis that actually we have all failed to reach the perfect standard or required pass mark, therefore we are all equally as bad. However someone has sat the test for us and obtained perfect marks, given us the pass mark. Therefore it is not down to us, (removes pride) and allows us the freedom not to feel like a failure, to be completely humble, we have nothing to fight over. We also therefore don't have the need to turn to drugs, drink, work, money just to try and feel better about our failure, because we haven't failed.
Everyone holds to a truth, even if they say they hold to no truth then that is holding to something! The question we should ask is what is the truth, for Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to God except through him. Now either that is true or not, have you examined it for yourself? Please do, your life depends on it!! georgeosborn@avantiministries.com