RESOLUTION 74:04 The Exclusive Claims of Christ vs. Interfaith Dialogue
United Methodists are upset about something, and it is not social injustice this time. They are upset with Claremont School of Theology, one of their own sponsored seminaries.
Claremont School of Theology is pursuing a new “University Project” that is bringing together Jewish Rabbis, Muslim Imams, and Christian theologians to train ministerial students at Claremont. The published purpose is to “…recognize the legitimacy and integrity of the other religious traditions.”
Claremont Seminary President, Rev. Jerry Campbell, defends the program stating, “We want our future religious leaders to understand the landscape in which they will be leading. We want them to be able to see the other as neighbor, friend, and co-worker.” By their studying together in school he asserts that religious leaders from competing traditions can “…learn to work together to address the problems that face humanity today and that can only be solved if religions work together across their boundaries.” Claremont’s Muslim professor for Interreligious Education explained, “Our goal is not to dilute our faith but rather to be better Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Hindus, Protestants, Buddhists… and by being so, together we will tear down walls of hate that seek to separate us.”
Contrary to the interreligious efforts at Claremont School of Theology, the Bible makes exclusive claims by Christ and for Christianity. Jesus insisted that He Himself is “the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes unto the Father except by [Him]” (John 14:6). This was Peter’s understanding when he asserted to the religious leaders of the Jews, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Jesus made very plain that religious people who live apart from Him are lost: “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Competing religions cannot all be true, and while some religions may be willing to dialogue with others, orthodox Christianity indicts these false religions and calls upon sinners to turn “…from idols to serve the true and living God” (I Thess 1:9).
The 74th General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church calls upon Christian believers to recognize and resist present day efforts that blur the lines of biblical Christianity in favor of false cooperation among religions. “For what concord has Christ with Belial? …Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you …saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:15,17,18).