♦ Visitor is concerned that we might be watering down the truth to appeal to other religions.

On June 21, 2013, we received the following comment:

“Dear brothers, in your article entitled "What is truth?", you said: "Christianity does not have the copyright on Jesus! Many religions have ideas that are based on the ideal of Jesus. And the extent to which a religion teaches these ideas is the extent to which that religion has truth". I think you may need to rephrase this paragraph so as to not give the impression that ideals or ideas of Jesus is equivalent to the recorded teachings or expressed words of the Christ we find in scripture. Certainly you are right that Christians do not have a copyright on Jesus, if what you mean is that simply claiming to be a follower of Christ is not the same as demonstrating loyal adherence to the spirit of his teachings. For this reason Christians are also admonished to "keep testing whether they are I the faith". The truth of the Christ is not partial, although understanding of it may come gradually to an individual or group. The goal is for all to come to Jesus and to acquire accurate knowledge of him and by extension his Father. So I think your characterization of truth as being found wherever the ideals or ideas of Jesus is taught actually contradict the point you're actually trying to make. We need to be careful that in trying to reach out to people of all religions we don't water down the tonic of truth we're trying to administer. May the Blessings of God and Jesus be with you.” 

To the author, thank you for your email.  Please know that we would never want to water down the truth. At the same time, we do not want to minimize the value in other religions who promote the same ideas that Jesus introduced.

For example: Are they doing to others what they want men to do to them?  Do they teach that we should not judge others?  Do they love God as they understand Him with their whole heart, soul, mind and strength?  Do they love their neighbors as they love themselves?  Are they good Samaritans?  Do they treat their children and spouses well?  If so, they are promoting the ideas of the ‘ideal of Jesus,’ and that has value in the eyes of God.  And to the extent that they promote these ideas, to that extent they have found truth.

Of course, we want all men to find the authentic Jesus and openly acknowledge and follow him.  But we must understand that death may overtake one before they have the opportunity to hear the message in a way they can understand and accept.  Under those circumstances, we believe their good works in striving for the Jesus ideas or the Jesus ideal, whether knowingly or unknowingly, will not be forgotten by the Father.