“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” [John 16vs12-13]
I have a Facebook friend who’s active in the multi-faith movement. It seems rather enlightened to rise above all the religious differences and just think,
“Everything points to the same god, right?”
Actually, The Story Jesus is telling doesn’t allow for that. In the New Living Translation, Jesus uses the word “truth” 96 times in the gospels. Most often he includes it in emphasizing a point. As in, “I tell you the truth…” In the original Greek language the word for truth in that phrase is “amen.” Like, “I say to you ‘amen…’” In this way he saying, “take what I’m about to say as truth.”
In the statement above, Jesus uses a different word. Originally, it’s “alethia” for truth. That word literally means an accurate statement of the condition of reality. The Spirit of Truth is He (person) who comes to enlighten our hearts to what’s actually going on. In Jesus’ mind, the Spirit of Truth will reveal in our hearts what is, well, truly going on—which is The Story of God’s restoration in Christ alone.
So while multi-faith expressions seem to be the wiser, more enlightened way, it isn’t. It’s like having a glass of pure drinking water and mixing gasoline, rubbing alcohol, vinegar and other liquids that resemble water and giving it to someone to drink. Not only it is not water. It’s gross. And it’s deadly poison.
Are you tempted by multi-faith movements or considering other religious beliefs that are not rooted in God’s Story told in the Bible? Pray for the Spirit of Truth to reveal himself to you and please let us know so we can pray for you as well. (Leave a comment below with your name & contact info.)
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