1. ONE FAITH Teaching Class
By Rolan Monje
City Churches Jubilee 2009, Cebu City
see addtoyourlearning.com ; ack: some slides from Frank Turek and Norman Geisler

2. There is one faith
Eph 4:4-5 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

3. No other gospel
Gal 1:6-10 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

4. The Biblical conviction
One faith
The faith to contend for
One gospel; no other gospel
Another gospel is no gospel at all

5. What is truth?

6. Christianity under siege
Pre-modern
Age
Modern
Age
Post-modern
Age

7. People see truth differently now
Pre-modern
Modern
Post-Modern
Absolute truth
Rational truth
Subjective truth
Authority is God
Authority is logic and science
Authority is Self
Conviction is virtue
Intelligence is virtue
Tolerance is virtue

8. Post-modern thinking Truth cannot be known; there is no absolute truth
Truth is relative (what is true for you may not be true for me)
We should not impose ‘truth’ on another person
We need to understand how our understanding of truth affects our faith (note that in many languages faith and truth are related words)

9. Interpretation and conversion
Today we tackle 3 issues we need to understand, to defend the ONE FAITH
Truth and judgment
Religion and choice
Interpretation and conversion

10. #1 Truth and judgment Many now say truth is relative/subjective
How should we answer? By pointing back or applying the claim to itself
Let’s imagine a discussion…
between a skeptic & a disciple

11. “Reason can’t be trusted.”
Sam the Skeptic vs.
Danny the Disciple
“Reason can’t be trusted.”
“Should we trust that?” 11

12. “You should doubt everything.”
Sam the Skeptic vs.
Danny the Disciple
“You should doubt everything.”
“Should I doubt that?” 12

13. “Isn’t that a judgment!”
Sam the Skeptic vs.
Danny the Disciple
“You shouldn’t judge!”
“Isn’t that a judgment!” 13

14. “Then how do you know that is true?”
Sam the Skeptic vs.
Danny the Disciple
“No one has the truth!”
“Then how do you know that is true?” 14

15. Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple
“That’s just your interpretation!”
“Is that just your interpretation? 15

16. Sam the Skeptic vs. Danny the Disciple
“It’s true for you but not for me!”
“Is that true for everybody?” 16

17. #2 Religion and choice Many religions exist today
People now say that what’s important is not the truth of a religion, but the toleration of religions
That’s why, most people say now that “religion is a matter of choice” since “all roads lead to the same God.”

18. The Six Blind Hindus & The Elephant
1 - ear = big leaf
2- tusk = spear
3-side = wall
4-tail = rope
5-leg = tree trunk
6-snout = snake
Same Reality Different Interpretations 18

19. Six Blind Men
FAN
WALL
SPEAR
ROPE
TREE
SNAKE

20. Six Blind Men
JUDAISM
HINDUISM
ISLAM
TAOISM
CHRISTIANITY
BUDDHISM

21. No Religion is THE Truth!
JUDAISM
HINDUISM
ISLAM
TAOISM
CHRISTIANITY
BUDDHISM

22. What is the perspective of the story teller?
JUDAISM
HINDUISM
ISLAM
TAOISM
CHRISTIANITY
BUDDHISM

23. The story teller has an objective vantage point!
JUDAISM
HINDUISM
ISLAM
TAOISM
CHRISTIANITY
BUDDHISM

24. Those who use this analogy think that everyone is blind except them!
Truth is NOT relative to the individual; otherwise we wouldn’t know the blind men were mistaken. (It’s absolutely true that’s an elephant!)
Those who use this analogy think that everyone is blind except them!

25. Consider these statements
All religions are true.
All religions save.
But most people who say these have not really compared religions.

26. Do all religions teach the same things? NO! They differ on:
Nature of God
Nature of Man
Sin
Salvation
Heaven
Hell
Creation 26

27. So, how can all religions be the same, or have the same effect, or have the same truth when they teach opposites?
Example: Islam vs. Christianity 27

28. #3 Interpretation and conversion
Many prominent scholars are taking a liberal view of Scripture (e.g. Bakhtin)
Bakhtin: Bible stories are dialogic, inviting the reader to participate and interpret
For Bakhtin, “[The Bible is…] the infinite and unfinalized dialogue in which no meaning dies”

29. Peter writes
2 Pet There are some things in [Paul’s letters] that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.

30. Are all “Christians” Christians?
Not all people who claim to be Christians have the same doctrines; some of these doctrines are contradictory
Not all people who claim to be Christians are really Christians
Well, what does Jesus himself say?

31. Two gates, two roads
Mt 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

32. Narrow?

33. God is serious about the truth!
Rom 1:18-20: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness…

34. We exercise ‘faith’ in many areas of life
Money and banking
Transportation and communication
Medicine
If we consider truth and exactness in these areas, why not in religion? Why not in the most important things in life?

35. To summarize, we tackled 3 issues
Truth and judgment
Religion and choice
Interpretation and conversion

36. Conclusions God wants people to know the truth and accept it in faith.
The world may change, but the Bible remains steadfast.
No matter what people say, there is absolute truth.
We need to defend the faith that was introduced by Jesus.

37. Let us rejoice as we defend the ONE FAITH!