A respected friend who prided himself on his self-assertion of being an atheist bombarded me with these questions: “If your Christ is Truth as you say He is, doesn’t that make all other religions and beliefs false? Exclusive, arrogant, and bigoted ? “

I replied that truth by its very nature and definition is exclusive. Therefore, it absolutely does not meet the contemporary test of “politically correct”. The truth is exclusive.

The law of non-contradiction in logic is that two opposing statements cannot both be true. The truth stands alone and contradicts other beliefs as an absolute, leaving no choice but to believe or not believe. An example of one of the most classic historical cases is that of Jesus Christ who pretended not to be a way, but the Way, the Truth and the Life. He even went further in his claim to be God.

This unique claim of Christ to be the Truth presents a problem for those who say that there is no truth or that there is truth in all religions. “Political correctness” would say don’t go there. The legislative initiatives would try to deny the freedom to speak publicly of the exclusivity of Truth, reducing it to the lowest common denominator: an unrecognizable stain of nothing. The prevailing culture of secular relativism has provided a platform for “political correctness” to flourish in the name of tolerance, but is itself becoming increasingly intolerant of the free expression of truth. Why should political correctness deny freedom of expression as long as we have mutual respect for the rights of others to freely express beliefs, values, and discover the truth? Anything else goes against First Amendment rights and even universal human rights. This intolerance is disproportionately directed at followers of Christ, largely because of their belief regarding his exclusive claims.

Jesus Christ made some incredible claims that could only be true if He were God. Dr. Peter Kreeft of Boston College said of Christ: “If He is not God as He claims to be, then He is an idiot, not a sage. If He is God, then all other religions, however great truths they may contain, it may be nothing more than ripped pieces of Christ’s ‘seamless’ garment … The traditional triumphant claim of superiority over all other religions is not a claim about Christianity (and certainly not about Christians), but a claim of Jesus Christ himself. “Some say that Christ is” only one way to God among many. ” It would be intellectually more honest for them to say that Christ is a liar because he claimed to be the only way to God and to be God Himself. Fortunately, they can still say that without fear or threats and even still be respected as human beings.

Can you imagine, in contrast to Dr. Kreeft’s statement, the response if a Muslim or anyone else made a similar statement about Muhammad, the Quran, or a cartoon? Are not life-threatening responses the ultimate intolerance? Is the cultural race towards “political correctness” motivated by fear or freedom of expression? As long as writers, editors and citizens fear repercussions and establish policies that deny freedom of expression and raise the definition of “hate crimes” to deny that freedom of expression, freedom will abandon us. Ironically, the growing reaction to this prevailing “politically correct” culture is creating the seedbed for a courageous new leadership to rise up and reclaim, secure and preserve the freedom of expression that we love. This is the genius of our founding fathers’ gift of the best, albeit finite, democratic system of “We the People” rising up to keep the broken and imperfect bell of freedom ringing.

The world-renowned scholar and author, CS Lewis, saw the theme of Truth, which he had rejected and rediscovered, clearly when he wrote: “A man who was just a man and said that the kind of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. Either he would be a lunatic, on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg, or else he would be the devil from hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or a madman or worse. You can lock him up for a fool, you can spit on him and kill him like a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. Any condescending nonsense about him being a great human teacher or just another prophet. He’s left that open. He didn’t mean to. “

Isn’t the arrogance of “political correctness” demanding tolerance greater than the arrogance of a statement of Truth that offers options? Since truth by definition is exclusive, it does not necessarily follow that it is arrogantly dispensed. In fact, the Bible commands “to speak the Truth in love.” Both politically correct defenders and believers of the Truth can share their beliefs, but believers, particularly followers of Christ, are the main targets of discrimination. A good scientist would not ignore a phenomenon without first examining its essence, content, and evidence. Interviews over the past 50 years have confirmed that most people who dismiss the claims of Christ have not taken the time to carefully examine His claim to be the Truth. Most have never read the entire Bible or even the Gospels where the claims of Christ are found, made in the first person.

The biblical approach to Christ’s claim to be Truth comes with an offer and a choice. There can be no love without choice. Living is choosing. If Christ is the Truth, then we have the option of considering His claims and the evidence for those claims. The truth can stand the test of scrutiny and can set honest seekers free. The rewards are amazing, because by finding Christ who claimed to be the Truth, we are freed to be all that God intended us to be. It is our exclusive choice. The Bible says: “Choose today whom you will serve …” “You can know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The invitation presented in the Scriptures is: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.” That is an option that is offered with an RSVP, as well as a non-RSVP option.

Extending an election invitation is not imposed proselytizing. If you choose not to believe, you bear the consequences of your choice. You are likely to go your own way regardless of God, living a life of “silent despair” with no certainty of hope, heaven, meaning, or purpose, simply chasing the wind. Your way is self-gratification, “eat, drink and have fun because tomorrow you will die.” This could lead to an unnecessary, lonely and bitter ending.

Doesn’t the choice have more virtue of purpose than to be “politically correct” that imposes a meaningless demand and that denies others who disagree with free speech? Does having the option to choose Truth and the freedom that flows from embracing it offer greater certainty of being released to be all that God made you to be? It’s up to you. It’s your choice. Isn’t it better to be right if Christ is the Truth than to be politically correct and live with the uncertainty of what is the truth and risk being wrong? If the truth determines one’s destiny, as well as the meaning and purpose of our life here, doesn’t it deserve the highest priority to examine all the evidence in your search for the truth?

The maximum mark of tolerance is in the freedom to choose. The truth is irreducible and therefore demands a verdict, either by our choice or by our fault. For the believer that decision means a certainty of Hope both now and forever and for the unbeliever a future of uncertainty devoid of Truth. “You can know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.”

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