• The New World Translation is the name of the Bible used by Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world. They claim it is a scholarly translation of the Scriptures from the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic languages.
• The New World Translation was originally released in six volumes between 1950 and 1961 when the Jehovah’s Witnesses completed their translation.
• The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (the legal organization that directs the beliefs and practices of all Jehovah’s Witnesses) to this day refuse to divulge the names and credentials of the translators of The New World Translation. They claim that the translation committee requested anonymity out of humility.
• In the years following its publication however, former Jehovah’s Witnesses have made known the identities of the translators of The New World Translation, they were: Frederick Franz (then Vice President of the JWs), Nathan Knorr (then President of the JWs), Albert Schroeder, George Gangas, and Milton Henschel.
• None of these men possessed the educational background or qualifications to serve as reliable, scholarly translators of the Bible from the original languages. In fact, Frederick Franz, the chief translator on the committee, under oath during a trial in Scotland in 1954, could not even translate a single English verse from the book of Genesis into Hebrew.
• Given what we now know about the translation committee, the ongoing refusal of the Watchtower Organization to acknowledge the translators’ names or credentials, and the fact that no reputable scholar of the ancient languages has ever endorsed The New World Translation, this book must be rejected as a false and deceptive manipulation of the true Scriptures revealed by God.

For more information on the Jehovah’s Witnesses please check out Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts On False Teachings, available in our online store.

• In recent weeks we’ve been looking at some of the apologetic responses to the philosophy of Religious Pluralism. In this final installment in this series we want to highlight an argument we call “The Pragmatic Test for Truth”.
• This argument is generally not the best to use when opening a conversation about Religious Pluralism, but in the course of an ongoing dialogue on this topic, this argument makes an important point.
• The Pragmatic Test for Truth asks the question, “What do the religions of the world produce, philosophically, in the lives and societies of their adherents?” In other words, what is the fruit of the various world religions?
• For example, when we examine the Eastern faiths of Hinduism and Buddhism we find a history of producing stagnant cultures. The Eastern worldview posits a foundational doctrine known as “maya” which means that the world is an illusion. Now, if the world is an illusion, what basis do we have to seek to better ourselves technologically, scientifically, medically, etc.?
• Another example, the religion of Islam has historically produced intolerant and repressive cultures. When one reads the Koran you will find numerous verses commanding Muslims to kill Jews, Christians, and other infidels. You also find in Islam the widespread denial of basic human rights.
• A person’s religious worldview matters. And the fruit of the religions of the world is an important topic to consider when the religious pluralist makes that claim that “All religions are basically the same.”
• When you examine the fundamental teachings of the various religions of the world, what you will find is that not only are all religions not basically the same, but only in biblical Christianity do we find a true basis for love and compassion, for cultural and social progress, etc.

For more information on the various religions of the world, please check out Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts On False Teachings, available in our online store.

• In recent weeks we’ve been looking at the popular spiritual claim that, “All roads lead to God and one religious path is as good as another.”
• A great response to those who make statements like this is to simply ask the question, “So what path are you following?”
• In many cases, what you’ll discover is that the person making the claim that all roads lead to God really isn’t following any particular religion. Many simply use pluralistic statements like the one above to mask their own lack of any religious commitment whatsoever.
• If you discover that the religious pluralist you’re talking to doesn’t practice any religion, simply ask, “If all roads lead to God, don’t you think you should be following one them?”
• At this point, suggest they try the Jesus path with you. Let them know it’s really great and invite them to join you on the journey!

For more apologetic responses to Religious Pluralism and other false worldviews, please check out Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts On False Teachings, available in our online store.

• Last week we began looking at some apologetic responses to the popular claim that, “All roads lead to God and one path is as good as another.”
• We noted that statements like this are only true if God is impersonal, but if God is a personal being, then it really matters how we engage Him, especially if He’s told us how we might do so.
• A helpful observation to share with the religious pluralist on this point is this, if someone “in the know” gives you directions that will lead you safely to your destination, it only makes sense to follow their guidance.
• For example, consider the helicopter traffic reporter. When the helicopter traffic reporter comes on the radio and diagnoses the reason for why you’re stuck in rush hour traffic, and then shares with you a route that will get you home safely and on time, the logical choice is to accept their guidance gladly. Why? Because they’re a mile up in the sky! They see and know things that you cannot from your vantage point.
• The same holds true with our Heavenly Father. God is our “Heavenly traffic reporter”. From His eternal vantage point He sees our problem (sin), and He knows all the competing religious options available to us, but He’s told us very clearly, “There’s only one way that leads to life and that is through a relationship with my Son, Jesus Christ.”
• Just as it would be foolish to ignore the helicopter traffic reporter in the sky, so too is it foolish to disregard the guidance that our Heavenly Father has given us for how we can have a right relationship with Him (John 3:16).

For more helpful apologetic responses to Religious Pluralism and Universalism, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• The philosophy of Religious Pluralism is a widely held view in our world today. Those who hold this position will often make statements such as, “All roads lead to God and one path is as good as another.”
• It’s important to understand that statements like the above are only true if God is impersonal, for impersonal destinations cannot have a preference about how they are approached or engaged. For example, consider traveling to California. You can travel to CA any way you like – by plane, bike, jogging, etc. – CA doesn’t care how you get there because the state of CA is an impersonal entity.
• On the contrary, if God is a personal being, statements like the one above may or may not be true depending on what God has revealed about how He wants to be approached or engaged. And if the personal God has revealed that there is only one way to have a relationship with Him, then taking that revelation seriously is of utmost importance.
• In the Bible we learn that God truly is a personal being; and God has told us that there is only one way to approach Him, through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5-6; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). This revelation from our personal God completely dispels the notion of religious pluralism.

For more information on Religious Pluralism and the biblical response to it, please check out Jason Carlson’s DVD lecture titled, Salvation: Is There Really Just 1 Way? available in our online store.

• In our current series we are responding to the claims of Religious Pluralism and Universalism, philosophies that declare that all religious paths lead to God and ultimately everyone will be saved.
• Last week we began looking at some of the philosophic arguments against Religious Pluralism by considering the Law of Non-Contradiction. Today we will consider a related argument that we call the Multiple Personality Deity Problem.
• Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) is a mental illness where an individual will exhibit multiple, differing and disassociated personalities at different times.
• MPD is relevant to the issue of Religious Pluralism because the deity of the Religious Pluralist very likely suffers from this condition. Consider this…
• The god of Religious Pluralism goes to one group of people and tells them, “This is who I am and this is the only way you can be saved.” He then goes to another group of people and tells them a completely different story, saying, “No, this is who I am and this how you’re really saved.” He then goes to yet another group of people and once again gives them a totally different story, saying, “No, no, this is who I truly am and this is really the only way to be saved.”
• The god of Religious Pluralism goes all over the world sharing mutually exclusive and contradictory revelations about his nature and the true way to salvation. He even tells another group of people, “No, no, no, I’m not exclusive. Everyone will ultimately be saved no matter what they believe.”
• The god of the Religious Pluralist is ultimately nothing more than a deity that suffers from multiple personality disorder. It’s a god who at best is very confused, or at worst is totally misleading. In either case, who would want to trust a god like that with their eternal destiny?
• Contrary to the god of Religious Pluralism, Jesus Christ makes the clear and exclusive claim, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And while his claim is exclusive, his invitation is open to all, “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

For more on the different claims of the world’s religions, please check out Dr. Carlson’s book, Fast Facts On False Teachings, available in our online store.

• Last week we began our critique of Religious Pluralism and Universalism by considering the biblical testimony related to these issues. We saw clearly that God’s word refutes both of these notions.
• Today we want to begin looking at some of the philosophic arguments that can be raised against these philosophies. We’ll begin with an argument from the discipline of Logic known as the Law of Non-Contradiction.
• The Law of Non-Contradiction says that, “A cannot be non-A”. In other words, as the philosopher Aristotle explained, “One cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time.”
• When this Law of Non-Contradiction is applied to the claims of the world’s religions, it quickly becomes apparent that all religions cannot be equally true. Why? Because all of the religions of the world make mutually exclusive and contradictory truth claims about essential matters like the nature of God and the way to salvation.
• For example, Hinduism says that God is an impersonal force, while Christianity teaches that God is a personal being. Well, which is it? Is God an impersonal force or is He a personal being? These fundamental claims about the nature of God cannot both be true as this would be a violation of the Law of Non-Contradiction: A (God is personal) cannot be non-A (God is impersonal).
• Another example, Islam teaches that salvation is based on works (keeping the Five Pillars of Islam), while Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Again, which is it? Is salvation based on works or is it a free gift of grace? It cannot be both, because again, this would be a violation of the Law of Non-Contradiction: A (salvation is a gift of grace) cannot be non-A (salvation is based on works).
• What you come to discover when applying the Law of Non-Contradiction to the truth claims of the world’s religions is this, either one of these religions is true and the rest are false, or they’re all false, but they cannot all be true according to the Law of Non-Contradiction.
• This argument from logic can be a helpful tool in getting someone to reconsider the validity of the claim that all religions are equally valid paths to God. Once a person is willing to reconsider the notion of religious pluralism, it is then possible to begin a conversation about the possibility that maybe Jesus really is the one true way to salvation.

For more helpful arguments against the philosophy of Religious Pluralism, please check out The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• One of the most common beliefs in our Post-Christian culture today is the idea that all religions lead to God, one path is as good as another, and ultimately everyone will be saved.
• As Christians, however, we affirm the biblical truth that Jesus alone is the way to salvation. How can we defend this truth in the face of widespread criticism and opposition? First, we must be clear on what the Bible teaches and we must be able to explain the biblical position in a loving and helpful way to non-believers.
• A helpful way to introduce the biblical position on salvation is to affirm the truth that God is ultimately going to treat all people with perfect fairness, justice, and love (1 Timothy 2:1-5; 2 Peter 3:9; Deuteronomy 32:3-4). People need to understand that God’s heart is for people to be saved and nobody is going to be unfairly treated by God.
• We must then be clear on the fact that Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3). So, if a person wants to know and understand God most clearly, they must look to Jesus Christ.
• Not only is Jesus the ultimate revelation of God, but people must also understand that there is no other way to be saved apart from his sacrificial death on the cross (John 14:6; John 3:16-18; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Colossians 1:19-22). The Bible does not affirm multiple paths to God; salvation comes through Christ alone.
• It is also essential that we clearly and lovingly explain that the Bible unambiguously declares that not all people will be saved to eternal life with God (Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 22:2-14; Luke 13:22-28; Romans 9:27). Universalism may be an attractive idea, but it is certainly not a biblical one.
• Lastly, we cannot shy away from making sure people know the reality and nature of the eternal punishment that awaits those who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:27; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Hell is real, we must affirm this and warn people of it; and when we do speak of Hell with non-believers, as Francis Schaeffer would say, “We must do so with tears”.
• As followers of Jesus Christ we remain under the mandate of the Great commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:1-5). Thus, while the biblical position on salvation may not be popular in today’s Post-Christian culture, we must remain faithful in declaring this critical message God has entrusted to us.

For more information on this topic please see Jason Carlson’s DVD lecture titled, Salvation: Is there really just 1 way? available in our online store.

• Last week we began highlighting some positive principles and strategies for effective evangelism, looking at our first four of eight points. In this Fast Facts we’ll conclude this overview…
• The fifth task of effective evangelism is the removal of barriers to the Gospel. Often times we will encounter obstacles, real or imagined, which keep a non-believer from taking the message of Christianity seriously. As Christians we must be prepared to address and overcome these barriers (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
• Sixth, we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to move in people’s hearts. While we must be faithful in our verbal proclamation and defense of the Gospel, we must never forget to plead for the Spirit’s intercession in the hearts of non-believers (Acts 16:13-15).
• Seventh, we must invite the non-believer to receive Christ. Many Christians know how to fish, but they fail to set the hook! We must give people the opportunity and encouragement to take that vital step of faith. Be prepared with some simple questions, such as, “Would you like to pray with me today to put your trust in Jesus?” These simple encouragements can go a long way in helping someone to make a proclamation of faith.
• Lastly, whenever possible, we must commit to discipling new believers. We must help new converts become established in the faith: come alongside them to help them grow, ground them in Scripture, help them to gain assurance of their salvation, and get them connected to a Bible-based church where they can participate in the body of Christ.

For more helpful guidance in reaching our culture with the Gospel, please check out the book, Answers For A Confused Church, available in our online store.

• In recent weeks we’ve looked at and critiqued some of the flawed views on apologetics and evangelism that are often found within the Church today. We now want to turn our attention over the next two weeks to some positive principles and strategies for effective evangelism.
• First, we need to remember that we are called to take the Gospel to the world. Jesus called his disciples to be “fishers of men”. A fisherman cannot catch fish without going to where the fish are! We must follow the example given to us by the early Christians who went into their culture and engaged people with the good news of the Gospel (Acts 17:17).
• Second, we need to verbally communicate the gospel. People need to hear and understand the message of the Gospel in order to receive it (Romans 10:14-15). This means that lifestyle evangelism alone is inadequate. We cannot assume that we will influence people for the Gospel by simply being good friends and neighbors. Ultimately they must be told of their need for salvation and of the grace of God found in Jesus Christ.
• Third, we must relate to people and build relationships. While lifestyle evangelism alone is inadequate, it is a valuable and often necessary aid in communicating the Gospel. We must remember that people’s hearts as well as their heads must be won! Once again, the apostle Paul provides a great model for us in this area (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
• Fourth, we need to build bridges for the Gospel. This means that we are to be looking for opportunities and openings for Gospel conversations from within another’s life, culture, or religion. As the apostle Paul demonstrates in Acts 17, it is wholly appropriate to use non-Christian sources to make connections to biblical truths for the sake of communicating the Gospel.

For more information on effectively sharing our faith in today’s culture, please check out the book, Apologetics For A New Generation, available in our online store.