Let’s cut to the chase, folks. We live in a world where everyone’s holding hands, singing “We Are the World,” and telling each other that all roads lead to God. It’s like some giant spiritual kumbaya session where no one wants to offend anybody, and everyone’s truth is “the truth.” Enter Pope Francis, who tells a bunch of kids in Singapore that all religions are paths to God. He says, “All religions are paths to reach God. They are—to make a comparison—like different languages, different dialects, to get there.” Seriously? That’s like saying a GPS set to any random direction will eventually get you to the same destination. Yeah, good luck with that when you end up in a swamp instead of Grandma’s house.

Listen, I’m not here to bash the Pope; that’s not the point. But when someone stands up and says something that flies in the face of the Bible—especially when it’s someone with a massive platform—then it’s time to grab our spiritual sledgehammer and get to work because that kind of thinking leads people straight off a cliff. We’re not playing nice with people’s eternal destinies here.

Let’s start with what the Bible actually says. You know, that dusty book on your shelf that’s a little more reliable than someone’s “spiritual journey” Instagram post. Jesus didn’t mince words when He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He didn’t say, “I am a way” or “one of the many ways if you’re feeling adventurous.” No, He said THE way. Singular. Exclusive. End of story. If you’re not on His path, then you’re on the wrong path, my friend. It’s not Brad talking; that’s the Son of God laying down the truth like a royal flush on the table.

And if you think that’s just one verse and maybe I’m cherry-picking, let’s go to Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Let’s break this down like we’re in the spiritual courtroom here. “No other name.” Not one. Not Buddha, not Muhammad, not Vishnu, not that little statue you’ve got on your shelf. Jesus Christ is the only name that saves, period. And Peter, who said this, wasn’t just throwing out some casual opinion while sipping a latte. He was standing in front of the Sanhedrin, the big shots of his day, declaring that it’s Christ or nothing. They didn’t like it then, and the world doesn’t like it now, but it’s still true.

This isn’t just about preferences, people. This isn’t about which spiritual path makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. It’s about the fundamental truth of who God is and how He’s chosen to save humanity. We’ve got 1 Timothy 2:5 backing this up: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” Not multiple mediators, not a “choose your favorite” situation. One mediator. One go-between. One guy standing in the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity, and that’s Jesus.

You can’t get around this, folks. You can’t just pick a path and expect it to work out because you “meant well.” That’s not how this works. If all religions were just different languages or different dialects, then why would God go through the trouble of sending His only Son to die on a cross? Why endure the agony, the humiliation, and the wrath of God if all paths eventually lead to the same place? That would make Jesus’ sacrifice not just unnecessary but downright pointless. And last time I checked, God doesn’t do pointless.

The idea that all religions are paths to God is like saying all diets lead to six-pack abs. Yeah, sure, keep eating those donuts and see how that works out. Jesus didn’t die for nothing. He didn’t endure the cross because it was just one of many “equally valid” options. He did it because it was the ONLY option. The sinless Son of God paid the price for our sin because we couldn’t do it ourselves, no matter how hard we tried.

When Jesus said in Matthew 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,” He was giving us a heads-up, like a giant neon warning sign. “Hey, watch out! Most of these roads are dead ends.” He wasn’t painting a picture of multiple paths to God; He was warning us that the majority of people are on the wrong one. You can’t just wing it and hope for the best. Jesus makes it clear: the road is narrow, and only a few find it. If all paths led to God, that narrow road wouldn’t even be a thing.

Let’s not forget the Great Commission, either. Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Jesus didn’t say, “Hey, let’s just respect everyone’s spiritual journeys and let them do their thing.” No, He told His disciples to go and make more disciples because, spoiler alert, people are lost without the Gospel. This wasn’t just a nice suggestion or an optional side quest. It was a command. Why? Because without Christ, people are headed for a spiritual train wreck, and we’ve got the message that can save them.

The reality is, when you tell people that all religions lead to God, you’re doing the spiritual equivalent of giving them a high-five as they walk off a cliff. You’re telling them they’re fine just the way they are when the truth is, they’re in desperate need of a Savior. The Bible doesn’t pull punches about this. In Romans 3:23, it says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All of us. Every single one. I don’t care how many good deeds you’ve stacked up or how spiritual you think you are. We’re all sinners, and we all need the grace of God that comes only through Jesus.

Look, I get it. Nobody wants to be the guy who says, “Sorry, your path doesn’t cut it.” But if we care about people—truly care—we’re going to tell them the truth, not some wishy-washy, feel-good nonsense that leaves them wandering in the dark. The most loving thing we can do is share the truth of the Gospel with boldness and compassion. It’s not about being right; it’s about leading people to the One who is.

In John 8:32, Jesus says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Not opinions. Not feelings. The truth. And that truth is that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. That’s not up for debate. That’s not subject to cultural trends or public opinion. It’s the bedrock of our faith, and it’s what separates Christianity from every other belief system out there.

We live in a world that craves acceptance and despises anything exclusive. But the Gospel is exclusive by its very nature. It’s exclusive in that it says, “This is the only way.” But it’s also radically inclusive because it’s offered to everyone—every race, every background, every sinner who’s willing to repent and believe. That’s why John 3:16 is so powerful: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Whoever believes. That’s the catch—you have to believe in Jesus, not just some generic idea of God.

So let’s cut the fluff and get back to the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and nobody comes to the Father except through Him. That’s not just a nice slogan for a bumper sticker; that’s the Gospel. And it’s our job to stand up, speak out, and make sure that message is heard loud and clear. Eternity is at stake, and we can’t afford to get this wrong.