For the last few weeks, we’ve looked at how Jesus fits in among the “gods” of an increasingly secular and skeptical culture, and how we can share our faith in him amid that culture. The #1 point we’ve realized is that the invitation from Jesus to accept his gift of grace isn’t in any way exclusive – it’s for everyone and anyone who chooses to accept it. Paul famously made this clear in Athens in Acts 17 as he addressed another audience with many gods – and let them know that only One is worthy of worship.

People have many reasons for being against – or not trusting – the church and Christianity. Sometimes those grievances are personal, and sometimes they’re a grudge against the faith as a whole for all the “bad things” done by those who claim to follow Jesus. History is littered with stories of “Christians behaving badly” – but is that the whole story of the Christian faith over the centuries?

In Jesus’ time, the most offensive thing he said was that he was actually God in the flesh – that’s why they killed him. If he were here today, however, the most offensive claim of Jesus might instead by that he is the only way to God and salvation – a claim he made very clearly in John 14:6. In our world today, this claim comes off as exclusive and arrogant – even bigoted. But is that really the case?