I once believed that religion was all about ‘truth’. Francis Schaeffer famously claimed that Christianity was ‘true truth’.

I was trained to witness to the ‘true truth’ claims of my religion, Christianity, over against the ‘false truth’ claims (or ‘lies’) of other religions, like Islam etc.

We saw evangelism as a battle for the mind, a conflict between competing truth claims. We saw this battle for the mind as a zero-sum win-lose game – a creedal fight to the death

The scriptures we quoted were:

Jesus said, “You will know the truth,  and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

“For those who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” Romans 2:8

Even now, I can still affirm that:

• Truth is important
• Ideas are valuable
• Creeds are useful
• Christ is central

However, since then I have found that:

‘Creeds’ are useful up to a point, but they miss the point. The most important point is: “God is love”. 1 John 4:8. But it’s not in any of the creeds, even the Apostle’s Creed.

‘Our Ideas’ are valuable, but our ‘Attitudes’ are crucial too. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Cor.13:1 We need to always “speak the truth in love” Ephesians 4:15

Our ‘Faith’ is important, but not as important as our ‘Love’. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Cor.13:13

As for Christ, his example, should be central for us. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us … full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 Note the order. ‘Grace’ – First. Truth’ – Second.. Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and may have that life to the full”. John 10:10 Note he didn’t come to bring a new religion, still less a religion over against other religions, Jesus came to bring life to people of all religions.

Dave Andrews