Lausanne World Pulse – WORLD PERSPECTIVES – The Uniqueness and Universality of Jesus Christ

By R. W.

How on Earth Did Jesus Become God? That is the title of a book by Larry Hurtado. Although this may look like an attack on the divinity of Christ, it is in fact a well-researched and well-presented defence of the traditional Christian doctrine that the man Jesus of Nazareth is not only the awaited Messiah of the people of Israel, but also the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine and thereby unique in a way that gives the word “unique” an altogether new and intensified quality.

Why Does it Matter?
When the Lausanne Covenant emphasises the uniqueness and universality of Christ in article three, it does so with good reason. Today we do well to remember this central emphasis, especially as it seems the forces of relativism have influenced the Church in an ever more intensive and pervasive way since the Covenant was written. Not only does the continuing rise of other world religions put in question the validity of the historic Christian claim that there is “no other God and saviour,” but secularism with its companion relativism continues to influence the minds of secular and Christian people alike.

Whereas Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others assert the truths of their respective faiths, many Christian leaders seem to be uncertain and only half-convinced when it comes to the question of the uniqueness, universal relevance and exclusivity of Jesus Christ.

Whereas Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists assert the truths of their respective faiths, many Christian leaders seem uncertain when it comes to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.

This uncertainty in many segments of the Church is a great obstacle for all parts of the life of the Church, but especially and primarily in the areas of evangelism and world mission. Why should anyone seek to carry the name of Christ to where he has not been known and recognized if the biblical claims about Jesus Christ are only partially or relatively true? The question on the uniqueness and universality of Christ can therefore be reframed: Is Jesus Christ indeed the one who the Bible describes him to be? Is he the way, the truth and the life, or not? Is he the only saviour or are there other equally capable saviours?

The Western Church is no longer quite sure of its foundations. No wonder that it is beset with many problems, and that—alas!—vibrant growth is not one of them!

R. W. (pseudonym) has worked in many majority-Muslim nations around the world.