If you were to be asked whether ‘we all worship the same god’ (though this god may be known by different names), would you answer, “yes?” If so, why?

Some people do not believe in God and so, do not worship at all. Some worship many deities, and others only one. Those who believe in one god ascribe very different descriptions, attributes and characteristics to the supreme being. Some hold that there is a force or power of some kind affecting the general drift of history—but rule out the existence of a personal god. Some religions have no god at the center, but believe in a universal consciousness that will absorb all individuals at some point. Others worship at the altar of self, believing that we are gods or can become gods. Still others believe that while there is a mind behind the world, it is not involved with the world—but follows the principle of ‘set it and forget it.’

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but is sufficient to illustrate that there are numerous substantive differences between belief systems as to who or what is worshipped, and that these differences are enormous. Without comment on any one of these beliefs in particular, it is clear that they are not compatible and in most if not all cases, they are mutually exclusive.

Why pretend otherwise?  At the risk of being accused of practicing psychology without a license, one possible explanation is the comforting and romantic notion that humanity was always and still is interconnected by common origins and a shared destiny.

A second possibility is avoidance of the awkward and painful realization that views that are not compatible and/or are mutually exclusive cannot all be true; and if some beliefs are mistaken—even if sincerely held—they are of no great value. Falsehoods cannot help. They cannot save.

A third potential motive is ignorance or if you prefer, intellectual laziness, stemming from complacent failure to investigate a claim so absurd that the slightest bit of honest inquiry would expose it as bad fiction. Such breathtaking negligence on matters of highest import is hard to understand, much less to justify. It leads to false security. No, all roads do not lead to Rome; they never have, and they never will.

Still another reason for pretending that we all worship the same god is the hope that accountability to god may be escaped. If all beliefs are equally valid, who’s to say what’s right or wrong? Who could be singled out for their response to god—if there is one—or for the lack thereof? What some may confuse with freedom of conscience may be little more than the freedom to imagine the type of god one finds most appealing; to make god in their own image, when it suits them. This is not conviction, but a menu-driven wish list of divine qualities, traits, and expectations resulting in the most pleasing mix.

An equally vain hope is that if people can somehow be persuaded that we really do worship the same god, conflict between individuals and groups over fundamental religious differences can be eliminated—fanaticism gone, wiped out. It’s a lovely (and increasingly popular) thought, but naïve, to say the least.

What does the Bible actually say about the notion that we all worship the same god?  Here’s a brief sampling:

“Hear O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD. And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
“I am the LORD, that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” [man-made idols]. (Isaiah 42:8)
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.” (Isaiah 43:10-11)
“…I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6)
“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God besides me…there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else…there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me. ” (Isaiah 45:5-6, 21)
“…Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10)

It is precisely because the God of the Bible stands utterly alone that He sent His Son Jesus, to suffer and die for our sins. There is NO way that God would do this if there were any OTHER way to rescue us and unless He truly does love us so much that we can’t even fathom it. He knew that no other help was coming. We could not save ourselves and there was no other Savior. There was (and is) no other hope: “Neither is there salvation in any other [than Jesus Christ]: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” __Acts 4:12

So that’s it, then. There’s only one chance and Jesus is IT. He’s the life raft, the last boat. The not-so-good ship Humanity has foundered and is sinking fast—before our eyes it’s sinking. It’s been taking on water for the longest time, but we’ve reached a tipping point. She really is going down. And when she does, she’ll plunge below quite suddenly, sucked down by her own weight.

No one knows for sure exactly how much time she may have left, but it isn’t long—a fact now blindingly obvious to most of the passengers. Aboard ship, the cold black water keeps rising. It has also become frighteningly clear that the crew has no answers. They’re scared, too, though most still pretend they have everything under control. What else can they do? For that matter, what can any of us do?

It turns out that as of this moment, at least, two options remain open, so there is still a choice to be made of our own free will. Simply put, it’s whether to lower yourself into the lifeboat and certain escape or to stay onboard a sinking vessel and go down with the ship. If you haven’t already taken the first option, you are urged to do so immediately. Oh, you may continue to straddle the railing if you wish—one foot on the slanting deck, one dangling above the dark waves below—hoping for the best. But the ship will go on sinking toward its inevitable and irreversible voyage to the bottom. ‘Not to decide is to decide,’ as they say.

Should you choose to take the life raft that God has provided for your use at an unimaginable cost to Himself, here is what you need to know and do without delay.

Admit to God that you’re a sinner [“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” __Romans 3:23]

Confess your sins to God and tell Him you’re sorry [hint: He already knows]

Ask God to forgive your sins and to help you repent (turn from your sin going forward)  [“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” __I John 1:8-9]

Thank God for sending His one and only Son Jesus, to die for our sins.  [“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” __John 3:16]

Thank Jesus for going to the cross and the grave to ransom you from death and hell.  Bless God for raising Jesus from the dead on the third day. [“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” __I Corinthians 15:3-4]

Praise God for not treating you as you deserve, but according to His mercy.  [“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” __Romans 6:23; “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost…that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” __Titus 3:5, 7]

Place all of your hope and trust in Jesus and none on your own works.  [“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”  __Ephesians 2:8-9]

Tell others about Jesus and God’s way of saving people!  [“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” __Romans 10:9-11]