Mariners Church Weekend Messages

Episode: January 12 - Aren’t All Religions the Same?
Speaker: Senior Pastor Eric Geiger
Date: January 13, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode addresses one of the central questions people have about faith: “Aren’t all religions essentially the same?” Senior Pastor Eric Geiger guides the congregation through a thoughtful comparison of major world religions and demonstrates the distinctiveness of Christianity—particularly its message of rescue and grace through Jesus Christ. The episode features powerful personal stories from church members of different faith backgrounds who found hope in Jesus, a call to care for neighbors affected by tragedy, and an invitation for those considering faith in Christ to take a bold step of belief.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Stories from Diverse Faith Backgrounds

[00:27 – 03:03]

• Testimonies from guests who grew up Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim highlight their religious journeys and eventual encounters with Jesus.
  • Hindu Background: “We prayed to many gods...never felt that I had a relationship with any of these gods.”
  • Jewish Background: “We went to synagogue. I was bar mitzvahed...didn’t end up with a spiritual end I could rely on. And I was just lost.”
  • Muslim Background: “I said let me find my purpose and joy in materials...but at the end, it wasn’t fulfilling.”
• Each recounts a pivotal point leading to faith in Jesus, marked by personal crises or spiritual longing.
  • Jewish Guest (01:27): “A friend...brought me into Mariners, and that started my journey of faith. And I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.”
  • Hindu Guest (01:42): During her son’s accident, she prayed to Jesus: "He heard our prayers...He saved my son. I think that is the miracle of God."
  • Muslim Guest (02:18): "With that dream, I believe Jesus knocked the door of my heart and I opened up and I hugged him and I never let go."

2. Encouragement for Seekers

[02:36 – 03:03]

• Guests encourage others to honestly explore and judge for themselves:
  • Muslim Background (02:44): "They can put it on the scale and see which one is heavy, which one is right."
• The value of a welcoming, diverse dialogue about Jesus is affirmed.

3. Response to Tragedy: The LA Fires

[03:06 – 06:52]

• Pastor Eric highlights Mariners’ practical response to the fires in LA County—partnering with Convoy of Hope, providing supplies, and working with impacted churches.
• He offers a deeply empathetic prayer for those affected, inviting the congregation to pray for loved ones by name:
  • Eric (05:17): “Our God is close to the brokenhearted. That’s what the Scripture teaches us...Lord, we ask that you would overwhelm people in this moment with your peace that transcends all understanding.”

4. Introducing the Core Question: “Aren’t All Religions the Same?”

[06:55 – 18:44]

• Eric sets up the topic through a recent quote from the Pope implying all religions are paths to the same God, addressing confusion it caused.
  • Eric (07:15): "More than half of all Americans agree with the statement, ‘many religions can lead to eternal life. There’s no one true religion.’"
• He critiques the “different paths up the same mountain” metaphor, pointing out:
  • Major religions often fundamentally disagree on the nature of God, or even whether there is a God.
  • The statement that all religions are the same, while sounding humble and inclusive, can actually seem presumptuous or uninformed to true adherents of each faith.
    • Eric (09:00): “It would not be viewed as a humble statement, but really a prideful statement, essentially that you know my religion better than I do.”

5. Survey of the Major World Religions and Their “Ladders”

[10:00 – 18:44]

• Buddhism: Goal is Nirvana (no suffering, no desires): Requires following the Eightfold Path, often over many lives.
• Hinduism: Many gods; fourfold path; improve one's status through reincarnation and duty.
• Islam: Five pillars; constant striving and uncertainty about “making it to the top.”
  • Middle Eastern friends (16:07): “You made it sound too easy. It’s nonstop climbing...you never know if you’ve made it to the top.”
• Judaism: Right covenant with God by keeping laws/commandments.
• Cultural Moralism (Typical in America): Doing enough good to “climb to God,” but it's exhausting and never enough.

6. Distinctiveness of Christianity—Not a Ladder, But a Cross

[18:44 – 24:06]

• Classic religious approach: “Strive, climb, perform.”
• Christianity is fundamentally different:
  • Scripture Reference—Acts 5:12 (20:15): “There is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
  • Jesus is unique in his birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection.
    • Eric (20:29): “He’s not a prophet who comes here to show you the way to God. He’s God himself who comes here to bring you to God.”
    • Eric (22:03): “He absorbed in his flesh all of our sin and our shame and in exchange gave us all of his perfect righteousness.”
  • The resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope:
    • Eric (23:17): “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, all of this is a waste...But if Jesus did rise from the dead, then all of this is really meaningful.”

7. Historical Evidence for the Resurrection

[24:06 – 26:00]

• Early Christian claims would have been easily refuted if Jesus' body were present.
• Eyewitnesses and the martyrdom of the disciples bolster credibility.
  • Eric quoting Blaise Pascal (24:53): “I believe those witnesses who get their throats cut.”

8. Grace vs. Works: The Motivation Difference

[26:00 – 30:17]

• Outward “good actions” may look similar across religions, but Christianity’s motivation is gratitude for what God has already done, not effort to earn God’s love.
  • Eric (28:41): “In the Christian faith, we aren’t teaching do these things so God will love you. We’re reminding ourselves...that Jesus has already done it all for us.”
  • Eric (30:11): "Religion says, obey God, so He accepts you. Christianity says, obey God because He's already accepted you."
• Contrast dying words of Buddha (“Strive without ceasing”) and Jesus (“It is finished”).

9. A Call to Decision—Invitation to Faith in Jesus

[31:00 – 38:33]

• Cites the exclusivity and simplicity of salvation in Christianity:
  • Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
• Eric encourages those ready to trust Jesus to stand and publicly confess faith:
  • Eric (36:51): “When Jesus enters your life, he changes everything about you. So if you are ready to receive his forgiveness and become His, I’m gonna give us a couple of moments. One at a time. You stand and confess. I believe. I believe.”
• Many in the congregation respond by standing and affirming “I believe,” while the church celebrates.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On all religions being the same:
  • “This statement is only ever said about religion...No one makes that kind of statement calling things that are different the same about anything else.” (Eric, 09:00)
• Describing the Christian faith:
  • “The symbol of the Christian faith is not a ladder...the symbol is a cross.” (Eric, 25:15)
  • “Jesus does not stand at the top of the ladder and ask you to ascend. He descends to the valley of the shadow of death to give you everlasting life.” (Eric, 25:00)
  • “Christianity is a rescue religion. It declares that God has taken the initiative in Jesus Christ to rescue us from our sins.” —John Stott, quoted by Eric (26:56)
  • “Buddha’s dying words were ‘strive without ceasing.’ Jesus’s dying words were ‘it is finished.’” (Eric, 30:13)
• Invitation to believe:
  • “You were just born again spiritually. We want to gather around you and pray over you.” (Eric, 38:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:27 – 03:03]: Personal testimonies from Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds
• [03:06 – 06:52]: Mariners’ aid in LA fires and prayer for victims
• [06:55 – 18:44]: Introduction and critique of the “all religions are the same” idea
• [10:00 – 18:44]: Overview of other faiths and “ladders”
• [18:44 – 24:06]: Distinctive nature of Christianity, uniqueness of Jesus
• [24:06 – 26:00]: Historical evidence for the resurrection
• [26:00 – 30:17]: Grace vs. works; motivation comparison
• [31:00 – 38:33]: Public invitation to faith and responses
• [38:33+]: Pastoral prayer and blessing for new believers

Summary Table: Key Differences Highlighted

| Aspect | Other Religions | Christianity | |--------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------| | How to reach God/Salvation | Climb, strive, perform | Receive grace, be rescued | | Symbol | Ladder, path | The Cross | | Jesus’ role | Teacher, prophet, moral guide | God, Rescuer, Savior | | Motivation for Good | To earn acceptance | Because already accepted | | Status of the founder | Dead (historical) | Alive (resurrected) |

For Those Exploring

This episode is equally for those just beginning to consider Christianity, those coming from other traditions, and long-time Christians seeking clarity on what makes faith in Jesus distinct. Pastor Eric’s tone is respectful, warm, and direct, urging all listeners to consider the unique claims of Christ and the offer of salvation grounded not in human striving, but in divine grace.

Major Takeaway:
Christianity stands apart from all other religions by teaching that God did not wait for us to climb to Him, but came down in the person of Jesus to rescue us, offering forgiveness and eternal life as a gift received by trust and belief—not by works.