During the 2024 Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Jonathan Pokluda criticized “Americanized lukewarm church-going Christianity” and stressed that Jesus Christ is the path to eternal life.
Pokluda, pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, shared statistics from USA Today, which found that 70 percent of all major Christian and non-Christian religious groups say many religions can lead to eternal life.
“And we might reject this in belief; maybe you hear that, [you think], ‘No, that's not true.’ But we accept it in practice because we're not bothered by someone not believing in Jesus,” he said. “We sleep fine. We ride elevators and walk through hallways with people going to Hell, and we're OK. We don't seem to believe that Jesus Christ is the only way. … If you're here and you're a believer, I want to teach you how to address things like, ‘All religions lead to God,’ or ‘I'm glad that’s your truth.’ Or, ‘I'll live my life and get right with God later before I die; I'll figure out the Jesus thing.’”
According to The Christian Post, the pastor contended that Jesus is historically accurate and the embodiment of truth itself.
“[Jesus says] ‘I'm the way to God. There's no other way to God; I'm the only way to God.’ And you probably have heard, ‘Well wait, I think there are many ways to God,’ or ‘All religions will lead to God,’ or ‘Don't all religions teach the same thing?’ That’s a statement of ignorance. The person who says that all religions teach the same thing has never studied other religions,” he said.
Pokluda also referenced examples from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism and their respective paths of spiritual fulfillment and salvation. He pointed out how these religions contradict each other, adding that if one claims to be the only true path, the others are negated.
Regarding Christianity, Pokluda stressed its inclusivity and exclusivity, such as Jesus Christ providing salvation to everyone who believes in Him, regardless of their background.
“Christianity is exclusive. But it's the most inclusive of all world religions. Jesus on the cross, arms spread, saying, ‘Anyone who believes in me shall not perish, but have eternal life.’”
Pokluda also shared a story about how his daughter suffered illness during a mission trip as part of a metaphor for the necessity of finding the right path to salvation. He noted that telling someone that salvation is found on any religious path is as deceiving as telling a lost traveler that any gate at an airport leads home.
“Jesus is the only way to Heaven, and that's loving because it's true,” he added.
“Jesus calls people to a life of repentance and turning away from sin, not to restrict fun, but to guide them to a fulfilling life in a right relationship with God,” he said.
“Jesus says, ‘I am the truth,’ So many of you are not on a truth journey; you're on a happiness journey. You don't care. You'd say, ‘I'll believe a lie if it will make me happy, and what if the truth doesn't make me happy? What if the truth means I can't do whatever I want to do when I want to? I can’t date whoever I want to date … I can’t look at whatever I want to look at. What if the truth compromises my deepest desires?’ It’s still the truth.”
Throughout his message, Pokluda addressed the concept of "new tolerance," contrasting it with "old tolerance.” “Old tolerance,” as he defined it, meant accepting differing opinions, while new tolerance urges agreement with others' beliefs, even if they contradict one's own convictions.
“That goes against the will of God. It's inconsistent with what He teaches, inconsistent with His Word, and inconsistent with what's going to lead you to life,” he said.
“Some of you here, you're on the straight and narrow, and you're like, ‘Jesus is just trying to keep me from stuff.’ He is trying to keep you from stuff: STDs, addiction, jail time, hangovers. I'm telling you when you go 100% — I'm not talking about this Americanized, lukewarm church-going Christianity — I'm talking about, ‘I'll go anywhere and talk to anyone about Jesus because I'm free from what people think of me. I'm not a slave to that anymore. I'm living for Him. I don't care what you think about me. I'll talk to anyone.’”
“Jesus Christ is the way, Jesus Christ is the truth, and Jesus Christ is the life, and no one gets to the Father except through Him,” he concluded.
Pokluda was amongst several speakers, including Sadie Robertson Huff, Louie Giglio, and Levi Lusko, at Passion 2024 (Jan. 3-5). The conference, described as “a gathering of 18-25-year-olds and their leaders united for the fame of Jesus,” also featured musical performances from KB, Kari Jobe, and others.
Photo Courtesy: ©Sparrowstock/David Clark
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
