Wednesday, May 10, 2006, Part 3

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8).

IDEA: A commitment to monotheism has profound implications.

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand the implications of believing in one God.

Theologians and historians point back to Abraham as “the father of monotheism.” What does the word monotheism mean?

Do you think that monotheism is simply one of those stuffy religious words with no cutting edge? What are the implications of saying you’re committed to one God?

I. God became the center of Abraham’s life.

If you are a polytheist with many gods, then you cannot have one God in whom life is centered.

A constellation of gods, each requiring some ritual of appeasement, keeps anyone from a great commitment. They can’t go off in several directions at one time.

Do you think that there are many practical polytheists today?

If we say, there are all kinds of ways to God, it’s important to ask what God you have in mind.

Most people who insist that there are many ways to God never define what God they are talking about.

If they believe that every religion and every way of thinking can get you to God, then they are practicing polytheists because they are basically saying any old way, any old God will do.

One thing is certain: people who say that there are many different ways to God are not deeply committed to any one of them.