The clear response of Scripture to your question is “No.” Nevertheless, many Christians are becoming confused.

Especially since Sept. 11, 2001, a significant number of Christians are convinced that insisting Jesus is the only way of salvation (as John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and the rest of Scripture clearly proclaim) puts us almost into the same category as the terrorists. All too many Christians have begun to believe that those who claim to know the only way to heaven are dangerous extremists who destroy any hope for outward peace in our world. More than a few media editorialists and commentators draw the same conclusion.

Other Christians point to the sincerity and devotion of many who worship Allah. Those same Christians may contrast that with many who call themselves Christians but whose lives disgrace Christ’s name. They wonder how anyone can say that the devout Muslims of the world are lost when they seek so sincerely to be right with God as they understand him.

Before we dismiss such arguments out of hand, we need a dose of humility. We simply must admit that the visible Christian church does not have a spotless record in the treatment of those who oppose her teachings. At times the church has sought victory for God’s kingdom at the edge of the sword of men rather than by the double-edged sword of the Spirit. Consider also how easy it is for us to step away from Muslims with a combination of fear and suspicion rather than to reach out with love and compassion.

And yes, hypocrisy in the name of Christ is another ugly stain on the church’s record. The devotion of many Muslims for 24 hours a day,7 days a week, and 365 days a year often puts me to shame. How often do we allow our confession of Christ to be restricted to the safety of our churches? Then in our daily lives our words and actions proclaim a different message. The growing decadence of Western culture—the polluted sea in which we swim—isn’t only a horrid offense to God but also to the moral sensitivities of Muslims.