On January 3, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) opened the US House of Representative’s first session of 2021 with prayer.  In addition to being a member of the House, Rep. Cleaver is also a United Methodist Minister. The last line of his prayer created a firestorm of controversy.  His prayer, however, revealed a bigger problem for Christians today.

Rather than concluding with the traditional “amen,” Rep. Cleaver ended with “a man and a woman.” Almost immediately, users filled social media with a backlash of protest. Protesters argued that Rep. Cleaver had gone to far, and he had desecrated sacred tradition.

In a later statement, Rep. Cleaver explained that he meant the statement as a light-hearted reference to the record number of women recently elected to serve in Congress.

“I concluded with a lighthearted pun in recognition of the record number of women who will be representing the American people in Congress during this term as well as in recognition of the first female Chaplain of the House of Representatives whose service commenced this week,” he said.

I give him the benefit of the doubt on that one. It was, nonetheless, an ill-timed and unwise time to make such comment.

The Bigger Problem

The bigger problem, however, is in the statement Rep. Cleaver made before the ending of the prayer.

“… We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and God known by many names by many different faiths. Amen, and a woman.”

There are two parts to this bigger problem, the first of which is praying in the name of Brahma.  Brahma is the creator god of the Hindu religion. So what we had was a Christian minister praying to a Hindu false god. Praying in the name of a false god is a futile exercise that yields no results. Read about Elijah’s showdown at Mt. Carmel with the prophets of the false god Ba’al in 1 Kings 18. 

A more troubling bigger problem, additionally, is found in the statement “God known by many names by many different faiths.”  I have heard too many Christians too many times make the statement that “we all believe in the same God we just call Him by different names.” 

If that were the case, then God would have a serious case of multiple personality disorder.  The false gods of other faiths think and act in ways completely different than the true God, Yahweh. There is only one true God.  His name is Yahweh, and He has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3). 

Why It Matters

The main reason this heresy matters so much is that it defies the truth that Jesus is enough.  Jesus is, in fact, not just enough, but also the only way to God.  The heart of the Gospel is that man remains unable to redeem himself, so God sent His Son, Jesus to be our Redeemer.

If any expression of religious belief is valid, why did God go to the extreme measure of sacrificing His only Son?  Jesus is the ONLY WAY.

Too many Jesus followers have given in to the ideological bullying of the “pluralism” crowd.  I personally heard one hugely popular talk show host make a statement to the following effect.  “Christians need to get over the idea that Jesus is the only way to God.”  Some Christians have chosen to believe her instead of what God has said in His Word.

We will never win the world to Christ by proclaiming a false Gospel. All religious roads do not lead to the One True God.  Only Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:6-10