Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
"The way" is a term that has different meanings. When Jesus said he was/s "the way" he was referring to the gateway to God ( in so many words). But there are many "ways" to do things. Those are not "the way" but merely "ways." Sounds confusing. But chairs in a circle is a way to meet. But it is not a way to get to God. Singing songs selected by a song leader and accompanied by a band is a way to worship. It is not "the way to God" but it might be "a way" if in doing it you contact God.
"I am the Way" is not a slogan. It just has different meaning from other uses of the term "way." When people try to push them together as if they are talking about the same thing, it is a form of equivocation. Not necessarily and intentional ruse, but an erroneous treating of two different definitions or uses as if they are one and the same. A confusion caused by the fact that the same word is used in more than one way.
So if someone says that they do something a certain way and you respond with "our only way is Jesus" you are confused about the use of the term "way," or you are trying to create a confusion in the other person for the purpose of lifting up yourself or making an argument. Either is equivocation. The latter was practiced by Lee on many occasions. The former was probably practiced by the rest of us in our ignorance due to the teachings of Lee.
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That's a pretty standard teaching. It's a bit more complicated. Everything else being equal, simplicity is a good truth criteria. So according to your interpetation, Jesus is the way to God, but he's not the way to live, or meet, think, or sing, etc. Do you have scriptural support for your narrower application of the saying? How would you square that with Paul's saying that he can do all things through Christ?