“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)

Most people who walk into a Christian church probably assume the pastor believes Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. After all, he is standing behind a pulpit, preaching from the Bible, and leading a Christian congregation. It seems reasonable to assume that he believes what Christians have believed from the beginning. But a national survey gives us reason not to simply assume that anymore.

In 2022, the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University surveyed 1,000 Christian pastors across the United States. One of the questions asked whether they believed they would go to heaven only because they had confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Among evangelical pastors, 70 percent agreed with that statement.

That means 30 percent did not agree with it. We need to be careful with what that means. It does not mean that every one of those pastors said, “I do not believe in Jesus,” because the survey did not ask that exact question. But it does mean that three out of every ten evangelical pastors surveyed would not say that their hope of heaven rested on confessing their sins and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. That should concern every Christian.

The numbers were troubling in other groups as well. Among non-denominational and independent pastors, 71 percent agreed with the statement, which means 29 percent did not. Among Pentecostal and charismatic pastors, 64 percent agreed, leaving 36 percent who did not. Among mainline Protestant pastors, only 51 percent agreed. Nearly half did not agree that salvation rested on confessing sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior.

We do not need to exaggerate those numbers. They are troubling enough exactly as they are. Scripture is not unclear about salvation. Peter said concerning Jesus, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) He did not say He was one way among many ways. He said He is the way.

The same survey found another troubling belief among pastors. Some agreed that having faith is more important than what faith a person has. Thirty-seven percent of evangelical pastors agreed with that idea. Forty-five percent of Pentecostal and charismatic pastors agreed, and 39 percent of mainline Protestant pastors agreed.

Think about what that means. More than one-third of the evangelical pastors surveyed said that having faith matters more than what a person puts his faith in. But the Bible does not teach that all faith leads to God. A person can strongly believe something that is false. The question is not simply, “Do you have faith?” The question is, “Who is your faith in?”

Scripture says, “The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (1 John 5:12) There is nothing confusing about that. Life is found in the Son.

The survey also found pastors who agreed that a generally good person, or someone who does enough good things for others, can earn a place in heaven. Thirty-four percent of evangelical pastors agreed with that statement. Forty-seven percent of Pentecostal and charismatic pastors agreed, and 30 percent of mainline Protestant pastors agreed.

Again, stop and think about that. About one out of every three evangelical pastors surveyed agreed that a person could earn heaven by being good enough. Yet Scripture says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Good works do not save us. Church membership does not save us. Being religious does not save us. A pastor cannot save us. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.

This is why it matters what your pastor believes. Do not assume that because someone has the title “Pastor” everything he teaches is biblical. Do not assume that because a church is large, successful, friendly, or popular that the truth is being preached. Listen carefully to what is actually being taught.

Does your pastor teach that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father? Does he teach that we are sinners who need to repent? Does he teach that salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not something we earn by being good? Does he preach the Jesus revealed in Scripture?

The question is not whether your pastor is a nice man or whether he is a good speaker. The question is not whether you enjoy his sermons. The question is whether what he teaches agrees with the Word of God.

The people in Berea were praised because they did not simply accept everything they were told. “Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Christians should still do that today. Listen to your pastor, but then open your Bible and see whether what he says agrees with Scripture. If it does, receive it. If it does not, believe Scripture.

Jesus Christ did not say He was one possible road to God.

He said, “I am the way.”

That settles it.