Before we evaluate this view, let’s make one important qualification: social relativism isn’t the same as spiritual relativism. Christians should all affirm social relativism (i.e. we should accept people of other faiths), but we should deny spiritual relativism (i.e. we should deny that all spiritual views are true). That is, we shouldn’t force others to believe in Christianity, but we should try to convince others of it. Or put another way, Christianity should not be spread through coercion –but through persuasion. While Jesus told us to love even our enemies (Mt. 5:44), he didn’t command us to necessarily agree with them.

Relativists confuse these two areas: social and spiritual. They conclude that objective truth claims will lead to forced conversions, religious torture, or at the very least, the segregation of people with different views. However, biblical Christianity doesn’t agree with this. In fact, Jesus Christ was the first to claim separation of church and state! (Jn. 18:36; Mt. 26:52; Mk. 12:17) Following in Jesus’ footsteps, therefore, true Christians should accept all people of other faiths –even if they happen to disagree with them.

Now that this caveat is clear, let’s consider several reasons why spiritual relativism is untenable.