Offensive Christians

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released today a second part of their US Religious Landscape Survey. I’m reading the summary now and frankly, its very disheartening.

• 66% of American Protestants believe other religions can have eternal life - I assume this does not mean a life of eternal suffering in Hell.
• 79% of Catholics hold this position.
• The most shocking statistic to me is the 57% of self-identified evangelical Christians who believe that other religions can lead to eternal life.

The postion that “all religions can get you eternal life” betrays a sad ignorance of the Word of God. That so many Protestants, Catholics, and evangelical Christians can hold this anti-biblical view show us that we are far from where we need to be.

Please consider the following scripture in light of the survey’s findings:

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Luk 13:23-30  And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.  And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

As Christians we must test our salvation. We must be clear as to who our Lord is. Many Christians and Christians in Name Only.  Nominal Christians - We must all strive not be included in this group.  A verse that strikes the fear of God in me is:

Matthew 7:21-23  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

For the sake of Christianity and the Church - Be Offensive with your Christianity. Do not compromise your faith or the Word of God by adhering to this idea of “tolerance” which is really no tolerance at all but just a postmodern denial of Truth.  All religions can not be right. All roads do not lead to Rome.

David