What a fascinating time in which to live. In my short lifetime I have seen some 180 degree turns in America’s culture, philosophy, politics and religious beliefs. I can remember when most of the aforementioned were pretty much black and white. There were little, if any, gray areas. In matters of faith today, most are ecumenical, i.e., meaning “one size fits all.”
Recently the U.S .Religious Landscape Survey Report II (6-23-2008) was released. That survey, which interviewed 35,000 Americans, revealed some vast changes over the past few years.
For instance, only 51% believed in a personal God and were absolutely certain He existed. That leaves 49% that do not believe in a personal God and are not certain that He exists!
More scary was the revelation that 53% of the evangelicals (over half) believe there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion. This is like saying “God as I understand Him.” It means nothing. I can interpret a teaching one way, you can interpret it another and someone else can interpret it another way and it’s okay. Just as my understanding of God has absolutely nothing to do with Who He is, my interpretation of hell will not affect it. My interpretation of the deity of Christ has no bearing on whether He was God in the flesh or not. My interpretation of how a person gets to heaven will not change God’s plan of salvation. Like someone has said, “God does not grade on a curve, but on the cross!”
Remember, we are speaking of 53% of the evangelicals, not cults, eastern mysticism or witch doctors.
In this same group identifying themselves as evangelicals, 57% believe that many religions can lead to eternal life. I am sure someone uttered the cliché, “I believe as long as a person is sincere…” For some reason people who wouldn’t dare trust “sincerity” in the medical field, aviation or computers, place much importance on it in regard to one’s destination for eternity.
All of these ideas tend to place man above God. It is man who decides his way to heaven. Some seem to think there is the Catholic way, the Baptist way, the Methodist way or just any old way.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
Please observe that Jesus did not say that He was a good way, a religious way, a church way, a denominational way or one of the ways. He said, “I am THE WAY.” (caps mine) Jews and Gentiles hated Him for such a narrow statement. They hated Him then and they hate Him today. He was too dogmatic, too biased, not open minded. What about other religions and beliefs? There were good (?) people in all churches. In fact, many of those people were better than Peter who denied Christ three times and certainly better than Paul who was incarcerating believers. What about those people who do not recognize Jesus Christ as Saviour? Will they be punished just because they disagreed with Jesus?
Let Larry King pose these questions to Osteen, Warren, Graham, Hybels, Hinn, Copeland or any other religious icon and watch them do the theological two-step. Jesus Christ didn’t stop with just being “the way,” He also claimed to be “the truth” and “the life.” Neither Jew nor Gentile had seen such audacity. He was born lowly and died the most despicable death of crucifixion after only three and one-half years of ministry, yet this Man evokes the same emotions today as He did 2000 years ago.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
Man keeps trying to broaden the way, to make it more inclusive. How could a loving God send anyone to hell? Let me interject here that any man who goes to hell does so because he willfully, knowingly, purposely rejects Jesus Christ as His personal Saviour. He does not go there because of ignorance or flaws in his personality. A man goes to hell over the convicting power of God the Holy Spirit, the love of God the Father and the atoning death of God the Son. Man does not go to hell because of lying, stealing, taking drugs, being a homosexual, aborting babies, blaspheming God or committing adultery.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.” John 3:16-18 (caps mine)
There is only one way to heaven and only one reason for not going there. Be reminded that the God of all the earth placed His love in His Son:
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Notice where the love of God does not resides; not in Buddha, Mohammed, Mary, Reverend Moon, Dalai Lama or any one else. The love of God is only in Jesus Christ and it is to Him that God has given all judgment.
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” John 5:22
I don’t know about you, but I think I will just take His word for it.
Keep Looking Up!
Leland Maples
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