Have The Rules Changed?

I noticed a clip on my computer today related to Senator Obama's views on faith and salvation. 

He was in Greensboro, NC and made the statement that although he believes Christ died for his sins, those who reject that teaching can also be children of God.  He told the audience that he knew he could have eternal life due to the death of Christ on the cross, but he told a reporter that Jesus and Muslims who live moral lives are just as much children of God as he is.

This information is from an AP story on March 27th.

He went on to say that his mom didn't share his faith but was a kind and generous person so he's sure she is in heaven.

I'm really puzzled about how these issues have come up for debate.  I was taught, and then passed along the teaching, that only through belief in Jesus Christ could we be sure of eternal life.  Now it appears that even some prominent clergy have decided to "lower the bar".  If easy belief-ism is the goal, then we could manipulate the road to heaven all day long.  We could, as clergy, just come up with something that 'man' could embrace. I just can't see it that way, can you? Maybe you can?

Honestly - do you believe there is a way to heaven other than one's belief in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ? Is there a younger group of spiritual leaders popping up in our society who have changed the 'game plan'.  I would really like to know what you are thinking. 

Please let me know.  And if you have another salvation plan let me know how it works. (Thanks to Ron Aldridge for bringing this to my attention.)

So here is how you can respond to our blog.  Just click on the 'comments' and share yours.  And don't forget our podcast at http://podcast.hblondon.org/.  Hopefully the week after Easter is still glorious!

Comments

[Tony Scialdone]

I have no doubt at all that Heaven will be populated, to some extent, by people who never accepted the gospel as outlined in Scripture.

I also have no doubt that Hell will be populated by people who rejected God when He called out to them.

I understand the confusion between the two, because the American church has historically had trouble teaching the concepts involved in salvation. From what I've read, Obama is as confused - and as wrong - as most Americans.

[Bill Craig]

The confusion has come from the failure to produce disciples who can give a reason for why they believe what they believe.

This article in Leadership Journal http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/004/1.19.html

is telling of the landscape of those who believe they have a relationship with God. The landscape is now filled with those with a very secular and twisted view. There are now Christians who aren't sharing the gospel and those sharing what they think is the gospel so you have those who haven't heard the gospel and others who have denied what they think was the gospel. What is happening is the church landscape is cluttered with inadequate representations of Christ and the the gospel.

Unfortunately there will be those who just don't get it. To say there are 5 kinds of Christians when 2 to 3 of the groups wouldn't come close to meeting Scripture's definition is a stretch.

Is there is a younger generation changing the game plan? Scripture says that we'll have those who will try to deceive the church:

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Just as there are those who will deceive, there are those Christians, who are week, biblically illiterate, and other nominal Christians who are leaving themselves open to deception. Maybe all the generations have had there fair share in the way the landscape looks. Maybe the church needs to get back to clear orthodoxy and equipping the saints again so the church doesn't remain ill equipped. Just as Nehemiah asked for forgiveness for himself and his people for the 141 years Jerusalem had been allowed to remain in rubble, maybe we should too. Everyone was at fault for allowing it to fall into rubble for so long. There wasn't just one person or one generation to blame.

Jerusalem was to be a light to the nations just as the church is to be today. What if all the generations in the church were to pause their blogging, take a break from their retirement, and undertake a rebuilding of the church as Nehemiah undertook the rebuilding of Jerusalem? If he could do it, we can to, for our God is the same God.

[Ed]

I agree with you - it's all about Him, and not about what some want it to be...

[Robert Jacobs]

The truth is the "Truth" has not changed! Jesus Christ is the only way and nothing more. If it is something more then Jesus Christ then Christ atonement for us is in vain. But thanks be to God who provided the only way of salvation through Jesus Christ His only Begotten Son. It is troubling to know that many people who sit in our pews in our churches believe this same false lie that Obama believes. They're being decieved and that is why so many churches are failing in the day we live in. Its called that ugly word "tolerance, a tolerance gospel" God help us!!! Jesus Christ is the Only Way Mr. Barack Obama not Jesus and something or someone else!!!

[Mike]

The only way to heaven is based on what the Bible says. To believe otherwise is false. God has prescribed that entrance into heaven is through faith in Christ alone. We are justified by faith through Christ alone. It is unfortunate that churches have taught otherwise for so long. As far as Sen. Obama's comments, I don't expect anything more than what you get from a person claiming to be a Christian and can't believe in basic Christian doctrines. This is a tenuous position for someone who claims to be a Christian.

[Anthony B]

What disappoints me the most is that he (Obama) makes no stand on his faith what so ever. Once again he makes a statement to appease the press. Even as a pastor I have have more respect for those who make a stand one way or another than to be wishy-washy in their comments, opinions and beliefs.

[Rob Stroud]

Universalism is insidious. It has plagued the Church since the second century. It corrupts the Gospel—which describes an individual, personal, intimate redemption—with a naïve philosophical concept. Distilling the Gospel down to the single word “love”… they then expand upon that same word, shaping the result however they themselves desire. “If God is love,” they protest with mock simplicity, “how could he damn anyone to hell?”

The biblical facts that God creates hell not for humanity (Matthew 25:41) and that he desires no human being should ever be consigned there (2 Peter 3:9) are overlooked in a pseudo-compassionate zeal to expand the abstract concept to the point where all are automatically, magically saved, by virtue of Calvary. Clearly running contrary to the whole counsel of God’s written word, they appeal to a new gospel. It is terribly tragic. Many denominations are replete with members (and even clergy) who are universalists. Those with integrity who believe this distortion of truth but serve within denominations formally espousing orthodox theology should leave their churches for a fellowship that publicly affirms the error. Instead most remain (either for pension or a desire to erode the “narrow-minded” orthodoxy of their flocks).

As for the original source material for this posting, as I understand it, the denomination to which Mr. Obama belongs (the UCC) is quite comfortable with this particular theological position for its members. Being wholly congregational in polity, universalism is only one of a number of unique doctrines which may be held by individuals or congregations without being affirmed by the majority of the denomination’s members.

[Jerry Applegate]

I think that you either beieve the Bible or you don't. If you believe it, it is very clear that there only one way and that is through Jesus Christ. If someone doesn't believe in the Bible or won't accept the teachings, then I have nothing to tell them. St. John chapter 10 spells it out and nothing I can say will add to that. Churches today are trying to change the message to fit what the people want to hear. That is also Biblical. 2nd Timothy 4:3 tells us what will happen and I fear that the time is here that it talks about. People no longer have to change their ways to join the church, the church changes its way so they can join the church.

[Jonathan D. Stern]

Mine is more of a question than a comment. I regards to the Jews, they are the elect of God, and we are to regard them and pray for them. Does this mean that they can go to heaven without believing on Jesus as their Messiah, or does their belief in Jehovah bring them to heaven even though they have missed the revelation of Jesus as their Messiah?

[Miranda]

I have a different plan of salvation to comment on. Our church teaches Acts 2:38,39. If the Bible really is our roadmap to heaven, and we must follow it completely, then why is the world saying you just have to accept Jesus as your personal savior? According to Acts 2:38,39, you have to do a little more. Repent, Be baptized in Jesus Name(not the father, son and Holy Spirit), and be filled with the Holy Ghost. My plan of salvation works according to that scripture. So why do people leave that out when seeking salvation?

[Theresa]

I am worried about were he was taught this false information. We need to pray for Reverend Wright and the entire congregation of his church. Reverend Wright will have much to answer for in the end, for his false teaching.