What does Obama really believe about Salvation?
[Newsweek]
Obama says his spiritual quest was driven by two main impulses. He was looking for a community that he could call home—a sense of rootedness and belonging he missed from his biracial, peripatetic childhood. The visits to the black churches uptown helped fulfill that desire. “There’s a side very particular to the African-American church tradition that was powerful to me,” he says. The exuberant worship, the family atmosphere and the prophetic preaching at a church such as Abyssinian would have appealed to a young man who lived so in his head. And he became obsessed with the civil-rights movement. He’d become convinced, through his reading, of the transforming power of social activism, especially when paired with religion. This is not an uncommon revelation among the spiritually and progressively minded.
The cross under which Obama went to Jesus was at the controversial Trinity United Church of Christ. It was a good fit. “That community of faith suited me,” Obama says. For one thing, Trinity insisted on social activism as a part of Christian life. It was also a family place. Members refer to the sections in the massive sanctuary as neighborhoods; churchgoers go to the same neighborhood each Sunday and they get to know the people who sit near them. They know when someone’s sick or got a promotion at work. Jeremiah Wright, whom Obama met in the context of organizing, became a friend; after he married, Obama says, the two men would sometimes get together “after church to have chicken with the family—and we would have talked stories about our families.” In his preaching, Wright often emphasized the importance of family, of staying married and taking good care of children. (Obama’s recent Father’s Day speech, in which he said that “responsibility does not end at conception,” was not cribbed from Wright—but the premise could have been.) At the point of his decision to accept Christ, Obama says, “what was intellectual and what was emotional joined, and the belief in the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, that he died for our sins, that through him we could achieve eternal life—but also that, through good works we could find order and meaning here on Earth and transcend our limits and our flaws and our foibles—I found that powerful.“
When Franklin Graham asked Obama recently how, as a Christian, he could reconcile New Testament claims that salvation was attainable only through Christ with a campaign that embraces pluralism and diversity, Obama tells NEWSWEEK he said: “It is a precept of my Christian faith that my redemption comes through Christ, but I am also a big believer in the Golden Rule, which I think is an essential pillar not only of my faith but of my values and my ideals and my experience here on Earth. I’ve said this before, and I know this raises questions in the minds of some evangelicals. I do not believe that my mother, who never formally embraced Christianity as far as I know … I do not believe she went to hell.” Graham, he said, was very gracious in reply. Should Obama beat John McCain, he has history on his side. Presidents such as Lincoln and Jefferson were unorthodox Christians; and, according to a Pew Forum survey, 70 percent of Americans agree with the statement that “many religions can lead to eternal life.” “My particular set of beliefs,” Obama says, “may not be perfectly consistent with the beliefs of other Christians.“
Read more here.
[From me]
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I think Jesus answers it best.
What do you think?
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been wondering about his spiritual convictions.
Also, I’d agree with you that John 14:6 says it all.
David Richardson’s last blog post..Space Invaders
Kevin,
Ah. I see your point - that’s going to affect his ability to govern. McCain doesn’t seem like the born-again type either. Who would you recommend that Christians vote for?
A3, I didn’t see anywhere in the article or in Kevin’s brief summary anything about governance. Did I miss something? Or, is that your way of shifting the conversation away from salvation to a hot-button issue of governing as president?
A3,
I posted a story about McCain’s church membership months ago. He claims to be Episcopal & Southern Baptist. I can’t find anything about what he believes.
I never said he can’t govern. I’m just pointing out you can’t have it both ways. Either Jesus is the way to heaven or He isn’t. I chose to believe the Bible. Obama has his own interpretation.
It would appear that either man can govern (obviously McCain has much more experience–both in government and real life), however that’s simply not the question in this post nor for me as a voter. I want a person who brings the entire package to the table: experience, intergrity, forcefulness, etc. However, since no person (man or woman) can deliver all needed qualifications, I then look for the best candidate left and make my decision.
At this point, I find neither man speaking truth as much as I hear what the audience wants to hear. Obama certainly seems to flip-flop on the faith issue; McCain seems to bury his faith and not discuss it at all. Both approaches concern me.
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..Upon this Lego, I Build My Church
I like to take the same approach that Steve takes. I never vote straight ticket and will vote for the candidate that best “puts forth” what I believe. (not that he will stick to it once elected). However, the point of the post is the salvation issue. I too agree with Kevin that you can’t have it both ways. I realize what the polls say but I choose to take the side of Jesus. I think the line has been drawn in the sand.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..A ?Words? Follow-Up
To further elaborate on what I think A3 was sarcastically trying to say, Obama and McCain are running for the president of the United States, not pope or messiah or theologian in chief. As president, Obama and McCain will be required to govern and represent all citizens…muslims, Jews, Christians, agnostics, atheists, you name it. Though there are many interesting topics that are highly relevant to their ability to govern and represent, a detailed parsing of their views on salvation or Biblical interpretation (as Dobson tried to do recently about Obama while giving no scrutiny to McCain’s view of scripture) are hardly relevant (unless those views are an indication that they would be unable to represent and govern us all).
So, while it may make for interesting discussion, I agree with A3 that the finer points of Obama’s beliefs about salvation may be relevant to the question “Which presidential candidate’s faith is most similar to mine?” (though to answer that question, we’ll have to somehow get a lot more detailed info from McCain) but not so much to the question “Which presidential candidate is best prepared to serve as commander-in-chief of the USA?”
In fact, I would say that a candidate who said “Only Christians will go to heaven, the rest of you are going to hell” would be disqualified because such a statement would cripple her ability to represent all of us as president. Instead, a statement like “Jesus is the only way for me. I’m not in a position to judge other people” can express the same level of faith and trust in Jesus without slamming the door on further dialogue.
Let me remind you of the point made by the following linked article: http://tinyurl.com/58m8kj
that GWB believes non-Christians go to heaven and that there is a universal call in all faiths
this article also examines GWB’s religious views:
http://tinyurl.com/2tfj63
Jonathan,
Thanks for the link. Then GWB is wrong too.
Again, this post had nothing to do with who to vote for. I just thought Obama’s pluralistic views need to be known. Any candidate who Republican or Democrat who picks and choses what parts of the Bible to believe scares me. No wonder Abortion hasn’t been overturned.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..What does Obama really believe about Salvation?
Kevin,
I think you are highlighting an interesting contrast. Obama says: “Jesus is the only way for me. I’m not in a position to judge other people”. You say “Any candidate who Republican or Democrat who picks and chooses what parts of the Bible to believe scares me” by which you must effectively mean “picks and chooses differently than I do” because, let’s be honest, we all have it both ways and pick and choose “what parts of the Bible to believe”. What I mean by that is: Which of us hasn’t been betrayed by our eyes yet still has both? Which of us isn’t rich by global standards yet hasn’t sold all that we have and given it to the poor? Do we all take a little wine for our stomach’s sake? Which of us hates our father and mother? Many (most?) of us strive to understand what we read in the Bible and put it into practice, but we often come to very different conclusions about what that means.
I’m not necessarily saying we should or shouldn’t be doing any or all of the above. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have strong opinions about your beliefs and interpretations and shouldn’t communicate strongly what you believe and why. But I do think it is intellectually dishonest for us who believe that Jesus is the only way to claim that THEY “pick and choose” but WE don’t. I think there is great danger that one who parses and criticizes the nuances of a statement like Obama’s is pointing at a mote or straining a gnat while harboring a beam or swallowing a camel…because there may be some other aspect of God and His will that one has obliviously and completely missed. Because of that, I think a humble tone is essential and that a statement like “Jesus is the only way for me. I’m not in a position to judge other people” does a better job of holding to a strong conviction about Jesus while exhibiting humility, grace, love, and compassion than “Any candidate who Republican or Democrat who picks and chooses what parts of the Bible to believe scares me” does. In my opinion, we’ve still got more recovery to do.
Jonathan,
Fair enough. But do we take Jesus at His words or not? If Jesus said He is the only way then He is a liar if there is another way. I don’t think that is being judgmental. If it is show me how it is and I will change my way.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..What does Obama really believe about Salvation?
Jesus said that HE is the only way to the Father and to eternal life.
I fully believe that.
I also understand and realize that we are electing a President, not a pastor.
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..Why the struggle?
Kevin,
I think there is a huge danger in treating “church-goers” as “theologians”. Pastors, generally, have done a poor job of teaching doctrine and many people really haven’t truly considered what they actually believe.
When we, as pastors, start evaluating each press conference as a “statement of belief”, then it really isn’t fair to the person.
I know, I know, if they are going to run for the Presidency, they have to be “open” to all questions. But it is a rare person, indeed, who has thoroughly thought through all the ins and outs of their belief system. Quite frankly, for me personally, the more I preach, the more I understand about what and how I believe. They may actually believe the same as you, but don’t know how to express it “properly”. We also have to remember that all who claim the name of Christ aren’t “sold out followers of Jesus Christ”. How any Christians that you know personally are Christian in label only?
BTW, I preached John 14:6 two Sundays ago. This is also something that I am very concerned about. I don’t want my folks thinking it is “Jesus PLUS anything equals salvation”. It is JESUS ONLY!
http://wisbc.mypodcast.com/2008/07/Jesus_The_One_and_Only-123989.html
Rick Boyne’s last blog post..Thanks Mom!
So…I understand (and agree with) what Rick is saying, we aren’t electing a pastor, but a president…but, should any spiritual bases be used in how we vote? Should we be concerned about the spiritual beliefs of our presidents, senators, even dog catchers?
If their faith values and theology doesn’t line up with ours (whatever ours might me) then what values do we use?
I’m thinking in relationship to Roe v. Wade and other supreme court cases, justices who are selected by the president and approved for the senate/house. Seems to me that values do matter!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..Where’s My Sign?
I was going to mention the Bush comments as well.
I think a more important question in all of this is does it matter what our leader believes when it comes to faith issues?
I ask this because I think God puts into power who he wants in power. I also think God can work through people that we may find as “not great Christians”. The Bible is full of Kings that did listen to God and Kings that didn’t, so we know that God lets both those that love Him and those that hate Him lead.
Michael’s last blog post..Jude Chapter 1: Be Weary of False Teachings
Kevin,
My point is that in order to “take Jesus at his words” we must come to an understanding of what he meant by those words. What Jesus said about turning the other the cheek is pretty stark, yet most of my fellow Christians don’t believe that to me a blanket condemnation of self-defense. I already mentioned what he said about plucking out eyes if they cause you to sin, yet I’ve never heard of anyone literally plucking out an eye even though all of us have sinned because of our eyes. We know what he said about the difficulty of rich men entering the kingdom, yet most of use are pretty comfortable with our “riches”. There are plenty of other examples. How can this be? Because we are convinced that that what Jesus was saying was more nuanced than the literal words that are recorded. Are we right or wrong in every case? I certainly don’t know for sure. To you and me, the exclusivity that Jesus claimed is pretty clear, but should we be surprised that someone else might honestly come to a different conclusion? If we differ, let’s discuss our differences, but from a position of humility and honesty, not “why don’t you just take Jesus at his word like I do?!?” because it’s probably not that simple for one or both of us in the conversation.
One of the things that first attracted me to your blog was that its title implied an introspective look (what is right or wrong in your life), not so much pointing out what is wrong with everybody else. Typically, the content doesn’t seem to really match that theme (still a lot of look what all those people said and did, look how wrong they are). That’s understandable and OK, especially if done with grace and love. Who am I to criticize? But, frankly, I more interested in understanding than I am condemning and I won’t pretend that I have it all right myself.
Steve,
Values certainly matter in selecting a leader, but in my opinion they should be values framed in such a way that they are common and universal to “all of us” that are represented (Christian, Jew, Muslim, agnostic, atheist, etc.) rather than, for example, “is your brand of Christianity as exclusive as mine”.
Even on Roe vs Wade, both sides can continue to vote their values in an effort to chip away or maintain an inch of entrenched turf here or there while abortions continue unabated, or both sides can work together to make a difference where they agree (i.e. taking action in areas of commonality that will lead to fewer abortions). I have more faith in the effectiveness of the latter approach than I do in the former.
Michael,
I agree that God is going to allow whoever He wants in office. This post wasn’t a slap at Obama. I just thought his view of salvation isn’t what the Bible teaches.
Jonathan,
Again, your observation about me is probably correct. I’m still recovering. But I don’t understand why it is judgmental to post an article about what Obama believes and line it up against the Bible.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Poll Shows Christians want Religious Freedom in US Foreign Policy
Kevin,
I’m probably overly sensitive about people like Dobson attacking Obama but giving McCain a pass…I don’t think Dobson should be attacking either.
And I’ll look forward to the next post discussing how McCain’s beliefs and practices related to riches line up against the Bible…on second thought, scratch that. It might hit too close to home.
And I guess I’m just belaboring the point that I don’t think we are justified in putting everyone who disagrees with us in the “pick and choose, don’t take Jesus at his words” camp while claiming we’re not. I’m claiming that we’re right there with them, just to different degrees and on different issues.
Jonathan,
I disagree with the way Dobson handled Obama. I also posted an article about McCains flip flops on his church membership 6 months ago. Personally I don’t care for either as President.
The ONLY reason I posted this because it was news. I have no agenda. I saw a news worthy article & I posted it. I quoted Jesus & then left it at that. I don’t see how that is judgmental. If you took it that way I’m sorry & did not mean to offend or pass judgment. If Obama says he put his faith in Jesus I believe him. But both he & GWB haven’t studied what they Bible says about salvation carefully or they have chosen not to believe it. That doesn’t make them bad people or sending them to hell. But it could lead others to reject Jesus instead of accepting Him.
I think we need a high view on the authority of scripture if one is going to talk about doctrine or theology. Otherwise, it is futile.
Obama has been in the limelight because of his illustrious connection with Jeremiah Wright when it comes to theological and doctrinal beliefs. He WAS a former member of Wright’s church. I understand from someone here in Alabama, close to the party politics within the Democratic Party, that Obama was strongly urged to withdraw his membership while he campaigning for president. I find it difficult to comprehend that people would claim Jesus as their Savior yet embrace a pluralistic doctrine of soteriology, meaning there are many ways to eternal life. Jesus was either who he said He was or He was the biggest con artist and liar. BUT, he was neither a con artist or a liar. He was the infinite God-man, as the apostle John put it best, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He alone purchased salvation for sinful man.
Kevin, I view your comments as objective and on target.
Blessings and still praying for your foot!
J.D.,
I have a high view of scripture. That is one of the distinguishing attributes of my heritage (churches of Christ). Coincidentally or not, another distinguishing characteristic of the c of C, for example, is that they tend to bind where the Bible doesn’t bind…for example, view the use of “instrumental music” in worship as wrong (because it isn’t “authorized” in the NT) and that those who practice it are lost (i.e. going to hell). I think that is wacky doctrine but use is as an illustration that people with a very high view of scripture (a belief that God basically dictated it word for word in wholly inerrant form) can be way off base…and/or (rightly or wrongly) believe that Jesus did not actually mean what he literally said in some (many?) cases (as I’ve illustrated above).
Kevin,
I’m not trying to hector you or imply that you had overtly bad intentions with your post. Rather, am trying to communicate my perspective and have also gotten off on some (related) tangents.
Maybe GWB and BHO haven’t studied enough. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who have studied much more than me who have very different views from me on many things, including salvation. Maybe that’s because their view of scripture is too low. But we all bring our own cultural and personal biases and histories into how we understand scripture…so I’m just encouraging you not to be so dismissive (THEY pick and choose, THEY don’t take Jesus at his words, THEY haven’t studied enough) people who have a different perspective than you.
I’ll pipe down now.
I beleive part of the issue is why Obama wears his religion on his sleeve when expedient then discards weh neccesary. He has done multiple mailings in the south (Kentucky) and South Carolina promoting his Christian Commitment asnd his desire “to discover HIS truth and live by HIS word”:
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/01/obama_lit_in_south_carolina_pushes_back_on_false_muslim_smears.php
Yet, he votes against Live Birth Abortion, has a pluralist theology and centers on works getting you to heaven. Now this isnt parsing or picking a nuance when Obama states:
I’m rooted in the Christian tradition… I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.”
“The difficult thing about any religion, including Christianity, is that at some level there is a call to evangelize and proselytize. There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they’re going to hell.”
“I don’t presume to have knowledge of what happens after I die. When I tuck in my daughters at night and I feel like I’ve been a good father to them, and I see that I am transferring values that I got from my mother and that they’re kind people and that they’re honest people, and they’re curious people, that’s a little piece of heaven.”
nah. his momma is going to hell. my church is better than his church. and my WHITE JESUS can kick his BLACK JESUS’ butt any day of the week! bring it! bring it! muah hah hah…what? Oh. yeah, my xanax is here somewhere…
jimmy paravane’s last blog post..of men and mice.
Jonathan:
Not to be disrespectful BUT, I don’t consider the Church of Christ as a group with a high view of scripture because of their false teachings I.E. baptismal regeneration, their exclusivity in ecclesiology, besides they really believe they are the only ones with eternal life. I have never met a Baptist who has advocated that you must belong to their denomination, or you must be immersed to have salvation, unlike those of the church of Christ.
Finally, how do you use your intellectual ability to decide that Jesus really didn’t mean what he said? So, did he say some things he really meant or were they exaggerations on his part. Again, I don’t think you have a high view of scripture if you are going to pick apart the Word of God and say, “Well, you know, bless His heart! He really didn’t mean that.”
What form of hermenuetics do you use? Just curious…
Kevin,
I don’t think you said it either. My point was that a candidate’s theology is not apropos to U.S presidential elections. The discussions of what a presidential candidate believes about salvation is no more to the point than whether he prefers cats or dogs as pets.
M. Steve Heartsill,
Believe me, I never want to derail a good discussion about salvation!
But I didn’t read the post as a discussion about salvation per se; I read it as a sizing up of a presidential candidate based on his theology. So my post was my way of highlighting the tendency of most fundamentalist Christians to decide on a candidate based on his theology - even in this election where the choice isn’t as clear cut. Much too much discussion during the primaries was centered around whether Romney was really a Christian and that Huckabee was a real Christian. I was astounded (and embarrassed) that during the GOP primary debates, there were an inordinate number of questions to the candidates about their religious beliefs. There were also personal interviews with Obama and Clinton where way to many of the questions were about the candidate’s faith.
J.D.,
You’re illustrating my point nicely as you seem to be effectively defining “groups with a high view of scripture” as “groups that come to the same conclusions that J.D. does” (i.e. they teach “false doctrines”)…since the c of C traditionally holds some doctrines that J.D. considers false, then obviously they don’t hold a high view of scripture. This is a common use of the term “high view of scripture”…i.e. to establish a “high ground” for ones own interpretations.
A more universally applicable definition might be “Scripture is inspired, authoritative, normative, and sufficient for salvation and the Christian life” and perhaps “inerrant” (depending on what is meant by that).
Some of the distinctive c of C characteristics (only ones going to heaven, instrumental music a sin, etc.) are more 1950’s thinking that no longer seem to be held by most people (at least in my experience). There is certainly still an emphasis on the necessity of baptism. Agree or not, but that arises from taking seriously the NT seriously and all of the examples of baptism being a part of accepting Christ to be normative.
I’m advocating that all of us exhibit a little more humility and avoid taking a dismissive view toward Christians who come to different conclusions than we do.
About how I use my intellectual ability figure out what Jesus (and the other writers meant), see my comments on hermeneutics below. But I hoped it would be clear what I was getting at from the examples I gave. Jesus said that if your eye causes you to sin, you should pluck it out. I’m making the assumption that you still have two eyes. Have your eyes never caused you to sin or do you think that Jesus didn’t literally mean what he said? Jesus was communicating a certain message, but I’ve used my intellect to conclude that he didn’t mean that he literally desired his followers to be eyeless. This has no direct bearing on whether or not I believe Jesus claimed to be the only way to God (I do), but simply makes the point that all of us use our intellect to understand the Bible and sometimes conclude that something other than a literal interpretation is warranted.
As far a hermeneutics, I try to understand what I can about the historical context (who is the author, who is the intended audience, what problem was being addressed, etc.), determine what the author was communicating to the original audience, determine what the universal principle is (consulting and attempting to harmonize other relevant/related passages), and then determine how that principle applies to me.
In my last comment I intended to add that “Scripture is inspired, authoritative, normative, and sufficient for salvation and the Christian life” is certainly characteristic of most members of the c of C.
Kevin,
If not to inform the decision about whom to vote for, then why do Obama’s views on salvation need to be known?
M. Steve Heartsill,
I think the vast majority of Americans cherish their freedoms, including their religious freedoms. On the other hand, I’m guessing from your conversation that you would consider only a minority of Americans to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So yes, the majority of Americans who love their religious freedoms do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christs.
But you asked if they don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of their love for religious freedoms. I think the answer to that is no - I fail to see the same connection you do. Could you explain?
Oops! Sorry - posted to the wrong thread…
Kevin,
You certainly know how to get “participation” on your blog, don’t you?
Phil Hoover’s last blog post..Why the struggle?
OK - I’ll take Kevin at his word — that he was only reporting the news and lining up Obama’s view of the Bible, not trying to suggest anything about his ability to govern, who to vote for, etc.
So, here’s what I believe is a germane question — for our host, but I guess also for anyone else out there: “Does the fact that Obama sees himself as saved by Christ, but also seems to be inclusive, mean he’s salvation is invalid?” Meaning, do you have to be right on all doctrine, or specifically this one, in order to be saved….
I my neck of the woods, anti-Obama folks just want to doubt he’s really a Christian at all. I personally think that’s just a ridiculous position to take, given his very public profession of his conversion experience.
Charles
Neosho, MO
Charles,
I’ll take Obama at his word. If someone has put their faith in Christ then they are sealed by the blood of Christ. But his view & GWB & others is not Biblical. Jesus said He was the only way to the Father. Either He was telling the truth or He was a liar. I don’t see how pointing out this false belief is being judgmental. I’m not saying Obama, GWB or anyone who believes that is evil. I believe they are wrong.
A3,
I think every public figure’s beliefs are important to know. I want to know what shapes their conscience.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Dutch cafes use fake cigarette smells to create atmosphere after smoking ban
Kevin,
For what reason is it important to know? Would it inform your vote?
A3,
Yes. It would shape my vote. But had I been able to vote when President Carter was running against Gerald Ford I would have voted for Ford over Carter even though Carter is a believer. There is more to it for me. I would vote for Mitt Romney before the two that are going against each other now and he is a Mormon.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Dutch cafes use fake cigarette smells to create atmosphere after smoking ban
Kevin,
Maybe it’s a fine distinction, but the judgmentalism that concerns me is your assumption that if you differ from Obama, it must be because he picks and choose, doesn’t take Jesus at his words, or hasn’t studied enough. To me, a better approach is to say “this is what Obama apparently believes, this is what I believe and why, can anyone explain to me why you disagree with me? I’m interested in understanding your point of view and helping you to understand mine.”
For example, J.D. called me out on my belief in the importance of baptism and basically accused me of not knowing how to properly interpret the Bible. My response could be, “Hey J.D., have you ever read “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”? Why don’t you just take Peter at his words and stop picking and choosing what parts of the Bible to believe and what parts not to believe? Acts 2:38 seems pretty plain to me!” But that wouldn’t be very respectful nor would it set the stage for a productive dialogue between us. Were I to assume that our disagreement necessarily arises from a flaw in J.D. and not be open to the possibility that maybe I’m wrong, we’re going to have a hard time making any progress. It may help me feel good about myself, but it’s unlikely to help me convince J.D. about what I believe to be the truth.
Jonathan,
Fair enough. I will work on that.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Dutch cafes use fake cigarette smells to create atmosphere after smoking ban
Kevin,
That’s really good to hear!
President Bush has said the same foolish things about the exclusivity of Jesus. Shame on them both. Countless Christians have died rather than say that someone else could be Lord.
And John 14:6 is just one out of one hundred passages relating to Jesus’ exclusivity. Here are just a few more. Saying that Jesus isn’t the only way is a ridiculous thing for any Christian to say.
Acts 4:11-12 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 16:30-31 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 John 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Luke 10:16 He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.
Luke 12:8-9 I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.
John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.
John 10:7-8 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.”
Neil’s last blog post..A slippery slope or a cliff?
J.D. Rector response to Jonathan: “Not to be disrespectful BUT, I don’t consider the Church of Christ as a group with a high view of scripture because of their false teachings I.E. baptismal regeneration, their exclusivity in ecclesiology, besides they really believe they are the only ones with eternal life. I have never met a Baptist who has advocated that you must belong to their denomination, or you must be immersed to have salvation, unlike those of the church of Christ.”
Am I reading this correctly? Is Mr. Rector actually saying the church Christ teaches false doctrine? As for the coc believing they’re the “only ones with eternal life,” I think that goes both ways. Let me make sure everyone knows - I was raised coc and firmly believe in it. We have a dear friend (methodist) that began going to church services with us. He decided he wanted to be baptized (at a coc). When his parents found out - mind you this young man was 26 years old - they went nuts. Said the coc was a cult! HUH? You have to believe in the “doctrine” of your church - why else would you go there?? The coc has some strong beliefs, but so do many other churches. I find, at least in this country, the church of Christ to be most like the church we read about in the New Testament.
Also, along the lines of taking the Bible as “actual,” many of the terms are similar to what we would say today. Example, 40 days and 40 nights. We may say a “month of Sundays.” Is either literal? And what difference does it make?
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