Submitted by: John Waddey(471) firstcenturychristian Log in to become a member of John Waddey's Fan Club!
A recently published poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 70 percent of religious Americans believe that all religions lead to a home in heaven. Seventy-nine percent of Catholics and 66 percent of Protestants acknowledged that this was their belief. One commentator remarked that the average American's faith was three miles wide and three inches deep.
It is remarkable that a person who believes in Jesus and considers himself a Christian was hold such a view. Jesus plainly said, "No one cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). The apostles taught that there is salvation in no other name than that of Jesus (Acts 4:11-12).
How then do we account for such faulty thinking?
* Most American church-goers are woefully ignorant of the Bible's teaching. Many acquire their religious convictions from their peers, movies, television, books and magazines. They may own a Bible they do not read it. Hence they are in no position to know what the Bible says on anything.
* Those who attend the typical Catholic or Protestant church do worship God and honor Christ, but they are shortchanged when it come to serious Bible instruction. Leaders of many of these churches decided long ago that people in their classes and assemblies need something other than instruction from a 2,000 year old book. Pop psychology, entertainment and self-help lessons are the order of the day. Thus a person might spend 20 years in attendance in such churches and still have a Biblical IQ of 30.
* For the last 40 years American citizens have been bombarded with the concept of Pluralism. Pluralism teaches that all religions are of equal value. One is not superior to the other. (Unspoken is the belief by the teachers of pluralism that all religions are mere superstitions and worthless). Pluralism has been extended to include different forms of government, different social groups, different nations, etc. This has long been a key component of the education our children receive in public schools and our universities. Pluralism has been enforced by Political Correctness that says we should not criticize a faith other than our own. It argues that there is no objective standard of right or wrong. That truth is relative and personal. Thus if you like Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam that's O. K. They are just as good as Christianity in their book. The greatest sin under Political Correctness is to believe that a moral or spiritual matter is unalterably true; to insist that others should share your belief. Many of the professors of Pluralism don't believe in a personal God and certainly do not think that the Bible is His infallible truth.
* Along with Pluralism we have been told that Tolerance is the greatest virtue. We Christians are taught to love our neighbor (Matt. 22:39). We are to help people of all races or religions when they are in distress (Luke 10:30-37; Gal. 6:10). But the tolerance promoted in our secular society renders people without convictions on such vital matters as morality, salvation and the worship of Jehovah through Christ. They can look at evil and call it good because they cannot bring themselves to pass judgement on the conduct, faith or worship of others. Jesus said, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve" (Matt. 4:10). He tells us to "judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
* The person whose Christianity is diluted by Pluralism, a false Tolerance and Political Correctness has built his spiritual house on the sand (Matt. 7:26-27). His hope for God's approval is based on an worthless illusion (Is. 29:8).
We who are serious in our commitment to Jesus cannot be a part of that mindless herd who believe that everyone will end up in heaven. If that view is right then Jesus is wrong, and the Bible mistaken. If Scripture is wrong about that fundamental issue, how can we be sure it is right about any other matter. True, God wants all folks to be saved (I Tim. 2:4). Yes, Jesus did so that all men could be saved (John 3:16). Yet the fact remains that to enjoy that salvation we must believe in the Son and obey his will (Heb. 5:9). We pray for the lost, that they will hear and accept the gospel of Jesus. We seek to teach them the good news of salvation in Christ (Mark 16:15). But if they are to receive the reward of eternal life, they must yield their hearts to Jesus and serve him.
This author of this Article has choosen to make this article available with free reprint rights. Click here to copy this article.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
organization.
