The Exclusivity of Christ

On Monday, Aimee and I saw a piece on ABC News and have been nauseated ever since. Here is the online article version:

Religious Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way

The subtitle says it all: "Religious Americans embrace many paths to eternal life _ even if their denominations don't" Here is an excerpt from the article (emphasis mine) ...

Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.

In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

This is an eye-opening and tragic reminder that Truth is found not in surveys but in the timeless pages of the Word of God!

As I have shared before here, John Piper does a great job of bringing the light of Scripture to bear on this heresy that denies the exclusivity of Christ. Piper answers--biblically--these three questions:

1. Will anyone experience eternal consious torment under God's wrath?
2. Is the work of Christ the necessary means provided by God for eternal salvation?
3. Is it necessary for people to hear of Christ in order to be eternally saved?

The clear answer to each of these questions is YES!

I'll close with my favorite scene from Trains, Planes and Automobiles. It perfectly illustrates the heart of American "Religion" right now.



If you're not following the Jesus clearly revealed in the Bible, ... YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!!

"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. (Matthew 7:13-14)"

"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.' (Matthew 7:21-23)"

I hope to follow up with the specific passages dealing with these crucial questions in later posts.