"A majority of all American Christians (52%) think that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life. Indeed, among Christians who believe many religions can lead to eternal life, 80% name at least one non-Christian faith that can do so. These are among the key findings of a national survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life from July 31-Aug. 10, 2008, among 2,905 adults."http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=380
In other words, many "Christians" believe that you can get to Heaven in ways other than through faith in Jesus Christ.
The New York Times had an Op-ed piece where the writer suggested that this is a good thing because it means we are being nicer to each other.
There is no doubt that our society believes that it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere (unless of course you believe that there is an ultimate standard of truth . . . then you are just plain wrong, empty-headed and apparently mean). The fact that people claiming to be Christians are saying these things is very troubling for several reasons.
First It is not what Jesus teaches. Jesus told us that He is "the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father but through Him." This is the consistent message of the New Testament . . . we do not simply believe something and we will be saved . . .we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Second It negates the work of the cross. If we can get to Heaven without Christ then His death as a payment for our sin was unnecessary. Jesus is no longer the King of King and Lord of Lords . . . He is a messenger from God who has called us to love each other.
Third It diminishes the character of God. Now some people would disagree with me. They would say that inclusiveness reveals God as more loving. No . . . I think it makes Him less holy.
The cross of Jesus says God cares about sin and evil. It is an offense to Him. It also says God cares about us . . . so much so that Jesus took the penalty we deserved upon Himself so we might have the opportunity to know forgiveness and a measure of amnesty for our past without compromising God's holy and good character.
If there was a Judge who refused to hold to the Law but simply let everyone off because he believed everyone was good at heart we would hopefully get that guy off of the bench. He is not a just Judge. It is the same with God. To simply shrug at sin does not make Him good . . . it actually makes Him less than good.
Fourth it is actually unloving to adopt such a belief. If the Bible is the standard of truth (which I believe wholeheartedly), and Jesus is the only way to Heaven (as the Bible says), then to simply shrug and let everyone do their own thing is an act of indifference, not kindness. To not tell someone the truth of the gospel simply to be "nice" to others, is to do nothing as they head to an eternity facing Hell.
I know such teaching isn't popular. However, it's the truth . . .and it is the truth alone that can set people free.
