This is one that I wrestle with. On the one hand, I do recognize the primacy and importance of Scripture. On the other hand, I also leave the door as wide as possible for God to do whatever God wants to do. God, after all, is the one who makes the rules. If God is truly omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, then God can (and probably will) save whoever God chooses to save. For me to make a doctrinal and dogmatic statement that says that “Person X cannot be saved because he or she has never made the Petrine declaration of faith” (thou art the Christ, the son of the Living God) then I am concerning myself with something that is solely God’s decision.

My job is to make sure I’m living my life in congruence with my statement of faith. Share my faith, yes. Beat someone else over the head with it, no.

By the way, I’m one who can say with certainty that doctrinal differences mean darned little when you’re out in the field. When the only two Christians in a place are (for example) a Baptist and a Catholic, they’ll find ways to celebrate their faith together in ways that would probably offend their good staunch friends back home.

Inclusivism, universalism, call it what you will, it has a contradictory flaw at its core. Denominational differences are one thing. Doctrinal/theological differences are another. To say that one can be saved outside of Christ, or that there are many ways to salvation, Christ and an afterlife ignores many “bedrock” aspects of various religions and beliefs that just don’t mesh.

I am not surprised that many are ashamed of the Gospel, of announcing their faith and standing firm upon it. In this day and age of pluralism where we are supposed to be tolerant, having a rigid view, especially if it deviates from a supposed amiable norm, is seen as obtuse, if not prejudicial. When there are plenty of Fred Phelps (twisting the Gospel into something obscene) or countries taking a polar opposite view inacting hate laws (against preaching certain passages and topics in/from the Bible, a la Canada), people can feel squeamish about expressing their beliefs. Going with the flow is always easier. It’s interesting though that sometimes it doesn’t take much to affect the flow. But still, many Christians, specifically those who believe in a more conservative, fundamental view feel quite alone in the river of society.

hs, no one wants Bible thumping. Contrary to popular stereotype, most conservative, evangelical “fundamentalist” Christians believe that “thumping” is not helpful. I don’t think what Scott is getting at here is issues between say, Catholics, Baptists and Presbyterians. Rather the larger blanket of Christianity as compared to humanism, relativism, Hinduism, Islam, etc.

I believe that faith and belief in who Christ is and what He did is of paramount importance when concerned with salvation and eternity. If one believes in Christ as God, crucified for our sins and raised from the dead, that you place your faith and trust in Him only, I don’t have a problem. As much as I might rail against some denominational/doctrinal issues, those are quibbles that only God will truly sort out.

But in the realm of faith which can be illogical, there is some logic to be had, and that logic is about standards, about absolutes. All it takes is for there to be one absolute, and by realizing one absolute, everything else begins to take shape. Faith and religion can and must be tested, and if there are contradictions between two, then it should be discovered why, and hopefully one will come to a conclusion that two mutually exclusive standards cannot both be equal and correct at the same time. For that becomes even more illogical than mere faith.

Scott:

Your post insightfully pulls out the following two quotes to illustrate the crux of the matter:

Quote #1:
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The first sentence is not the ground of offense. The second sentence is. The “but by Me” statement leaves no room for confusion.”

I guess I really wonder why scriptural passages like this one become such deal-breakers. When the author says there is “no room for confusion” does that also mean there is no room for discussion? Is there really only one way to interpret such a central text? How do we know, really know, that Jesus only reaches people through Christianity? And once we’ve decided on that, do we get to choose which version of Christianity he inhabits? I guess I’m echoing “hs”’s comment that God can do whatever God so chooses and it makes me more than a little nervous to feel like I’m the one who can define the limits of God’s choices, even if that definition falls well within the limits of traditional scriptural interpretation.

My own life experience and my desire to engage honestly with the teachings of the church have led me to want to follow in Jesus’ way, to walk by the light of his truth, and to live my life more fully because of the life he lived. So am I necessarily “confused” or “embarrassed by the Gospel” if I find exclusivism uncomfortable and unconvincing?

Quote #2:
“God is passionately engaged in gathering people to know, love and worship him from every tribe, language, people and nation. And he has called us to join him on this mission.”

To that I say: Amen! I just hope I can be humble enough to recognize love for God and worship of him in whatever form or language or custom I may encounter it.

You don’t really have to answer my questions (boy this blogging stuff is time-consuming!) but I want you to know that they’re not rhetorical: I wonder about these things all the time and look forward to learning from you and the other contributors, both official and not.

Gratefully,
Pamela

Logus, my challenge with the doctrine of exclusivism is related to how I see God: What do I, as a Christian who has made a public profession of faith and who now tries to live it, say to (for example) Mr. Hamid who posts here? He also believes that HIS faith is the only way. I pose the question: what if we are both right? (or, scarier perhaps..what if we’re both wrong?)

I guess I shy away from any doctrinal statement that suggests that GOD can only work in one way..particularly if that way is lined up to my preferences. God, after all, is GOD. If I could shrink God enough to fit into my brain, then whatever I put there wouldn’t be God.

Logus,
Thanks for writing. You pose some good questions.

Let me throw out something for consideration regarding one thing you said…

You said: “What if we are both right (or scarier perhaps…what if we’re both wrong?)

Regarding the essential theological differences between Christianity and Islam, I would answer that it is possible for both of us to be wrong, but it is not possible for us to both be right.

Applying the law of non-contradiction, if two religions each make a propositional truth about God, and those two propositions about God stand in direct opposition to one another, they may both be wrong, but they cannot both be right.

For example, what if “Religion A” said that God will not ever lie (God of the Bible), and “Religion B” says that any god will lie if he/she so desires (ancient Greek gods), then the believers of these two systems cannot say, “We could both be right.” This would contradict logic.

Just a nitpick clarification Scott, hs posed the question and comment, not me. I agree and use the argument of non-contradiction often in theological discussions.

I believe that those of us who have had the opportunity to know who Christ is and who have committed our lives to Christ will be judged according to the teachings of Christ, and for us, Christ is the only way. We will also be judged according to all the other teachings of Christ.

It is taught in scripture that God shows mercy to whom ever He wants to.

I believe for me and others who have had the opportunity to know who Christ is, that Christ is the only way.

I also believe that all who have not rejected Christ, but have not had the opportunity to know Christ and who follow the spirit that God have placed in all mankind will have the opportunity for salvation, but how God actually decides this, I don’t know. I do believe that scripture supports this possibility.

I only know that God will be the One who decides who will be shown His mercy in these cases because I believe as scripture teaches, God shows mercy to whom ever He please.

The one thing for sure is that no Christian need to be concerned about such subject.