Posted on 04/25/2006 8:04:00 AM PDT by churchillbuff
From time to time, some people will suggest that all the world’s religions are of equal value and accomplish the same end. “All roads lead to God,” these folks say. “Whatever name you call him (or her), it’s still the same God,” others proclaim.
I am not among these people. I do not believe that all religions are of equal value, though there is value in most forms of religion, and I do not believe they accomplish the same end. Neither do I believe that, whatever name is used, all names for God refer to the same God.
As an historic, orthodox Christian, I believe that Jesus Christ was telling the truth when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).
This, of course, is a scandalous statement. Either Jesus was deluded and should be denounced as a madman or he was speaking the truth.
If he was deluded, then Christianity is a farce and 1.5 billion people are ensnared in false hope.
If he spoke the truth, however, then all religions are not of equal value.
Religious pluralism says that “there are many, many ways to God and all of these ways are good.”
But Jesus claimed that he was the way. Not just that his teachings were the way but that he himself was the way to the Father. Not only that, he claimed that, outside of him, there was no other way.
Further, he claimed not only that he taught truth but that he was the truth.
Certainly, all religious faiths contain truth, but Jesus claimed that all truth regarding spiritual matters was found in his own person. If he is the repository of truth and if truth cannot be found outside him, then other religions contain error. And, if one is seeking God, then error can lead one away from, rather than toward, God.
Jesus also declared that he was the life. Much of religion is a search for fullness of life on the earth and a quest for any life that may exist beyond this temporal plane.
In addressing this first consideration, Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV). The reason he came at all was to bring a quality of life never before known or experienced. He also came to insure eternal life for those who would believe and put their trust in him.
As John 3:16-17 states: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (NKJV).
But the claim to exclusivity is found in his words, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” That means that the way, the only way, to God is in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
That is offensive and repugnant to some, but it is still what he claimed. If there is a “Plan B,” it is not found in the scriptures.
Christianity makes for itself the claim that the only true path to finding one’s destiny, one’s ultimate plan, in fact the only path to God the Father, is found in Christ.
“So,” someone will ask, “are you saying that Christianity is the only true faith and that all others are wrong?”
That is, in fact, the claim of historic, orthodox Christianity. Christians believe that all that God began in the Book of Genesis and continued in the books of the Old Testament was brought to consummation in the person of Jesus Christ.
Scandalous? Yes. Absurd? So it may seem. Outrageous? Many think so.
A number of years ago, I was looking for a small town in Colorado and became lost. I stopped and asked directions of a man who owned a filling station. The directions he gave described a curvy and treacherous trek over some mountains. I asked if there was a shorter or safer way to get there. “Nope,” he said, “there’s only one way to get there from here.”
The New Living Translation puts it this way: “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
It’s the only way to get there from here.
Oh I forgot, All scripture is metophor to Catholics except for John 6. My mistake.
And I know you are very aware that Christians do not follow Jesus metaphorically but as God. Else, you would have no reason to ask the "why only those two options" question. Are you the only sane one? That is one of the proofs of insanity. :)
No. I'm accquainted with a few other who won't be banging on the door of the ark. :-)
You do jest, right? I knew it. I knew it. I knew it.
Sometimes. In which instance specifically?
Else you are just stubborn and refuse to see that Jesus actually believed he was God and his followers wrote this down and still preach the same. Jesus said he was God! If you think Christ just another teacher ... then you have very low standards for wise teachers in history (i.e. Plato, Confucius ...). Because anyone with a little intelligence sees that Jesus claims to be God's son. And by your short, well written replies, everyone can see you are not easily taken in.
Please. There are those with probably more intelligence than you who don't quite see it as you do. You ought to be secure enough to not start getting personal.
I ask you then if you still hold that he is not God or a madman to, what is your understanding of Jesus and why do you say so?
My understanding is that, if he did actually exist, he was human and Jewish.
That sounds like something I can comprehend
I've read all his books. Its just a moniker. Try and not take it seriously.
My daughter brought it up to me and apparently, they were talking about it in school and I went blank. Thanks for the insight
False statement. Father Feeney was not excommunicated for this. Furthermore, he died in full Communion with the Catholic Church.
The Catholic doctrine of "Baptism of desire" covers this. It holds that if someone wants to lead a good life and would have received Baptism had they known about it, they can be saved.
This has got to be the worst butchering of the a "Baptism of desire" I've ever seen.
It is infallible dogma that there is absolutely, positively no salvation outside the Church, and that baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation as dogmatically restated again very clearly at the Council of Trent.
You never knew it.
Hmmmm. Whom to believe, you or the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
1260 "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery." Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity."
SD
Sure I'll pray for you. Not all non-Christians are atheist. :-)
1257 "...God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
I'm not Catholic...But this struck me as very profound. If you partake of Baptism, your salvation is assured because of his promise. Yet He can choose to do as he pleases with regard to those who might not choose baptism.
Secondly, you may note the wording "it may be supposed..." which in no way indicates the Church moving to declare or define Catholic teaching. One must, however, refer first and foremost to the Church's infallible statements which come to us through the exercise of the Supreme Magisterium of the Church, in statements which in intend to define, declare, and profess Catholic truth, and bind the faithful to that truth. The Catholic Church indeed most explicitly states that there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church, and that baptism in water and the Holy Ghost is absolutely for salvation.
In short, a catechism is incapable of trumping the infallible declarations of the Church, which remain true always. Every Catholic is bound to believe what has always been taught.
Wha? Dave? I thought you said I'd be ok? :-)
You'll be OK as long as your ignorance remains invincible. Of course, the more you study and the more you interact with those trying to set you straight, the more tenuous your claim to innocent, non-overcome-able error becomes.
SD
According to Catholic dogma, this statement would be incorrect; Baptism does not assure one of salvation, because one can later fall from the state of grace by committing mortal sin.
Always a caveat. :-)
This is not correct either, as ignorance is never salvific; ignorance does not save. There remains the problem of Original Sin, which ignorance cannot blot out, but only Baptism can remedy. Someone in original sin may not necessarily suffer punishments due to actual sins which they did not commit, but nevertheless, may not enter into Heaven if they die with original sin unremedied and without the indelible mark of Baptism on their soul.
caseinpoint: Those who never had a chance to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in this life shall be given a chance in the hereafter to acknowledge the Savior and accept His saving sacrifice on their behalf.
This statement presumes that God is not in control of who hears the gospel and who does not. Do you not think that God has the power and capacity to make his Gospel known to all he desires??
You imply that God was not able to "get to" these people while they lived so His only recourse is to get to them in death.
caseinpoint: We have an obligation to take the gospel to all the world but the Lord does not punish those who never have the chance to know it in this life.
Have not all sinned? Are you saying because of ignorance, men will be excused their sin??
This is not correct either, as ignorance is never salvific; ignorance does not save. There remains the problem of Original Sin, which ignorance cannot blot out, but only Baptism can remedy. Someone in original sin may not necessarily suffer punishments due to actual sins which they did not commit, but nevertheless, may not enter into Heaven if they die with original sin unremedied and without the indelible mark of Baptism on their soul.
See Dave? I knew I couldn't trust you on the NES. :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.