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| No | 37% | 264 votes | Total: 720 votes | |
| Yes | 63% | 456 votes |
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Add to FavoritesWell, that depends on who you are. Doesn't it? Is Jesus the only way of salvation for a Tibetan monk? Not likely. Is Jesus the only way of salvation for a wiccan, an atheist, or a satanist? I'd put my money on "no". Do all of these people have souls to be salvaged? Of course. Salvation from what, exactly? Let's think about this.
The definition of salvation is as follows: '1.A saving or being saved from danger, evil, difficulty, destruction, etc.;rescue. 2. A person or thing that is a means, cause, or source of preservation, or rescue. 3. Deliverance from sin and from the penalties of sin.'
Oh. Cool, so I can be as rotten as I want, but Jesus is like "Don't worry, kid...it's on me." Hang on. This is breaking news. You're telling me Jesus can save me from danger, evil, AND difficulty? Am I to believe that if I let Jesus in my heart, eat the crackers, drink the juice; I can call 911 from anywhere in the world, hysterical, fighting for my life... and a regal - yet polite voice will answer on the other end? I imagine if this were true it'd go a little like this: Inter-celestial 911, Jesus speaking. Tut Tut! No need to tell me your name, location , or nature of your problem. I already know, my child. If you will turn around presently , and take note of your posterior vicinity, you will see that I have promptly dispatched of that evil, dangerous, individual who was causing you so much difficulty. Go in peace, child. Somewhere, a deep, thunderous voice says "OH Yeah."
At which point, I turn and look directly into the camera with a big kool-aid grin, give an enthusiastic thumbs-up, and say "Gee! Thanks Jesus!" Now don't get me wrong. I'm not some heathen that just crawled out from under a rock one day, and decided that I don't believe Jesus can salvage the train wreck that is, moi. I was raised since early childhood, in southern baptist churches. So, I've been saved, (let's see...four times) I've been dunked in the water (twice), I've listened to fat, sweaty preachers and skinny jumping preachers. And women preachers with big hair, too.
I've also been born with my own mind. I was taught to read, I was instructed to question, I was inspired to research. After much was read and done, I'd come to MY OWN basic conclusion (as long as I'm alive this particular area will always be a work in progress) about the way such things work in general. However, the NUMBER ONE reason I rejected the christian faith is because it was being FORCED upon me. Do not knock on my door and proceed to tell me I'm going to burn slow like a pig on a spit at the pickin' for eternity, no less...if I don't love Jesus. You won't find me knocking on your door asking you "How come there's God the father but no mother?" One single, swingin' dad, just 'a runnin' the universe...Sorry, but that's a little flat Earth-ish for me.
You won't catch me waiting for you outside of the grocery store, passing out pamphlets on the scientific theory of human evolution asking you "If God created Adam and Eve as the first people then shouldn't we all be related? Loan me twenty bucks, c'mon we're family!"
I'm sorry if it seems a little rude, and perhaps I've offended the sensitive sensitivities of some very good christian folk, who are really decent people. Maybe next time I'm feeling so cheeky, I'll do it christian style and wait until you walk away. However, if you're not offended and simply feel imposed upon, on behalf of every non-christian the world over, I say: Welcome!
Learn more about this author, Lina Frazier.
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Yes
John 14:4-5 says: "And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, how do we know the way?" Doubting Thomas, when will you ever learn? We point at Thomas several times in the gospel as being the one who just can't seem to get it, the one who must always have visible proof and plain language to believe in Jesus. But Jesus does not get frustrated with Thomas here. He understands that he needs further explanation of His analogies and follows up saying "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Jesus did not tell Thomas He knew about the way, and knew how to find truth, and knew how to find an abundant life. He didn't have a twelve-step process to find these things as our culture so often thinks it needs. No, Jesus came right out saying He is THE way, truth, and life. Can there be a bolder statement?
Anyone who makes the foolish statement about Jesus being soft and not making claims to be God needs to wake up here. What is He the way to? He is the way to the Father! And He is the way because only he has perfect union with the Father. Only he can identify with our sufferings and relate to our trials, while at the same time be perfect and blameless and be seated at the right hand of God. He is our connection, the way for us to have relationship with the Father. What is He the truth about? He is the truth of God, the reality of what it is to know both humanity and God. He came to open our eyes to the truth in a world where truth is so elusive and subjective. The popular opinion is that anyone can have his or her own truth, but Jesus does not believe so. He does not give us 4 options of truth, all leading to relationship with God. Only He alone is the truth of the way to God. What about being the life? "This is the life" is a common phrase attached to things like relaxing on a summer day, enjoying a victory in a game, or spending earnings on material possessions. Many people claim to lead "the life" that everyone wants to lead, full of fame, fortune, and females.
Jesus did not agree. He didn't say that life was found in success, or could be measured in material things. He made the courageous claim to be "the Life". The Greek word used for life is "Zoe", and means the highest blessedness a creature can obtain. Jesus claimed that a relationship with Him was the highest blessedness anyone could ever experience. Do you believe that? Is that preached enough in our churches? It seems to me that so many Christians find their life dragging along as they are forced to obey Christ out of duty and obligation, not out of joy. But there truly is something glorious about a Christian who joyously lays his or her life down and believes in Jesus words of being "the life".
Today Jesus makes that same claim to your heart. He is the path to a relationship with God, he is the truth of God that was brought about in human form, and He is the highest blessedness you can ever experience. Is he all of those things to you? Maybe this is a better way to put it has Jesus become your way, your truth, and your life? I'm not questioning if you are a Christian, and I'm not questioning if you believe He died and rose again. This cannot be a doctrinal statement we mindlessly repeat in mass settings. This can only be settled in your heart between you and the Lord, and then professed to others. I don't mean to leave the Holy Spirit out in any of this. Jesus says in that same conversation with the disciples in 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."
The Holy Spirit is responsible for opening our eyes to the truths of God and of Jesus Christ. As we come near to this Easter season, remember to not only celebrate that Christ rose from the dead, but also that He is offering you the most abundant, joyful life you can ever find a life lived with Him.
Learn more about this author, Chris Ritter.
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