I was going to start interacting with the Trinity and Incarnation but I think I'll postpone that yet again because I want to talk about this video:
First of all, the CNN guy does a terrible job trying to argue on common ground, which is why they end up talking past each other. I actually thought the minister did a decent job on everything besides arguing for the non-separation between church and state, asserting that the Trinity is the basis of the structure of our government and not Montesquieu's political philosophy which emulated Greco-Roman models of government, and plainly stating that Obama is a Muslim. Needless to say, it's beyond ridiculous to tenaciously hold onto some elusive fear that Obama is a Muslim who will take radical steps to establish a Khilafah in the United States, and by extension, the world.
But I don't want to talk about that, my concern here is to highlight those who claim to be Christian while at the same time saying that "there are many ways" to get to God, i.e., to obtain salvation (this is called universalism). As the video shows, Obama has expressed such a view and it is no secret that Billy Graham himself believes in universalism.
In the past I have held that such Christians were not really Christians for they have denied the saving work of the blood of Christ. Logically, if universalism is true, then why did Jesus even die for our sins? What was the point of undergoing intense spiritual and emotional trauma? Why take upon such shaming social stigma? And why did Jesus even have to suffer such horrendous physical pain? Only if Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) can we make any sense of his very real and frightening crucifixion.
That Jesus is the only way is a core belief of mine, there is no doubt about that. The question I'm raising here is: does it have to be a core belief of every Christian for them to gain access to heaven? Is belief in this aspect of the work of Christ a necessary condition for salvation?
I don't think so and here's why. If today I were to become this kind of universalist, I would still believe that the way I'm saved is through the power of the blood of the Messiah who died for me. That I believe others might get to heaven through another path may logically lead to one's denying the saving work of Jesus, but most people at that point don't follow what they're saying to its logical conclusion. They still believe that for themselves, Jesus has saved them through his atoning sacrifice. And really, in this context, that's all that matters for their salvation.
So are Obama and Graham apostates because they hold onto this type of universalism? For me, and I would argue for God as well, the answer is a resounding No.
The Value of Small Things
1 hour ago
2 comments:
This reminds me of a NOVA series I just saw. The series is called "The Buried Secrets of the Bible." It has a "Critical" leaning but it is nonetheless informative and interesting. In one segment, one is informed that although the Israelites were officially "Monotheistic" there were worshipers of not only YHWH but also Ashteroth (figurines have been found in Jewish settlements). Though the worship of YHWH and Ashteroth was present, they still retained their Jewish identity.
The series could be seen online at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bible/program.html
That's so true, we see it all over the Old Testament too when everyone is worshiping idols and some judge or something comes along and tells them to turn back to God.
They retain their Jewish identity, but it's another thing to say they're saved still. I would say many of them might have been still saved despite their blatant idolatry.
Interesting that the implication of this is that one can deny an essential belief and still be saved. Easily abused I can imagine, however.
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