Universalism is alive and well in America......

In the world that we live in, it is said that there are many paths to God. I suppose for the uneducated in the Scriptures that may be true. According to www.pewforum.org, and 35,000 Americans that were polled, a full 70% of evangelicals believe that there are many paths to God; while only 68% believe that there is only one way. Looking at these numbers, one might conclude that these numbers are pretty good, but remember, we’re talking about evangelicals, that is, main-stream Christian denominations. Of the Protestant denomination, 66% believe in many paths, while 64% believe only one; Evangelicals, 57% many, 53% one; Mainline, 83% and 82%; Historically Black, 59% and 57%. Out of the religion of Mormon, 39% and 43%; Jehovah’s Witnesses, 16% and 18%.  These are troubling numbers, especially from the Protestant, Evangelicals, Mainline and Historically Black churches.

Because the Mormon religion and the Jehovah’s Witnesses have their own doctrines and versions of the Bible, their beliefs are that there is only one true way to interpret the teachings of their religions, so for now, we will put them to the side.

As for the remainder of the categories, they all teach from the same, although versions might be different, Book. So, the question begs, why do 70% of the people polled believe that there are many ways to God when the Bible clearly says that there is but one?

Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. So, why is it that we have come to the point that we take a Universalist view of the path to God? According to the C.S. Lewis Institute and the article Knowing and Doing: Is Jesus really the only way to God?, large numbers of Americans believe that actions or a combination of belief and actions can lead people to God. And fully 30% believe that eternal life depends on one’s religious affiliation, half believe that belief in God, a higher power or other generic beliefs are sufficient for salvation. Only 45% believe that a personal belief in or a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is essential for eternal life.

So, why all of the statistics? To show that a majority of Americans are not being shown the proper path to Eternal Life. Some believe that it is egotistical and arrogant to believe that there is but one path to Eternal Life. The path of political correctness has taken ahold of our Churches and few are the pastors, preachers, or any other spiritual leader who will lead their parishioners otherwise for fear of removal, diminished numbers or general outcries.

There are the folks that believe that the Scriptures are stuff and legends in the first half (Old Testament) and guidelines in the second half (New Testament). To them, the paths may be many to God, depending on works, thoughts and daily actions carried out as a requisite much like the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Some denominations believe that strict adherence to the Ten Commandments, dietary laws, Mosaic Laws, good deeds and that in combination with belief in Jesus as the Christ will assure their place in Heaven. They are also of the mindset that salvation can be taken away as easily as it is given.

On the other hand, there are those who believe the Bible from cover to cover, including the maps, concordances and indexes. The Old Testament an history of the Israelites and their journey to become a Nation of God’s chosen people…the New Testament the fulfillment of ancient prophecies concerning the Messiah, His life, His mission and His declaration that; “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25), that is, although we may die, we will live eternally with Jesus. Again, in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. So why is there so much confusion?

My honest opinion on this is that the Word of God has been watered down. It has taken a simple concept of salvation, a gift, nothing that can be earned by works, thoughts or deeds and given it a whole new meaning. If you believe the words of the Bible, then how can this be dismissed? We have become a society of politically correct individuals who are loathe to correct anyone who says that the path to God and eternal life is many when the Bible clearly states that the path is one, it is narrow while the path to destruction is wide and many enter into it. On the path of destruction, there are many “roads” to supposedly get to God when in fact there are many roads to eternal separation.

Now to address the question that must be crossing your mind right now; how does this help me to help my family understand the true path to God? It is simple, really. Many times Jesus intimated that He was the only way to God; at least twice He said it outright. The Apostles mentioned belief in Jesus as the Christ as the only way to eternal life and they believed it with all of their beings, even to the point of death. Nowhere did it say that we had to work for our salvation, that there were many paths to God or that we would lose our salvation once we accepted Christ as our Savior. Jesus said in John 10:28-30, “28 And I (Jesus Christ (emphasis and insert mine)) give them eternal life and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one”.

When we teach our children about Eternal Life, Salvation, Jesus and God, we must, must teach them the Word of God as is. Belief in every word as true and accurate is primary to this teaching, because without that belief, how on earth are we to teach our children that the Bible is true, that God is sovereign and yet Triune, that Jesus was fully God and yet fully Man, coming to earth born of a virgin? He lived a sinless life, was persecuted, crucified, died and rose again so that death would no longer have dominion over us. He rose again so that we may have eternal life, there is nothing that we need to do apart from accepting the free gift of salvation. Any works or deeds that we do after salvation is due to our love for God and a desire to spread the Good News that this simple action will bring us to God, and not to secure our salvation.

There are no alternate roads to salvation. It does not depend on our works or how good we were to others during this life. In fact, Scripture says this about good works: Matthew 7:21-23 “21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

In conclusion, any other teaching that is out there, whether universalist or otherwise politically correct is indeed incorrect. The only way to God is through His Son, Jesus the Christ and His simple plan of salvation. There are no add-ons, to conditions other than to accept the gift. Seriously, why would you reject a gift that is given specifically to you, that was planned for you from the beginning of time?? Only by reading, studying and applying the Word to our lives can we teach our children the essential path to God which is through Jesus and only Jesus.