Probably not.
You might call them a non-Christian. That would make more sense.
Well what about people who call themselves Christians but disagree with Jesus?
Now hold it right there for just a minute. How can a Christian disagree with Jesus?
Good question. My dictionary defines a Christian as one who believes Jesus was sent by God to save the world. It also says that Christians accept and follow his teachings and example.
A person was called a “Christian” in the first century because he or she believed Jesus was the Savior and turned to him for forgiveness from sin. “Christian” means “Christ follower.”
When Jesus Christ walked the earth he claimed to be God in human flesh. Not just another teacher or prophet. God. He offered his miracles as evidence.
Those who believed him followed him. And when he taught that Heaven was a real place and that he was going there, they wanted to know the way to get there.
Jesus’ simple answer leaves no room for misunderstanding. He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Another time he added, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”
It’s clear that Jesus taught he is the only way to salvation from sin and an eternal home in heaven. He said he was “THE” way and “THE” door. Not just “A” way or “A” door.
Fast forward to 2008. A Pew Forum poll found 70 per cent of Americans, including 57 per cent of Evangelical Christians, agree that “many religions can lead to eternal life.”
While we might wish it were so, no evidence exists to support the view that “many religions can lead to eternal life.” But as Americans, we seem to think we can vote on everything--even truth!
Only one person has ever claimed to be the Son of God who could prove it. That was Jesus Christ. He predicted that when he was killed, he would rise from the dead. And he did.
Those who followed Jesus also found that his power transformed their lives. As a result, the Bible records they taught what Jesus taught—that salvation is found in Christ alone.
They preached (and the Bible proclaims), “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Does that sound like “many religions can lead to eternal life”? It doesn’t to me either.
We must choose between the Church of Wishful Thinking and following Jesus Christ. The Church of Wishful Thinking offers a “hope so” religion. Jesus Christ offers truth.
The Bible says, “This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.”
So you can go with the majority of Americans and have a “Hope so” religion or follow Jesus Christ who offers “Know so” truth.
A Christian believes in Jesus Christ and follows him. Those who don’t believe what Jesus taught may be religious but they’re not following Christ. So they’re not “Christian.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
3 comments:
Good post in this age of universalism! Hope all is well!
Great thoughts on the exclusivity of Christ and the necessity to truly believe the Gospel He died to establish. Brian Mclaren and Doug Pagitt and those with them in the ever inclusive, "broad road that leads to destruction" Emergent movement would eternally benefit from a thoughtful read of this blog. Keep them coming. God bless.
To Christians, this should NOT be a surprise. To the world who are without Christ, this conflict is not a surprise either. God calls Israel "mine elect" and chose Israel. In the New Testament, God calls Church "mine elect" and chose those whoever responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
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