Here’s a subject I’ve avoided for a long time, and will continue to avoid hereafter; but when someone with exponentially greater abilities than I possess is given an enormous audience and a golden opportunity to present the gospel, and totally blows it, it grieves me. In fact, it makes me little bit angry.
I’ll never be interviewed on national television, local radio, or anywhere else. That’s a good thing, because as mediocre as I am in print, my writing fairly shines in glorious Technicolor compared to my extemporaneous speech. I’m the guy who more or less read my testimony in church because I forget my own name when more than two people are looking at me.However, if I was a charismatic pastor used to having thousands adore me, and I was asked a simple question like “if you don’t accept Jesus . . . can you find your way to heaven?”* I hope I’d have a better answer than that Jesus said no, and I’m betting on it. And I certainly wouldn’t go on from there to agree with the Jewish interviewer when he said that he and Jesus shared a common religion. I know exactly what I hope I’d say, and I’m putting it in writing so that, should I ever have an audience of, say, half a dozen eager listeners, I won’t be caught like the proverbial deer in the headlights. I would say something like this:
No, Alan, you can’t. No way. I know that sounds narrow and possibly unloving, but if there is only one road to a certain destination, and I see you on a different road, it’s not very loving of me to wave, wish you well, and go on my way, is it? Especially when Jesus said your road “leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13–14).
The gospel is completely exclusive. Jesus and the Apostles were very explicit about that. Jesus said he is the only way, and that no one may approach the Father except through him (John 14:6). The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
That is what the Word of God says; that is the truth, and I have no authority to deviate from that truth, even though my cowardly heart might be inclined to soften the message so you’ll like me better. But that doesn’t leave you without hope.
Jesus died for every sinner who believes his Word and trusts in him for his salvation. He is God incarnate; he came to earth in the flesh, and perfectly fulfilled God’s law, the law that we break every day; he took our sins upon himself, and bore the wrath of God that our sin deserves on the cross; he rose from the dead, victorious over sin and death; and he sits now at the right hand of the Father, interceding for those who trust in him.
And the good news, the gospel, is this: by faith in Christ, you can be united with him in his death and resurrection, you can have his perfect righteousness credited to you. You can be seen, in the eyes of God, as perfectly righteous, as though you had never sinned, and worthy to be welcomed into heaven, into the presence of God himself.
Mohammed never offered anyone that, nor did Moses. Only Jesus has died for sinners. Only Jesus has made satisfaction for sin. So I can’t offer you many ways to heaven; but I can offer you one that is guaranteed, free of charge. That way is Jesus. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:23–31).
I think that’s the right answer. I know it is. And you know, I probably don’t have to wait for that big interview to rehearse my answer. There are probably a lot of regular folks in my own world who need to hear it. There probably are in yours, too.
*The distinguished Mr Phillips has weighed in on this as well, answering another snippet of the conversation. Read his here.
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6 Comments:
#1 || 08·12·15··13:09 || MareDog
I assume I'll have your permission to share your words (above) with the 24-member Bible study group I teach here in a (secular) retirement community in Illinois. If not, please email me before Thursday, 12/18 telling me to hold off.
This is an issue that has arisen so many times in this class. I think you really nailed it!
#2 || 08·12·15··14:26 || David
You’re welcome to it.
#3 || 08·12·15··16:30 || donsands
Some very fine words from Pastor Wragg.
Rick Warren will one day answer to the Lord in a greater way than most. He calls himself a pastor, and even a pastor of pastors. Of course we shall all stand before the Lord, but He said, "Don't be many teachers, for greater is their judgment."
I don't believe he is a pastor at all. For he is weak in the Word of grace, and shallow in truth. Jesus' pastors will be submerged in the Word, and will be apt to teach, and preach the Scriptures. Rick has been such an embarrassment on the tube when it comes to explaining who God is.
I remember when he was Hannity and said, "God didn't cause Katrina. Katrina was a terrible thing. God's not responsible for Katrina." He went on to use an example of a drunk driver hitting another car and killing someone, and saying this is what Katrina was like.
I pray that Rick would become fearful as to how he shares God's truth. Fear is essential. Surely love is the greatest of all, but fear needs to have its place in our hearts as well.
And thanks for sharing how you would share the Gospel. Well done.
#4 || 08·12·15··21:03 || CM
I just wanted to point out that Pastor Warren did not say that Christianity and Judaism were the same thing. He agreed with Alan when he said that Jesus was of the Jewish religion. He was wrong there too, as Jesus was a Jew by heritage, but he didn't say Judaism and Christianity were the same.
#5 || 08·12·15··21:16 || Ian Hall
Thanks for the post. I find it really sad that Warren is now considered by the media to be the leading evangelical in the US. His odious and deceitful ministry which proclaims a message which is a devilish mishmash of truth and error does a great disservice to the gospel of Christ.
Personally I find it increasingly difficult to read or listen to anything that this guy teaches. As someone who is committed to the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ Warren's ministry sickens me.
#6 || 08·12·15··22:50 || David
CM, you’re right, and thanks for the correction. I’ve modified my wording accordingly.