Christ First Forum

Will Universalism bring about the end of Christian influence in America?

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp ... iv=Opinion


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"America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life - even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise." – Associated Press, Eric Gorski

The above is the first line in a recent article by Associated Press religion writer Eric Gorski.

America is changing - some would argue has changed - in terms of religious composition. When you combine Catholicism with Protestantism, Christianity has always dominated the American religious landscape.

But Americans today are seeing themselves as more "spiritual" than “religious” and therefore are dropping the concept that one must subscribe to a particular set of beliefs in order to be in right standing with God. Whoever God is. A recent Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life suggests this. Now atheism remains very unpopular as Americans do believe in God to the tune of 92 percent. It’s just that they don't know exactly what they believe about God, so they are willing to go with the idea that, "Hey, everybody’s in."

This belief that "all roads lead to God" is called universalism. Oprah Winfrey epitomizes universalism. She has no enemies, because she makes no judgments. I am not sure what Sen. John McCain believes as far as his faith goes as I have never heard him speak about it, but it is clear from listening to Sen. Barack Obama that he is also a universalist. This would explain, at least in part, why Winfrey is so enamored with Obama. They are kindred spirits, no pun intended.

There is a popular myth circulating that Obama is a Muslim. That is not true. It is true that when he was a young boy in Indonesia he attended both Muslim and Catholic schools and he gets his unusual name from his father, who was of Nigerian descent.

Obama told author Cathleen Falsani: "I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people."

Again, I am not disparaging Obama personally; he is obviously a very intelligent man, I am just stating a fact that this view of religion, again known as universalism, is in complete contradiction to Christianity. Read the New Testament. It is all about Jesus Christ being the only begotten Son of God and the only way to eternal life. There is nothing in there about other religious paths being an option. Being a Christian has never been subjective. There are certain essential doctrines that one must subscribe to in order to be considered a Christian.

If you reject the Bible that is your right, I am just saying let's not twist and distort what the New Testament explicitly teaches about the exclusivity of Jesus.

Getting theologically consistent answers from "universalism" is like nailing Jell-O to the wall. In Christianity there is a phrase called "systematic theology." That is to say there are intellectual building blocks upon which the faith is put together so that people can understand it. Another term used is "apologetics," which means a logical flow of ideas.

You don't have to go to seminary to have a basic understanding of Christian apologetics. There are books for the common person which help in this regard. Josh McDowell's books such as "More Than a Carpenter" and "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" are excellent resources.

But the Pew Forum survey found that "57 percent of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching. In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion."

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only 3 inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

"There's a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences," he said.

What is appealing about universalism to modern day Americans is that it is intentionally ambiguous and doesn't require any measurable commitment by the individual. One doesn't have to agree with any creed, you don't have to go to church, you don't have to abide by any particular code of conduct and there is no objective standard for defining right or wrong or good and evil. It is all up to the individual and how he feels. Forget all that old-fashioned stuff about repenting of your sin and giving your life to the Lord.

If this trend of universalism impacting the church continues, there will be no Christian influence of any consequence in America in 25 years.

But Americans today are seeing themselves as more "spiritual" than “religious” and therefore are dropping the concept that one must subscribe to a particular set of beliefs in order to be in right standing with God. Whoever God is.

Yup, yup, that was me. I really believe that it is just the Holy Spirit nudging people to take a direction. That was me, so I don't have a problem with people looking for their answer....at least they are looking, and I believe there is a great hunger out there, but people are 'settling' for what's offered. I think that is the importance of spreading 'the good news'. Rather than saying that there are many roads that lead to God, I prefer to say that there are many paths that lead to the road (Jesus) that leads to God. I took a very twisted path to get here, took a long time, was it the wrong path? I could never find fault with someone for looking, only that they stopped short of finding.

Jan

The problem with people today is that they are searching for something that is staring them right in the face, but that is just too simple, and they throw it aside, and trample it down, while getting nowhere.

People today are simply too lazy and only searching for things that suit their own personal needs. It's all about self, and what they perceive as what will promote them and their needs.

It all boils down to one word and that word is GULLIBLE. We live in a GULLIBLE SELF CENTERED WORLD.

I personally believe we're living in the 'Last Days', and the Lord has allow a 'delusion' to come upon people to fulfilled prophecy.

We're seeing more false 'churches' conforming to the false beliefs of 'many ways to God' instead of 'the only way is Christ.'

They see theirselves more 'spiritual' which is the 'spiritism' mention in the Last Days.
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Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Tim 4:1
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Society is being influence by people like Oprah Winfrey.

Society want the 'feel good' emotions, and God is Love.

They don't want the word for word Bible study, but the feel good emotions.

Most of our churches are 'conforming' to the world!

I also believe the Antichrist will use this same method of religion until he sits himself up in the temple as god.

Then he wants to be worship as god.

Jesus is the only way to His Father in heaven.

No matter how bad it looks, God always keeps a remnant.

I believe we are in the last days of the church age, and ever since we took prayer out of schools, in 1962, we
have been steadily going down hill spiritually.

Yes, Like Sodom and Gomorrah, there were a few that remain faithful, but just as God
called Lot out of Sodom, so will he call us out, before his time of wrath is poured out.

That could, in fact, be any day now.
The stage is set, and many players are in place, I feel.
1948 Israel became a nation again after almost 2,ooo years of being scattered.
1967 Israel won a 6 day war, and possessed the sacred, Jerusalem.
We were told, when we see these things take place to know the time is near. even
at the door.
How do you feel about these things?
I keep wondering, is this the day?

Gracealone wrote:No matter how bad it looks, God always keeps a remnant.

I believe we are in the last days of the church age, and ever since we took prayer out of schools, in 1962, we
have been steadily going down hill spiritually.

Yes, Like Sodom and Gomorrah, there were a few that remain faithful, but just as God
called Lot out of Sodom, so will he call us out, before his time of wrath is poured out.

That could, in fact, be any day now.
The stage is set, and many players are in place, I feel.
1948 Israel became a nation again after almost 2,ooo years of being scattered.
1967 Israel won a 6 day war, and possessed the sacred, Jerusalem.
We were told, when we see these things take place to know the time is near. even
at the door.
How do you feel about these things?
I keep wondering, is this the day?

Grace, I agree totally with you! The seasons are upon us and the time is near. All I am doing is waiting on the shout and the trumpet sound. My bags are packed and if he came to get us at this moment, I am ready.

I agree! The very beginning of this article says it all. "America is still a nation of believers". That's true, but believers in WHAT and WHO? America is NOT a nation of TRUE believers. This is why our country will easily turn away from the truth of Scripture.

Amen Jeani, I agree.

It would sadden my heart even more if it weren't for the hope we have in Christ.

The very gates of Hell, shall not prevail against his Church, so we can watch, and pray

Knowing we are soon going home.