A clip from The Oprah Winfrey Show has been making the rounds on the internet and e-mail lists lately. You may view it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA. In it, Ms. Winfrey comes down pretty hard on those who insist the Christianity is the only way to God (or whatever Ms. Winfrey says you wish to name or not name a deity). Ms. Winfrey asks all people to agree that there are many ways to salvation.
Two thoughts on the "Oprah" clip ...
As Americans, we should be tolerant of those who believe differently than we do. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee us freedom of (not from) religion. I have never been opposed to Mormons, Jews, Muslims, or any other religious people expressing their views in the public forum. Even non-religious and anti-religion views must be allowed. For example, it would not bother me at our public schools for Mormons to hand out the book of Mormon or Muslims to hand out the Koran or Jews to hand out the Torah or atheists to hand out literature as long as we Christians are able to pass out copies of our Bible. By the same token, I wish that public prayers and "moments of silence" would return to the public classroom ... whether they be Muslim, Mormon, Jewish, Baptist, Methodist, "moments of silence" for those who are not religious, or whatever. And, I wish that public high school students studied all religions and opposing views. I taught sociology to public high school students for several years at Sparkman, Arkansas. (I have an M.S.E. in education and social studies as well as an M.A.R.E. and D.Min. in religious education and ministry.) We studied the five major social institutions of family, education, economy, government, and, yes ... religion. Most scholars, religious or not, include religion as a social institution. All information and knowledge is valuable. Let the schools teach it. Churches can then seek to teach the wisdom of knowing the truth. At school, I did not endorse Christianity as the only way unless asked privately by a student. At church, I do, of course ... but I still ask Christians (and especially my fellow Baptists) to be tolerant.
However, as Christians, we must be clear that although we are tolerant of other religions and the unreligious, the way of salvation and heaven is through Jesus Christ alone. Scripture is very clear on this: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus did not die just for Christians who believe, but for everyone who will believe: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Christianity is the only religion in which the founder came back from the dead. This is both biblical and historical evidence of this.
Unlike "Oprah," I don't do video, but I do audio. For more of my views, you may find them at www.englandfbc.org by clicking on the blue microphone. As an American, I must be tolerant of Ms. Winfrey, no matter how wrong she is. As a Christian, I must pray for her to see the only true Light.
It's great to be an American. I was reminded of this last week while in Washington D.C. (See the attached photos. Especially note the ones of the students placing the wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.) However, it's even greater to be a Christian.
Two thoughts on the "Oprah" clip ...
As Americans, we should be tolerant of those who believe differently than we do. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee us freedom of (not from) religion. I have never been opposed to Mormons, Jews, Muslims, or any other religious people expressing their views in the public forum. Even non-religious and anti-religion views must be allowed. For example, it would not bother me at our public schools for Mormons to hand out the book of Mormon or Muslims to hand out the Koran or Jews to hand out the Torah or atheists to hand out literature as long as we Christians are able to pass out copies of our Bible. By the same token, I wish that public prayers and "moments of silence" would return to the public classroom ... whether they be Muslim, Mormon, Jewish, Baptist, Methodist, "moments of silence" for those who are not religious, or whatever. And, I wish that public high school students studied all religions and opposing views. I taught sociology to public high school students for several years at Sparkman, Arkansas. (I have an M.S.E. in education and social studies as well as an M.A.R.E. and D.Min. in religious education and ministry.) We studied the five major social institutions of family, education, economy, government, and, yes ... religion. Most scholars, religious or not, include religion as a social institution. All information and knowledge is valuable. Let the schools teach it. Churches can then seek to teach the wisdom of knowing the truth. At school, I did not endorse Christianity as the only way unless asked privately by a student. At church, I do, of course ... but I still ask Christians (and especially my fellow Baptists) to be tolerant.
However, as Christians, we must be clear that although we are tolerant of other religions and the unreligious, the way of salvation and heaven is through Jesus Christ alone. Scripture is very clear on this: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus did not die just for Christians who believe, but for everyone who will believe: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Christianity is the only religion in which the founder came back from the dead. This is both biblical and historical evidence of this.
Unlike "Oprah," I don't do video, but I do audio. For more of my views, you may find them at www.englandfbc.org by clicking on the blue microphone. As an American, I must be tolerant of Ms. Winfrey, no matter how wrong she is. As a Christian, I must pray for her to see the only true Light.
It's great to be an American. I was reminded of this last week while in Washington D.C. (See the attached photos. Especially note the ones of the students placing the wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.) However, it's even greater to be a Christian.
This is just one pastor's (and former public school teacher's) perspective.
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