Christ is the Way
Among the subjects that some folks these days seem to be getting their knickers in a twist about is how to understand John 14:6: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The "hardline" interpretation of this is that unless one has consciously and explicitly professed one's faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, one cannot be saved. (There is, of course, a wide spectrum of less "hardline" interpretations. Even the Roman Catholic Church, which is not exactly "soft" on Jesus, grants the legitimacy of acknowledging the possibility of salvation for those whom Karl Rahner called "anonymous Christians.")
Here's what I say, and I'm pretty hardline about this:
Muslims cannot be saved by Islam.
Hindus cannot be saved by Hinduism.
Buddhists cannot be saved by Buddhism.
Jews cannot be saved by Judaism.
And finally (all you who recall Amos 1-2 will see this coming):
Christians cannot be saved by Christianity.
We are not saved by our religion(s). We are saved by the grace of God.
God does not consult with us about who is qualified to receive grace.
When Jesus talks about being "the way, and the truth, and the life," I see no indication that he is talking about ecclesiastical membership or theological orthodoxy or religious observance. I think he is talking about coming with him into the Kingdom of God. How well we can articulate the fullness of the identity of our Divine Companion is pretty much beside the point, which is good news for us, because none of us really understand the fullness of his identity.
Or, as the folks who had been rescued/healed/saved in the old western movies used to say, "Who was that masked man?"
Here's what I say, and I'm pretty hardline about this:
Muslims cannot be saved by Islam.
Hindus cannot be saved by Hinduism.
Buddhists cannot be saved by Buddhism.
Jews cannot be saved by Judaism.
And finally (all you who recall Amos 1-2 will see this coming):
Christians cannot be saved by Christianity.
We are not saved by our religion(s). We are saved by the grace of God.
God does not consult with us about who is qualified to receive grace.
When Jesus talks about being "the way, and the truth, and the life," I see no indication that he is talking about ecclesiastical membership or theological orthodoxy or religious observance. I think he is talking about coming with him into the Kingdom of God. How well we can articulate the fullness of the identity of our Divine Companion is pretty much beside the point, which is good news for us, because none of us really understand the fullness of his identity.
Or, as the folks who had been rescued/healed/saved in the old western movies used to say, "Who was that masked man?"
2 comments:
Amen and Amen.
Someone said to me once "the only way to God is through Jesus Christ ... but how many ways are there to Jesus?"
I stop short of subscribing to a universalist point of view on salvation, but it seems to me that the Bible tends to point towards how we can do nothing to save ourselves and in God's eyes we are all on an equal playing field ...
Even with all the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" bits and the "fire and brimstone" bits (which seem mostly reserved for the folks that think they've "got it all figured out") Scripture seems to point to a much more inclusive view of salvation that what may appear on the surface.
Just my two cents ...
Thanks for your thoughtful comments Rev. Boy. And do feel free to offer even more than 2 cents worth. With inflation and all, 2 cents just isn't worth what it used to be!
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