May 7, 2020

What I Read Today;

Romans 7; Matthew 7; Jeremiah 50; Psalm 128; 1 Samuel 24

What I am about to say may upset some people.  Some may say that I am intolerant. Others may say that I am old fashioned.  Our society likes to believe that tolerance means acceptance.  I disagree.

In Matthew 7, verses 13-14, Jesus says the following, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” NRSV

In John 14:6, Jesus will say, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” NRSV

The Christian religion demands faith in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation.  That means that you cannot say that we all worship the same God, as some are saying today.  That also means that Christians cannot accept all regions as equal.

Tolerance means that all are allowed to worship whomever and whatever they chose.  The Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Bahai, or Christian are all allowed to live in peace.  That does not mean that we have to agree with the teachings of other religions.  In fact, we cannot accept the teachings of other religions.

In today’s reading in Jeremiah 50, we hear God speak of the reasons he exiled the Israelites.  They were exiled for practicing the regions of the nations around them.

We can love people of other faiths and live with them in peace and harmony without agreeing with them on the tenants of their religion.

To truly be a Christian one must believe with their who heart, soul, and mind that Jesus Christ is the savior from sin.  That he is God and that he will come again to judge humanity.  If we believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven that means that we believe that those who don’t believe this will not be in heaven.

Do you think I’m being too harsh?