Recently I have been drawn into debates about some trendy teachers on the liberal side of the Christian church. I have a draft sitting here on the topic of one such character and I do not think I will finish that post. Great experience putting it together and researching it but writing about individuals does not personally sit well with me especially when the wider point is general. In principle though, naming names of false teachers is Biblical. It can be very messy when those teachers are ambiguous.
So this will generally address a problem with such teachers of today (and often of the past). If there is one issue that is the acid test of whether to use someone's teaching or not it is Universalism. Consider the following quotes from the Gospel of John:
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
So there we have it a divine Jesus – Messiah and Son of God is essential or you face the wrath of God. Anyone can repent and put their faith in Him. There are many many more I could add to the list but these 5 are all in context and more than sufficient.
Some today are keen to be ‘inclusive’ and flat out say all will be saved because God’s grace will win over human hard hearts. Others walk a middle road not quite being inclusive and not quite being exclusive yet keeping Christ as the central figure. This must be hard work to maintain this position if nothing else, yet it is very common in the mainstream Church.
The consequences are eternal too – should we risk our lives and our families lives to pass on the Gospel if it is just a nice to have? Can we ease off if everyone is saved in the end anyway?
Based on scripture, it is a deadly serious essential and we must take the message to all urgently. I just do not have time for wobbly looking teachers (however interesting or dynamic they are) – I will pick up the blog, book, podcast etc by the teacher that I know has a solid position on the message of Jesus.
Both is the answer to ‘Inclusive or Exclusive?’. To enter the Kingdom, you must be born again but all are invited to repent and put their trust in Jesus.
No danger of me becoming a mainstream trendy teacher then :-)
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