NO SIDE ENTRANCE

No one comes to the Father but through Me.  John14:6b

Well, Leo XIV—who is apparently on a mission to make Francis look comparatively sane and sober—is at it again. Having created an Islamic Prayer Room within the Vatican, he now calls for active “communion” between Muslims and Christians, in light of his recent African tour. The last time I checked, however, this theologically loaded term (koinonia) speaks of a shared participation in Christ and a fellowship bond amongst those sharing common beliefs and goals. Do we really enjoy such a relationship with unbelievers, which is based upon mystic-union in Christ? Sadly, the post-Vatican II’s answer to this question is a stark “YES!” A strong emphasis of Rome’s official postmodern “gospel” is that we should anticipate that well-intended and righteous (Romans 3:10???) unbelievers will, by God’s grace, experience regeneration and inherent eternal life (i.e., “the Baptism of Desire”). This includes sincere Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, animists—and maybe even the “sincere” atheist (Romans 1:18-20???)!

Such liberality is not shared by Christ and His Apostles, however (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1Timothy 2:5). There is ONE Door to Heaven (John 10:9)—even as there was but ONE point of access to the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle! This is the so-called “scandal of exclusivism.”

And it HAS been a stumbling block—even for evangelicals. John Wesley (Arminianism’s Crown Prince) was WRONG in his hopes for the salvation of the unevangelized heathen! John Hagee was WRONG in entertaining hopes that pious rabbinic Jews could be saved outside of Messiah (“dual-covenant theology”)! And yes, Billy Graham was WRONG in appearing on Schuller’s “Hour of Power” and stating that he believes in a “wider hope” (salvation for “nice folks” outside of Christianity)!

God leaves us a stark choice: humanistic sentiment or Scripture.

Terry L. Reese