You are my brethren

[Antipas]

Originally Posted by larrylyates

Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

God IS love. He manifests that love by calling us to Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, the only way to come to the Father. It requires repentance as the first step.

I do not doubt that God calls mankind through the person of Jesus Christ. And I realize that Jesus did say that no man comes to the Father, but by himself. And I do believe in repenting from self, ignorance, and hatred; and turning to God and being filled with surrender, illumination, and love.

I do believe that the person of Jesus was a human being, albeit with God inside. I believe that God was inside many other religious figures from every religion. Yet each, including Jesus, spoke from their illuminated humanity. So each message contains the cultural perspective of the men who were the messengers. If several "messiahs" claim exclusivity we can either become confused wondering which is telling the truth... or ask ourselves who is this God that is speaking through all of them? He is the one beckoning to us, not necessarily the human vessel.

All roads do NOT lead to the same place. Christianity is a very exclusive religion. God Himself places the limitations in His own Word. Most will refuse to come His way. They will be rejected by Him. To believe anything else is a wishful fantasy.

Remember, every holy scripture (of every religion) was written by men. None of them are perfect. We can't put any scripture on an altar and worship it as being absolutely "perfect". We should be critical of it and very introspective with regards to the principles being taught in the text. Always remembering their historic and cultural contexts.

Out of all the people who have ever lived, the vast majority of people haven't read the Bible or heard the message of the Gospel. Let alone the Gospel of the Oneness Pentecostal movements. One cannot "refuse" what they have never heard. So according to you, countless numbers of souls are going to burn in everlasting torments... simply because they were never in the right place at the right time to hear the right message. And this all powerful, all knowing, all seeing God who is so exclusive chooses to do nothing to save them. Instead... he rejoices in those living in 21st century America who just happen to be in the right place at the right time. That makes little sense to me. Why would any all powerful and all knowing being of infinite power and love reject people who never even had a chance??? I think this position is a leap of logic to justify a religious bias. It's an effort to convince one's self of a "wishful fantasy".

The Gospel is only "Good News" to those how choose to accept and obey it.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Amen. Yet, I believe the one speaking through the man Jesus Christ is the very same God who has spoken in various ways to all of humanity.