http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/232005g.aspSurvey: Two-Thirds of Evangelicals Doubt Jesus' Words Regarding Salvation Thru Him Alone
By Fred Jackson
August 23, 2005
(AgapePress) - There's a new poll out which points to a growing rejection among Evangelicals that Jesus is the only way of salvation.
For years, most evangelical Christians have been taught and accepted the words of Jesus in John 14:6, where He states, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but my Me." But now a new Newsweek/Beliefnet poll is showing a shocking number of people who call themselves evangelical and born-again have come to reject those words.
The question in the poll read: "Can a good person who isn't of your religious faith go to heaven or attain salvation, or not?"
According to the poll results of more than 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older, 68 percent of evangelical Christians believe "good" people of other faiths can also go to heaven. Nationally, 79 percent of those surveyed said the same thing, with an "astounding" 91 percent agreement among Catholics, notes Beliefnet. Beliefnet spokesman Steven Waldman calls the results "pretty amazing."
"Evangelicals are among the most churchgoing and religiously attentive people in the United States," Waldman writes, "and one of the ideas they're most likely to hear from the minister at church on a given Sunday is that the path to salvation is through Jesus."
In light of that, how -- he asks -- could so many Americans toss aside such a central element of theology?
Waldman believes the best explanation is found in the Newsweek cover story that grew out of the survey. The conclusion it draws is that Americans have become so focused on a very personal style of worship -- that is, forging a direct relationship with God -- that spiritual experience has begun to supplant dogma, or teaching based on the authority of the Bible.
Two-Thirds of Evangelicals Doubt Jesus' Words
Two-Thirds of Evangelicals Doubt Jesus' Words
Church tradition tells us that when John, son of Zebadee and brother of James was an old man, his disciples would carry him to church in their arms.
He would simply say, “Little children, love one another”
After a time his disciples wearied at always hearing these same words and asked “Master why do you always say this?
He replied, “it is the Lords command, and if done, it is enough”
He would simply say, “Little children, love one another”
After a time his disciples wearied at always hearing these same words and asked “Master why do you always say this?
He replied, “it is the Lords command, and if done, it is enough”
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Believer
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Well I have a problem with that. I have been monitoring the Where Do You Stand on Faith? poll. According to the question, "How often do you read the Bible, Koran, or some other sacred text?", the higher percentage is NEVER. Instead people resort to just being spiritual and not reading the reason why they are spiritual. I am aware God can bless your life, but not reading the Bible or any other Holy Book and not following what is directed, but still being spiritual, can cause an unwelcome spoken departure notice to you once you are face to face with the supreme being after expiring. I strongly believe these people want to believe what they want to believe and ignore what has been handed down generations upon generations as an alternative. When Jesus says in John 14:6, where He states, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me", you should believe it. We are given free will to to whatever we want, but seriously, people are getting out of hand with this.