Why Those in Our Pews Don't Believe

Recently a major survey by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life was released. Its findings indicate that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith. A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. And almost the same number believes that there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion. This openness to a range of religious viewpoints is in line with the great diversity of religious affiliation, belief and practice that exists in the United States, as documented in a survey of more than 35,000 Americans that comprehensively examines the country’s religious landscape. [click on the link below for more information]

Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions – not just their own – can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%). Only among Mormons (57%) and Jehovah’s Witnesses (80%) do majorities say that their own religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life.

Why is this finding so dangerous in regards to America's Evangelical churches...that ONLY 43% of American Evangelicals surveyed believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHEN WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS BESIDES JESUS TO ETERNAL LIFE WE ARE DENYING THE DEITY OF CHRIST.

I know there might be some that would refute this and say "No I still believe that Jesus is the Son of God." But how can you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and not believe in the words that Jesus spoke? If so, you are calling Jesus (who you say is God) a liar and the scriptures clearly says "He cannot lie."

Read below to what Jesus said in His own words about how to attain eternal life.

John 3:16 (the words of Jesus)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 4:14 (the words of Jesus)
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:33 (the words of Jesus)
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 10:28 (the words of Jesus)
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 11:25 (the words of Jesus)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

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

I am sorry, but this is absolutely unbelieveable that people can sit in evangelical (full gospel) churches in America and only a little more than 4 out of 10 believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life. It blows my mind! Personally, I have preached in mostly Pentecostal churches but I went to seminary in one of the best evangelical (non-pentecostal) schools in the country and have preached in many other evangelical denominations in my 27 years of ministry. This is how I explain these findings.

I sincerely believe that its not that evangelicals really believe that there are other ways besides Jesus to get to heaven, but I really don't believe that most evangelicals know what they believe. Many of our evangelicals that sit in our churches on Sunday morning don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and do not have a clue what they believe scripturally except for what the EVENING NEWS or the MEDIA tells them to believe. This is no doubt a sad commentary on we evangelical pastors. Undoubtedly, if we were preaching "Jesus Christ Cruficified" more than "Self-Help" or "Feel-Good" sermons...the percentage of people believing that Jesus is the only way would be much higher.

My prayer is God help us to preach the pure gospel of Jesus Christ so that people will be convicted by the truth that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected by the power of your Spirit!

More tomorrow on the pew research center's report.

http://religions.pewforum.org/reports