What are the others believing, if He isn't the only way? Being that we all fall short of the glory of God through our many sins, how else can you get there? - Kevin

Most of my family thinks that we are all God's children, He loves us & will not reject us - if we try to be good people. It comes down to the fact that they don't accept the Bible as being God's word, that it has been mis-translated & manipulated etc etc. - Anne

It is not politically correct...however, if you believe any part of scripture, you cannot deny Christ's claim. It is certainly not a popular claim, but either we believe the scriptures or we don't. - Brenda

It saddens me that egocentric humans can value their education and professional accomplishments more than they value the truth as outlined by Jesus Christ in the gospels. Lord have mercy on them. - michelle

God's way is the simple Way: One Way, Jesus Christ. Others want to complicate it and go many ways therefore they lose the Way. I believe Jesus told the truth. - Janice

I couldn't agree more. If we are to be open and honest, we must wrestle with whether we believe the Scriptures or not. One problem is that we don't have the original New Testament...we have copies of copies of copies. Over 5000 ancient copies and fragments
of copies exist(Source: Introduction to New Testament by B. Ehrman), and not one of these is identical to any other! Second, the Gospels were written at the very earliest 30-40 years after Jesus by anonymous authors who were not eyewitnesses. (The tradition of calling them Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is just that- a tradition. We have no idea who wrote them.) Third, many passages have been added over time. Every seminary trained
pastor knows that the story from John 7:53 of "the woman taken in adultery" is a later addition to the NT, and is not found in the oldest manuscripts. Ask your pastor if you don't believe. Then
ask yourself, what else may have been added or deleted over the years?
- Erik

We are all God's children, but as with all children some do choose to run away from thier parents and there are consequences to pay for running away. God will receive us back if we repent and trust Him. Christ said that He came into the world not to bring peace but to divide. We will either choose to folow the truths He showed us or follow the deception satan wishes to confuse us with. If I stand in a garage and say that I am a car that does not make me a car, just the same as attending a church does no more make me a christian. To be a christian I must believe and trust the Lord Jesus, then repent from my sins - John

re: Jesus is the only way.
Thank you for re-directing the question.
Another question that we hear often is "If God is so good how could he let this happen? This being whatever bad thing just occurred.
It's all about free will and we are not puppets. But when the question is asked on a tv show or movie there is never an answer.
Hal - Hal Thurow

What about all the people that have never heard of Jesus? Will they enter into the kingdom of Heaven or go to Hell??? These people surely can't be blamed for their never receiving the word of God. - cynthia

"Why do Christians think they have the only way to God and Heaven?" I believe Jesus told the entire truth, and He is the only way to Heaven, and to God. My question is, What is this "other way" to get to God and Heaven? - Linda Ryan

I haven't been on for a few days but I see you are still at it Erik. Can you please take your comments to another forum as I am sure they exist elsewhere online. We do not need one to dispute the validity of the New Testament. Why do you feel such a need to impose YOUR view on people that have the right to believe what they want to believe? That is your goal is it not? Or are you going to come back and say that you are just trying to make people think about it? Let them think as they wish and believe as they wish. That's why it's called faith. - Matt

Cynthia, God will judge all the same. You see he has put into everyone a conscience, that is to know right from wrong. Even the littlest newborn has a small sense of right from wrong, don't they cry sometimes just so that you will come pick them up, not because they are hungry or dirty? All these people you refer to have the freewill of either living good or bad. And who are we to say that they have not been told the gospel story, they may have heard and like some have killed those who came with the message. This may have happened generations before, but the Bible clearly states that our sin will go down through the generations to come. mTherefore we may not think they have not had the chance to hear yet. God only has the obligation to call a soul once. The decision is up to that individual soul, that decision could effect the entire nation to destruction. Hope this helps.
As for Erik, MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN. God does not wish for any to perish but many will choose to follow the lies of satan. www.avpublications.com may help you find the truth to what you are misled about the different translations. Just because someone is a 'pastor' does not make that person SAVED. There are unconverted preachers who for making a living get behind pulpits. The do not know the scriptures as the BIBLE is a SPIRITUAL BOOK, and will be revealed spiritually as God sees fit in each individual. The reason some don't understand what they read is either they are not ready for it yet OR THEY NEVER TRUSTED JESUS WITH EVERYTHING. Like Matt has said that is why it is called faith, if you say you don't believe in trucks and stand in the middle of the freeway does that mean that a truck would not be able to hit and kill you?? I THINK NOT!~ Careful what you throw out there as the Bible says every idle word a man speaks that will he give an account for on the day of judgement. Sorry for all the others that have to put up with this type of discussion here but I am not going to condone the things said here with a wrong spirit therefore taking part in allowing mistruths to go unchecked. You see in the wolrd wide web many think it is anonymous, wrong God sees and knows all. God Bless and have a great day hope you will start to see the truth - John

I struggle to follow God's plan for me everyday. I am a simple and flawed person trying to lead a household of simple and flawed people. I will never be so brazen as to assume I understand God's perception of anyone else. Only God knows a person's heart.

We have to get beyond the human desire to rank and value people based on our views. Let God determine who goes where and why. - Donald

Matt, I think Erik's comments, for the most part, are very relevant here. This site has stirred questions, discussions, and debate which is great. It's good to read other people's comments. As 1 Peter 3:15 tells us, "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" We should always be able to to explain our faith and hopefully, draw unbelievers to Christ. We want to reach the lost, and we should always want to listen to them. Thank you all for your comments! - FCE

To Cynthia: the standard answer is that those folks you mentioned are just out of luck.
FCE: Thank you for your kind comments and message of welcome. All I want is for us to have a dialogue and seriously consider the issues that are raised by Bryant's devotions.
Matt: I don't normally post to these types of forums because 1) I don't think it does any good and 2)I understand that no one appreciates a skunk at a party.
However since Bryant's devotions have invaded my secular and much beloved am 750 as of late, I feel compelled to respond to them. BW's stated intention is to reach out and touch the secular world. Well sometimes the secular world reaches out and touches back. That said I am not trying to "impose" anything on anyone. I am
only asking fair and honest questions which I think need to be answered. And yes, I DO want people to think. What is so wrong with thinking? Is God afraid of my questions? Are you?
PS>>> I honestly would love to see someone answer the questions that I have asked.
- Erik

Fair enough Erik and maybe I misunderstood the intention. The more I think about it and the tone in which you respond makes me realize I must have. My apologies for that. - Matt

Matt- perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. I thank you for your last post. Here's to hoping we can have a meaningful dialogue.

- Erik

I think we must have and I took the initial comments into wrong context Erik. The more I read, the more I am understanding your comments and your intentions. You bring up some good points. - Matt

Guys, the Bible just doesn't give us an answer to what will happen to people who haven't heard the Word of God. I reject the thought that those people are "just out of luck" because that does not sound like the God I know. It is important to remember that God knows everyone's heart and knows what they would have done with the word had they heard it. The question itself is odd because it is almost like we want to make sure there is justice and fairness for people who haven't heard the Word. That is rediculous because God is the ultimate source of justice and He loves those people more than we could ever hope to love them. They will be judged fairly, with perfect justice and infinite intellegence. - Austin