I was surprised at the response, but I wasn't surprised at the way they tried to justify their reasoning. All of the reasons were based on emotion and not on a Biblical hermeneutic. When asked what they would do with Jesus quote in the garden when he said, Father if there is another way, let's do it that way." The response from my fellow seminarians was, "God's grace must be bigger than that." God's grace bigger that the blood of Christ? Think about that statement. What showing of grace could be bigger than the sacrifice of a son? That act, in fact, defines grace.
I fully expect to encounter these views when I go and talk to people on college campuses, but I didn't expect that at Seminary. I think of Paul's response in Galatians when he says, "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you."
What I realized last night, was that those who contend that Jesus is the only way will continue to fall more and more into the minority - not only out in the world, but also in the church and even in Seminary. My hope is that there would be a resurgence of people who are committed to a theology based on solid Biblical interpretation... not based on our emotions.
3 comments:
Thats crazy. What kind of seminary do you go to?
Well, I have to comment on this blog. In light of your recent blogs, I have to say that you might be wrong here; the Dodgers are going to win the west. Oh wait, that's not what you were writing about here? Eh, just tell them they are going to hell. That's at the very least graceful...huh? Lunch today?
I guess in a way that is to be expected... hopefully though, people are in seminary in part to get their misinformation corrected before they get involved in full-time ministry. Hopefully there are teachers there who are teaching the truth. I think the "narrow way" claims of Jesus are some of the things that are hardest to swallow for the post-modern generation.... or any generation for that matter.
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