Is Jesus the only way?

(Thoughts concerning the book by Katherine McGlaughlin, Confronting Christianity.)

A common indictment of Christianity is that it is intolerant because it claims that Jesus is the only way to God and heaven. But in reality, such a claim, if true, is both comforting and freeing. It is totally inclusive, with the only thing that is not included is doubt and uncertainty.

When I was an adolescent I began to think about all of the different denominations and even other religions. “How do I know which one is right?” was my first thought. “And since I am in a Christian environment, is it the right one? What if we, our family, chose the wrong one, only because of where we live?” 

I knew almost instinctively that they could not all be “right.” Even a 9 to 10 year-old could figure that out. Many of them contradicted each other with divergent and conflicting claims. Since they could not all be right, how could anyone know, short of dying, which one was the One that God intended for us to follow?

And, you know, there was an answer. It was almost intuitive. Did God tell us what was right? Then it only made sense that if there were any way to God, He would have told someone. And how would we know that it was Him?

And, again, the answer was there, and revealed. There is only one book that claims to come from God. There are some counterfeits, but it it pretty elementary to discern the frauds. One of the first things that occurred to me was that the Book would have to be without error. Second, it would have to have some way of verifying its claims. I did not have the internet to help answer that, but, in a way, that was a blessing. There are a lot of bogus claims on the internet. As Abraham Lincoln said, “You can’t trust everything you read on the internet.”

I was able to narrow my search field by default. I had the Bible, which claims to be God’s Word, so I began with that. If I discovered that it met the criteria of being without error and verifiable, I did not need to go further than comparing the truth claims of each alternative with it.

First, the Bible claims to be without error. This has been verified by archeology in matching literal maps with the descriptions in the Bible. Few other claimants even offer geographical reference points. Another point of verification is the identification of actual people and things that they did. History books, like geography texts, contain this information, so cross-referencing them with the Bible will lead us to the conclusion that the Bible is accurate.

The internal consistency of the Bible is a powerful and compelling argument for both of our criteria. There are no errors or contradictions, and it is verifiable from outside sources. Later, I discovered some study by other experts that buttressed my own study. I like this summation.

Using the acronym, RAMP, we find definitive proof of the reliability of the Scripture. (Another name for the Bible, as is Word of God.) R stands for resurrection. The key event in the Bible and indeed, all of history, is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible unequivocally declares that Jesus was crucified, was buried, and rose again on the third day. There are extra biblical sources that also confirm this. In addition, the changed characters of the witnesses to this remarkable event attest that something real happened. And it was supernatural. More on that as we progress.

A is for archeology. I noted earlier that the Bible details places and events in the past. Archeology, beginning in the mid to late 19th century and continuing until the present, has confirmed accounts and locations from the Bible. In nearly 150 years of excavation and research, nothing listed in the Bible has been falsified.

M stands for miracles. Again, the Bible relates numerous miracles. And they are supernatural, not quirks of nature. They are sprinkled throughout the Old Testament and they explode in number in the first five books of the New Testament. None of these miracles have been denied by exterior evidence. Conversely, there are external accounts of miracles, as can be shown about the Resurrection. Miracles alone do not provide conclusive testimony to the veracity of the Bible, but coupled with the other three points, they complete a ramp that leads to heaven.

Finally, P stands for prophecy. Again we find specific prophecies about near future events that were verified. There were also longer term prophecies that were fulfilled hundreds and even thousands of years after the fact. And, as a cherry on top of a Steak N Shake treat, there are prophecies about the future that have not yet been fulfilled. But we can be sure that they will be. 

One very prominent prophecy is about Israel. God predicted, rather declared, that this nation would be settled in the land promised to Abraham, over four millennia ago. The nation would  be expelled from that land, returned home, then ejected again, followed by another repatriation. We witnessed the second “return” to the land in 1948 when the Nation of Israel was established for the third time. (Joshua led the first installation. The nation was captured and removed to captivity by the Babylonians. The second return occurred 70 years later, again prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah. Then the Romans banished most of them from the land in, and following, AD 70 when the City and Temple were destroyed. (Again, predicted and completed.)

The third return, in 1948, followed the Holocaust instigated by Adolph Shickelgruber, also known as Hitler. The nation was reinstated into the roll of nations even to the point of recapturing its historical capital, the City of Jerusalem.

RAMP provides irrefutable evidence of the Bible’s accuracy. (I didn’t say “indisputable” because someone will even dispute that the sun came up this morning. We cannot rule out totally imbecilic arguments, but neither do we need to expend intellectual energy contesting them.) Did I say that only an imbecile would dispute the veracity of the Bible? No, the argument speaks for and defines itself.

Back to our point. Is Jesus the only way, and is that exclusionary? He claimed to be the only way. (“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6) And we can rely on that since He was the only leader ever to die and come back to life.  But is it exclusionary, not inclusive? 

If you want a map that shows every highway in the country, that is one approach to navigation, but if you want to get to a certain destination, you need a specific route map. “But, aren’t there a lot of ways, however circuitous, to go from point A to B?” But if the process of following the “alternative routes” leads to an absolute stop for some reason, then the number of options is reduced. In the case at hand, the “other routes” all, yes, all, have an absolute stop somewhere.

Remember the contradictions between beliefs we discussed earlier? Somewhere along the “wrong road,” a road block or dead end arises, and the destination is unreachable. The consequences are eternal damnation, and separation from the Father. This is just what Jesus declared. He not only knew the way, He was the Way.

“How exclusive. How restrictive and imprisoning.” Haven’t you heard the accusation? As to exclusive, the question is “Where do you want to go?” Just try dialing a phone number and only being one digit off. That should be close enough for the super smart phone company to determine who you want to call and complete the connection. Just try it.

“But that’s different!” Right, Missing a calling connection is not nearly as significant as missing out on heaven for all of eternity. Get it right.

How about restrictive and imprisoning? If you know the way to go to your destination do you feel restricted as you motor down the interstate? Rather, the feeling is like the one I experienced all those years ago when I was convinced that the Bible was, and still is, true, This is the Way. I was exhilarated, joyful, and relaxed. I was free! I knew, without a doubt that I was on the right way.

How about exclusive? To make it simple, listen to Jesus. “Whosoever will, may come.” How many are included in “whosoever?” Everybody. No one is excluded.

The fact that there is only one way is invigorating and totally inclusive. Why not believe?

Ginger

 My sister just went to heaven, having finally succumbed to the ravages of cancer. Here is a thought or two about her.

Ginger

Our family was blessed with a pair of “younger sisters,” and a pair of “older sisters.” We had two boys bracketing two girls. Ginger was the younger, younger sister, and the younger, older sister, depending upon which vantage point you take. They were all younger than me, and Coy got a set of older and younger, olders. Clear? Let’s go on. Sometimes it seemed like we were all mixed up.

Growing up on the farm we had a division of labor. Boys did outdoor chores, with the exception of gathering eggs, and the girls did the indoor chores. To our point of view, the girls had it easy. We believed that until we got married and got to help with what turned out to be house WORK. They didn’t tote five gallon buckets, roughly 40-45 pounds of slop to the pigs, feed the calves, and do the rest of the farm work, but “indoor labor” turned out to be just as strenuous and taxing as the boys’ jobs. (Who knew?)

I do not know if Ginger was ever bullied at school, but if someone had dared to offend her, that miscreant would have had a couple of hardened farm hands to deal with. (Well, maybe Big Richard and Drew would have caused us pause, but they were both gentle giants, and shirt-tail cousins. I never remember them doing anything, unless they were also defending the younger, less robust kids on the playground.)

I recall one trait of Ginger’s that drove me nuts. Both she and Pam were pianists, and practiced virtually every day. I liked music, and still do. The piano was just outside our bedroom door. (In a house that was 28 by 28, it didn’t matter much where you were, you could hear just about everything.) Ginger seemed to have a penchant for perfection.

She would play a song until she hit a tricky, or difficult spot. Then she would stop, go back, play it again, and again, and again. I was “singing” (make of that what you will) singing along and half way through the phrase, she would stop, go back and do it again. My expected next note never occurred. It drove me nuts not to finish the line.

I even asked her, nicely of course, to finish the line, then go back. She didn’t. I think she was training me not to like contemporary music that has a penchant for stopping a musical phrase on the wrong, wrong to me, anyway, wrong note. A musical phrase, like a sentence has to have an ending and ending inflection. It is like leaving a sentence unfin.....

I remember an accordion, but not whether Ginger ever played it. She was also in the band. I think it was trumpet. Pam was clarinet, squeak, and I was trombone, a slide trombone and you could slide all over a note before finally, hopefully getting it right. Was Coy a trumpet too?

Mom and Dad would not let us quit band and I hated it all through high school, until I was a senior.  (Remember Mr. and Mrs. Houder? I think he taught math and she, music.)Then, in my senior year, the light came on and I looked forward to band. It was the same hour as chemistry, and you know the rest. (I’m a chemist, if you need a hint.)

We even had an organ. Pam tried to teach me to play piano, but couldn’t put up with me so we mutually agreed to terminate that training. I do not remember Ginger ever trying to instruct me. I didn’t care enough to get it right, I guess.

Covid came and I had the great idea of having a Zoom or google.meet conference. Well, somebody got the time wrong. (Alaska is a funny time zone, about 3 to 6 hours different, who knows, from the civilized world in the central time zone.) So I started the call and when Ginger got on, she was in a car, taking kids or grandkids somewhere. It was obviously not a propitious time. I do not know who was driving and who was holding the phone, but we did have a nice little, emphasis, short, visit.

But Covid was “johnny come lately” to Ginger’s health. We got a call, on Palm Sunday, I believe, that she was in surgery for bone cancer in her neck. The doctors did an amazing job, helping the Lord to get her through that. Well, not helping as much as being used by Him. Get it right, Jim. And, fighter that she always was, she was able to give us over eight more years.

Now, she has answered the upward call in Christ Jesus, that Paul mentioned. She heard,  “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We all have a call coming. If, as Ginger, our earth suit wears out, we get the call to our new one, we will be waiting with the Lord. Or, some, maybe some of us, will hear the Lord Himself, call from the heavens and we will all go to be with Him at the great reunion with Grandad and a Grandmother none of us have ever seen; Mom and Grandpa Williamson; and Dad and Mom; along with a whole host of friends and relatives waiting for that trumpet call. Maranatha!

Mom and Dad used to sing a song for funerals at the little church in Stratton, that said, “the land where we’ll never grow old.” The college quartet I was a part of had a song that went, “If you get to heaven before I do, tell all my friends that I’ma comin’ too!” Ginger can tell all those waiting that we are comin’ too.

Even so come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

I am not sure if this is Ginger’s favorite hymn or not, but I’m pretty sure it is at least one of them. This was written by a man who lost his family in a ship wreck and only his wife escaped. When he sailed over that spot in the Atlantic, he composed these words.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain: It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. Refrain.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Refrain.

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. Refrain

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord! Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! Refrain.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

 It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.

And the last thing we want to think about is another song.

Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven, of touching a hand and finding it God’s, of breathing new air and finding it celestial, of waking up in heaven, and finding it home.

Ginger stepped on shore, touched a hand, breathed new air, and is home. All is well with her soul.

Amen.

Revival at Asbury?

 I found this analysis of the events at Asbury University. I hope this helps.

https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2023/02/17/revival-breaking-out-asbury-university/?utm_source=kenhamdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=20230217&mc_cid=a0ef8ec6ab&mc_eid=1fd70e2b73

Be blessed and grace be with you,

Theology of Tribulation

  Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation?

We have considered the timing of the Tribulation on several occasions and this is a corollary question. It was the focus of a question on a radio program that specialized in answering Bible  questions. A lady called and asked it, and the host said that he thought that the Church would indeed be in the Tribulation.

He quoted Jesus for as the reason for his answer. The verse was John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Sounds convincing, doesn’t it? But remember our rules. Be sure to check the context. Make sure we are not “cherry picking” a verse to buttress or prove a single point. What does the entire context tell us? In this case, we are listening in as Jesus gave His final instructions and encouragement to His disciples in the upper room just before the crucifixion. It goes back to chapter 13 and continues through chapter 17. That is a lot of context. We will just pick a few highlights. (Not cherry picking, but following a thought through an extended address.)

The reason for the “tribulation” statement above is found in 13:16. This is a repeated theme in the discussion. Watch for it. “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.” So if Jesus was persecuted, so will the church be. Don’t be surprised. In fact, Peter said the same thing in 1 Peter 4:12. Check out how many times “persecution” or some form of that appears in the New Testament. (I found ten that fit this context in the NASB. “Tribulation” occurs 11 times as persecution. The Tribulation, the great tribulation,” appears 9 times.)

Jesus continues in chapter 14 by reassuring them. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” So He is coming back, but in the meantime the disciples are here on their own. NOT!

Continuing, in v. 16, Jesus reassured them. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; (remember this later) 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” And then it is smooth sailing, right?

Verse 27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” I will take peace any day. But then He added, “Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” Whoa there! What is there to “trouble us, or make us fearful?” Read on.

Chapter 15 continues with Jesus’ explanation of the relationship between Himself and His followers, using a vine and branches as illustration. Still good. But Jesus did not hide the truth. Verse 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” And v. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you....” The slave and master relationship is repeated.

And here we find the stark, dark reality. Hatred and persecution are coming. So Jesus is discussing the persecution that all believers face, from the disciples continuing on until today, and on. So when He said, “You will have tribulation,” (16:33) He was not discussing the specific time of the tribulation, but the continuing opposition from those who deny and disobey His Word. The ones who hate Him. This is a continuation of His final, pre-examination, if you please, instructions. He was the consummate teacher.

Chapter 16 continues this theme of the disciples’ interaction with the godless, world system. And Jesus reaffirms the promise that He would send the Holy Spirit (16:5-11) and His role in helping the disciples and every believer to overcome the world. Incidentally, v. 23, 24 are where the promise of answered prayer is inserted. This leads up to v. 33 and describes the continuing, universal persecution that all believers experience.

This time of persecution or tribulation is a continuing event, throughout history from the time of the disciples until the end. According to the answer on the radio, we are in the Tribulation now, although I do not think he meant that. I will address this issue at the end of our thought.

Let’s go on. Revelation 2:10 continues this theme. Jesus is talking to the church at Smyrna and tells them, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” That is a continuation of the persecution, only more intense. But it is for a limited time, unlike the “regular,” universal persecution that He discussed in John.

We know that, because Jesus did explain what we now call The Tribulation. He called it the time of Jacob’s trouble, great tribulation in Matthew 24. (This is a repeat of the thought in Jeremiah 30.) Matthew 24:9 “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” This is in response to their question of “What is the sign of the end of the age?” So the end of the age began then or at least on the day of Pentecost.

Verse 9 and following seem to make it appear that all believers who are alive at the end will be included in the Tribulation. But keep reading to discern the context. Verse 15: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet....” That points us back to Daniel 9:24-27 where we find that this is applied to “...your people and your holy city...and ultimately the Temple.” It is the final seven year period of the seventy weeks, or seventy sevens of years that will be the culmination of Jewish history. Sixty nine of those have passed, ending in Jesus’ time at the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, on Palm Sunday.

The final seven years are what Jesus said would be in progress (three and one half years in) when the abomination occurs, and that will culminate in v. 21. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again.” So the Church will not be there, as the final seven years focus on Israel.

That is a long explanation that still does not answer the question. I agree.  So where is the Church during this time? Again, we need to know the “context” in order to answer the question. So let’s dig in. Does Revelation 7:14 help?

And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Here are some believers who were in “the great tribulation.” But where did they come from? We may be able to eliminate some sources. Were they the Church? Revelation 3:10 helps. “Because you have kept My word of perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of the testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who live on the earth.” This church is promised to be “kept from,” not “kept through” the hour of testing. Since the literal church at Philidelphia is no longer extant, this refers to the universal Church, which is not in the Tribulation.

The context, again, is the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy. First, it is specifically directed at the nation of Israel. (“Your people, your holy city,” and later, “the Temple.”) That excludes the Church. We further confirm this with Daniel’s indicator of the “kick off” to this time.

The final seven year period will begin with the signing of a seven year treaty between the anti-Christ and the Jewish nation. Daniel 9:27 “And he will confirm a covenant with the many for one week....” “He” is the anti-Christ and the “many” are “your people.” Daniel’s people means the nation of Israel. 

We can turn to Revelation 7 and find that here, in the Tribulation, a contingent of 144,000 Jews are chosen and sealed to take the message to the entire world. There are 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. And how successful are they? Verses 8 and 14 of the chapter tell us that an innumerable multitude are in heaven. And, v. 14 “And he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” Jewish believers, the 144,000, will carry out the promise to Abraham, to be a blessing to the whole world. They bring the message of the Messiah to the world. 

So when will this tribulation, the Great Tribulation, begin? At the inception of the seven year treaty of peace. And what about the Church? 

Let’s make a quick summary. This last seven years is for the Jewish nation. The Church is promised (Revelation 2) that they will not go through this time. And in Revelation we find that the judgment is directed to “those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10; 6:10; 11:10; 13:14 (twice); 14:6; and 17:8) The context differentiates between this group, the earth dwellers, and those who believe.

So to our question, “What about the Church?” They are not included in any of the previous designations. Second Thessalonians 2:3 tells us that the day of the Lord, “will not come unless...the man of lawlessness is revealed....” Verse 6 continues, “And you know what restrains him now, so that he will be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed.”

Who is the capitalized “He?” It must be a person. One Who is strong enough to restrain Satan and his followers, particularly this specific one, the man of lawlessness. It must be the Holy Spirit. And how does He do it? He indwells every believer. That happens at the moment that we “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and are saved.” (Acts 16:31) So, will the Church, believers, be here? Simply put, no. We can’t be.

The Holy Spirit is in us forever. This is the Helper from John 14:16. He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5 and rephrase of Nehemiah 9:31 I told you that we would see that again.) So when the Holy Spirit goes, so does the Church. He cannot, will not, leave us, so we  will not be here without Him. So, until the Holy Spirit and the Church leave,  the anti-Christ cannot be revealed, to initiate the treaty, and begin the Tribulation. Don’t you love short, clear answers?

End of story.