Evangelical Support Group

Thats quite an accusation! Do you honestly think that so many Christians would willfully lie?

If so, this world is in a bigger spiritual war than I thought!

Ringo writes:If you're choosing up spiritual sides, how do you know you're on the "right" side?

NIV writes:Rom 3:3-4--What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar.

Ringo writes:Have you really chosen a side? Does either side "need" you?

NIV writes:Acts 17:24-25-- "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

PaulK writes:It's those people who refuse to accept knowledge that contradicts their beliefs.

PaulK writes:What you really seem to mean is that you prefer believing that you are right over believing the truth.

jar writes:Several times you and Buz and Rob and Iano and Faith and others have commented that I don't talk about my relationship with GOD

Such Testifying is a big part of the Christian Cult of Ignorance. Oh, it might make folk feel good, or even raise a joyful sound, but what does it mean?

Iano writes:This Gospel of Ignorance you refer to is commonly called the Gospel of Grace (as opposed to your Gospel of Works)

MacArthur writes: In the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and '70s, the "One Way" sign-the index finger held high-became a popular icon. "One Way" bumper stickers and lapel pins were everywhere, and the "One Way" slogan for a time became the identifying catchphrase of all evangelicalism.Evangelicalism in those days was an extremely diverse movement. (In some ways it was even more eclectic than it is today.) It encompassed everything from Jesus People, who were an integral part of that era's youth culture, to straight-line fundamentalists, who scorned everything contemporary. But all of them had at least one important thing in common: They knew that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. "One Way" seemed an unshakable belief that all evangelicals held in common.That is no longer the case. The evangelical movement of today is no longer unified on this issue. Some who call themselves evangelicals are openly insisting that faith alone in Jesus is not the only way to heaven. They are now convinced that people of all faiths will be in heaven. Others are simply cowardly, embarrassed, or hesitant to affirm the exclusivity of the gospel in an era when inclusivity, pluralism, and tolerance are deemed supreme virtues by the secular world. They imagine it would be a tremendous cultural faux pas to declare that Christianity is the truth and all other faiths are wrong. Apparently, the evangelical movement's biggest fear today is that Christians will be seen as out of harmony with the world.Postmodernism The dominant worldview in secular and academic circles today is called post-modernism. To the postmodernist, reality is whatever the individual imagines it to be. That means what is "true" is determined subjectively by each person, and there is no such thing as objective, authoritative truth that governs or applies to humanity universally. The postmodernist naturally believes it is pointless to argue whether opinion A is superior to opinion B. After all, if reality is merely a construct of the human mind, one person's perspective of truth is ultimately just as good as another's. "Truth" becomes nothing more than a personal opinion, usually best kept to oneself.We are not supposed to think we know any objective truth. Post-modernists often suggest that every opinion should be shown equal respect. And therefore, on the surface, post-modernism seems driven by a broad-minded concern for harmony and tolerance. It all sounds very charitable and altruistic. But what really underlies the postmodernist belief system is an utter intolerance for every worldview that makes any universal truth-claims-particularly biblical Christianity.Postmodernism and the ChurchThe church today is filled with people who are advocating postmodern ideas. Some of them do it self-consciously and deliberately, but most do it unwittingly. (Having imbibed too much of the spirit of the age, they are simply regurgitating worldly opinion.) The evangelical movement as a whole, still recovering from its long battle with modernism, is not prepared for a new and different adversary. Many Christians have therefore not yet recognized the extreme danger posed by postmodernist thought.Many shy away from stating unequivocally that the Bible is truth and all other religious systems and worldviews are false. Some who call themselves Christians have gone even further, purposefully denying the exclusivity of Christ and openly questioning His claim that He is the only way to God.The biblical message is clear. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). The apostle Peter proclaimed to a hostile audience, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The apostle John wrote, "He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).Again and again, Scripture stresses that Jesus Christ is the only hope of salvation for the world. "For there is on God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). Only Christ can atone for sin, and therefore only Christ can provide salvation. "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life" (1 John 5:11-12).Those truths are antithetical to the central tenet of postmodernism.

Theopedia writes:Inclusivism posits that even though the work of Christ is the only means of salvation, it does not follow that explicit knowledge of Christ is necessary in order for one to be saved. In contrast to pluralism, inclusivism agrees with exclusivism in affirming the particularity of salvation in Jesus Christ. But unlike exclusivism, inclusivism holds that an implicit faith response to general revelation can be salvific.

What are the exact defining qualities of your criteria to be labeled as part of the Cult Of Ignorance? Do you include entire denominations in this cult? (Such as the Assemblies Of God?)

It means that you speak of what you know. When you don't know it you can't speak of it. This Gospel of Ignorance you refer to is commonly called the Gospel of Grace (as opposed to your Gospel of Works)

If I recall correctly the comments (from Faith and myself at least) had to do with our view about you not having a relationship with God to speak of. Which is why you don't speak of it.

It was abundantly clear from our many conversations that the relationship you have going is not with God himself but with his Law. In other words: if you try your damndest to keep Gods law then somehow or other you will be on the right side of God come the time when such things are counted. Your most oft referred to text: Matthew 25's sheep n' goats" was always interpreted in this light. "If at first you don't succeed then try, try and try again - and maybe God'll pleased."

Phat writes:... rather than having to accept Jesus....

Phat writes:Jar actually advocates a Grace Gospel in that he affirms that everyone is saved (inclusivism) rather than having to accept Jesus (through the collective personality and beliefs of organized religion)

In other words, God has done the basic job of salvation for all of us. It is up to us to respond.

trust (Grace) or through effort (Works)

Another key issue which pertains to all of this is whether God can be known and if so, whether that is important for us and for Him.