The Bigots Among Us . . .

I don’t know about you, but do you sense a lot of bigotry out there among some Christians? I can almost guarantee you that if I mention Billly Graham or Mother Tersa or Pope Francis on a blog that I will get a rash of responses that inform me that they are either headed for Hell or should be since none of them are branded with the right theology.

Billy Graham is New Age. Yeah, can you believe that? I thought that the New Age wave was a thing of the trendy past. Apparently not. He’s New Age they say because he leaves some wiggle room for someone who has never heard the name of Jesus to have a slight chance of getting into Heaven. Never mind that he insist that Jesus is the only door, for these self-appointed purveyors of righteousness it is enough that the door wasn’t opened soon enough. So, unfortunately these poor ignorant souls are left to fry in Hell for ever and ever, world without end. Amen and amen.

And, Mother Teresa, whom I had the privilege to meet and also to closely associate with those that knew her best . . . well, poor Mother Teresa is sizzling away in Hell right now according to some of my fundamentalist buddies. Kind of sad, but they insist on it. Why? Well, because she was Roman Catholic, but primarily because she rigorously insisted that even a Hindu had the right to die in the comforting arms of sisters who really cared—whom she appropriately called the Sisters of Charity. Oh to God that we had more sisters and brothers of charity! Christ’s love was unconditional; so should ours be.

Then there is Pope Francis. I’m not Roman Catholic but much of my theology is similar as is the case for most of us—i.e., the Trinity, the virgin birth, the Resurrection, and so-forth—although, I do have my disagreements; as do all Protestants, or they would not be protesting. 

Nevertheless, I am not prepared to usher them into Hell simply because we have a difference of opinion. My theology is this regards is best described in the words of the following hymn—

My faith has found a resting place,

Not in device nor creed;

I trust the Ever-living One,

His wounds for me shall plead.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,

This ends my fear and doubt;

A sinful soul, I come to Him,

He’ll never cast me out.

My heart is leaning on the Word,

The written Word of God,

Salvation by my Savior’s name,

Salvation through His blood.

My great Physician heals the sick,

The lost He came to save;

For me His precious blood He shed,

For me His life He gave.

Refrain:

I need no other argument,

I need no other plea;

It is enough that Jesus died,

And that He died for me.

—‘No Other Plea’ by Lidie H. Edmunds, 19th Century

Now, I am not so naïve to believe that this is all that is needed to live a fully informed and fruitful Christian life; but I am saying that it is enough.