Some religions teach that there are "many paths to the top of the mountain". It would seem that most of our society and most professing Christians believe this as well.
Does the Bible support this? If so how? Please use scriptures to prove your point.
2007-09-10 02:53:00 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I certainly don't believe there are 'many paths', and wait to see if anyone who claims the name of 'christian' can wrest the scripture into saying so.
There is one path, and one way, however, that is not to say that we cannot be diverted for a time from the path.
If you are His, you will be shepherded back to the right path. Sometimes the rod that guides you is not too pleasant, but I wouldn't give it up for all the gold in the world.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
2007-09-10 03:03:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
A poll of professing evangelical Christians in the USA (around 1997) found 35% agreed with the statement: 'God will save all good people when they die regardless of whether they've trusted in Christ.' So that forms a reasonable base for your Q.
The 1st answerer felt 'fairness' makes such an assumption reasonable, which proves the point made by Prof. Sinclair Ferguson: [The Bible book of] "Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that concentration on Christ is not primarily a matter of the capacity of the intellect, but rather a matter of the condition of the heart. It was not because of the low level of I.Q. that the writer warns the Hebrews of immaturity but because they have become dull of hearing (5:11). It is less a matter of intellectual ability, and more a question of spiritual sensitivity."
People whose hearts are not centred on the person of Christ think human logic is a better arbiter of truth than the words of the one who is the Truth. 'God's actions would never contravene our own ideas on moral issues as punishment and retribution!' they exclaim. Yet those ideas change from year to year! They try to proceed to a prescriptive statement by means of a descriptive one - never a clever move. It's like trying to push a rook diagonally on a chess board.
There's a school of thought called 'Wider Hope' teaching many paths to God. There's not enough space to go into it here but it subverts what the Bible says about the basis of God's judgments. God will not condemn anyone for not hearing the gospel or not being evangelised. He condemns us for sins that we have already committed. That some experience salvation is due entirely to God's grace and has nothing to do with any of us having a moral right to forgiveness of sins. That others remain unevangelised is certainly lamentable, but relates to the dereliction of duty by some of the Church, and not to any injustice on God's part. So I believe the Bible, which says salvation can only be found in the name of Christ (Acts 4:12) and that God will be found true, though every man be found a liar (Rom. 3:4).
2007-09-10 10:34:03 · answer #2 · answered by Annsan_In_Him 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the confusion comes from saying that there is ONE path. The path is not as important as the Sovereign God. Yes Jesus IS the way but everyone will not have an opportunity to learn of Jesus as many of us have. Jesus said if people really honor God they would gravitate toward Jesus IF He came into their presence and God reads every heart and knows who these people are and yes He does accept them if not their religion. It's like they are in a category similar to the people who were born before Jesus was born into our world. I can get scripture but I'm in a hurry right now. I can come back later and edit.
2007-09-10 10:15:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To the top of a mountain there may be multiple paths, some easier to walk or climb than others. But if you are reffering to reach God, Jesus said He is the only way, check John 14:6.
2007-09-10 09:59:08 · answer #4 · answered by Darth Eugene Vader 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you're looking into mountain climbing, then I suppose that there are as many different paths as there are climbers. However, if you've spent any time at all reading the Bible, you will already know that there is only one way to heaven and that is through the death and blood of Jesus Christ.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY!
2007-09-10 10:06:32 · answer #5 · answered by Debra d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on your destination there are TWO paths. Matthew 7:13-14
"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only few will ever find it."
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had known who I am, then you would hav known who my Father is. From now on you know him and have seen him!" John14:6-7
2007-09-10 10:05:48 · answer #6 · answered by cutiepatutie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's true there are many paths to the top of the mountains but not on everyone (been on some) and heaven is not on any of those.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
2007-09-10 10:07:25 · answer #7 · answered by Even Haazer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an Eclectic Witch and I accept all religions and enjoy learning about other peoples' faiths. I believe that there are many different paths to the Devine! I doubt that an all loving all powerful God(dess) -at least not the one I worship- would send someone to hell for not worshiping in a very specific way. We all are different and it makes sense that we would all seek and relate to the Devine differently. I think that if we all learned to accept each other and ourselves for who we are and what we believe the world would be a much better place.
)o( Brightest Blessings on your path!
Kayla
2007-09-10 10:49:54 · answer #8 · answered by Zaden W 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It really depends on who you're asking.
If you were to go and ask Jesus directly, (you can't really ask Him unless you belong to Him, but if you did, you would already have your answer, but you can ask the question, then read the Bible to see how He answered people in his own day and time) - (sorry - I digress) - but, if you were to ask Jesus, He would tell you, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but by me. Anybody trying to get in by any other means is a thief and a robber and will be cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, where the fire is never quenched, and the worm (ie the people there) never dies."
If you ask someone else, you'll get a different answer. If Jesus is right, then the others are wrong. If the others are right, then Jesus was wrong.
2007-09-10 10:02:20 · answer #9 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To the top of a mountain. Okay. No problem.
But, since this is R&S, I'm assuming that you are really talking about the kingdom of heaven.
In which case, there is but ONE (yes, one and only one) path into the kingdom of heaven and that is thru the covenant of the New Testament.
It really IS that simple.
2007-09-10 09:59:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋