Feb 09 2009
CCCA – 7: Jesus Clearly Spelled Out How to Save Your Soul
[This is the seventh and final post in a series, "Campus Crusade for Christian Assumptions." Original post here.]
Without even making it halfway through the Christian pamphlet (ATS Tract), “Where will you spend your eternity,” I have already crashed upon the rocks of 15 assumptions. With this post we will skip ahead to the base assumption at the bedrock of this tract’s argument. And then leave it at that. Life is too short to try to expose all the assumptions hidden within religious assertions.
And here it -
“I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
The next sentence nicely segues into our 16th and final assumption.
Pretty dogmatic perhaps, but these are the words of Christ Himself.
#16. Jesus gave explicit instructions on how to save your soul.
Here’s a fact for you: There are not a few but tens of thousands of Christian denominations. And what makes them different? Doctrinal differences. There are significant differences in how Christian groups interpret the supposedly clear words of their Christ. While the Bible and the purported sayings of Jesus are not completely abstract, like a verbal inkblot, neither are they clearly outlined (not to mention the inconsistencies and outright contradictions). And thus the differing meanings and messages drawn from the Christian manual of faith.
Christian evangelists – Please stop pretending that your interpretation of a book containing a veritable buffet of teachings is “the truth.”
For a review of the 16 assumptions thus far exposed, check beneath the fold.
1. That there will be an eternity.
2. That there will be a “you” to persist for eternity.
3. That there are a number of possible destinations for your spirit/soul to go after death.
4. That by “God” all people know which god you are talking about.
5. That “God” needs to be thanked or that something is gained by doing this.
6. You can “know” where you will spend eternity.
7. You can “choose” whether you go to heaven or hell.
8. The Bible contains a consistent, coherent message and could be said to speak with one voice.
9. That there is one Bible, “THE Bible.” Actually, there are many Bibles, each version containing thousands upon thousands of differences in how they translate “God’s word.”
10. That it is unfortunate people show little concern over their eternal destiny. Like refraining from using a cell phone while driving, maybe this isn’t such a bad thing.
11. Eternity is described as “for ever and ever.” Truth is, there are many phrases in the Bible(s) that can be interpreted that way, but might have somewhat different original meanings.
12. That “eternity,” as used in the Bible, means a “for ever and ever” one can abide in.
13. There is a heaven.
14. There is a hell.
15. There will be a post-death judgment.
16. That Jesus gave explicit instructions on how to save your soul.
