We, of course, live in a time when the only transcendent value is a sort of cult of false “Tolerance”, which tolerates any opinion as long as said opinion doesn’t have certainty of conviction. The Christian faith – and particularly the Wesleyan strain, are movements of deep conviction and certainty about core issues. Assurance was in fact one of the hallmarks of the Methodist Theological tradition as it sought to counter the effects of Deism in the Anglican church of its day. All of this to say it worries me deeply that so many in our faith tradition seem to shy away from confidence in the Gospel’s uniqueness, and its certain conviction that there is only one name whereby we must be saved. These are deeply held Methodist values.

In the end, the question is – has the mission changed. The mission of course is to Go into ALL the earth proclaiming the Gospel, making disciples, and teaching them to obey all that Christ has taught. I don’t think, given this global and comprehensive mission, our focus should be much changed from that of the early Church. If anything – with the power of our communications tools, our ability to travel cross culturally rapidly, etc – we should be more inclined and more enthused about reaching those who are still in darkness, Particularly in the 10/40 window dominated by Islam and Hinduism.

So, in summary – yes were in a different context – but our mission is the same as the day of the Ascension – to seek and save the lost – regardless of who/what has lead them astray.

I do embrace your “I don’t know” answer about salvation because as I have reminded the congregations I’ve served, that is in the Lord’s hands and His alone. Like Wendy points out, we are called as witnesses and not as judges.

It is the same in examining other religions. Few of us are qualified to find fault within the context of other religions, especially those religions we are unfamiliar with. Better to live faithfully according to what we know than to speak of what we don’t know.

Thanks for the last paragraph – there does need to be an urgency about sharing the gospel.

Paul in particular shared his faith regularly with people of the Jewish faith – always starting in the synagogues, and with those who were practicing the dominant pagan religions. In fact it was these two foci that kept getting Paul thrown in jail, and threatened with death – or worse.

As to who will or will not be saved. I prefer to focus on what We do know. We do know that people who accept the sacrificial atonement of Christ’s blood as a covering for their sin, and those who follow Jesus as Saviour and Lord – will in fact Inherit eternity. As to anyone else, we cannot be sure. We only know that God is good and just, and that Jesus talked extensively about Hell and the Second death. So there is a very real danger here for both non and nominals, and persons of other faiths. We should be motivated to move them our of the undecided column and remove all doubt!

Thats My Two Cents.

Wendy – Thanks for sharing. I know the feeling of not being sure if what I am saying is making any sense or making an impact. I think that you are right on in the recognition that God’s grace brings people to repentance. We can help by acting in a way so as to be a part of God’s work.

I guess I have to be ready to give an answer for the hope I have in Jesus Christ…too often I mumble and stumble. But my prayer is that God will give me the words and that He will open the heart. It is comforting to know that it is God alone who changes hearts and brings people to repentance. My responsibility is to faithfully share the Truth.