Who will be in heaven?

The bible is clear that Jesus is the only way to heaven. But what are the implications of that statement and belief? I recently heard an interview given to Billy Graham on Robert Schulers Hour of Power,that has made many people in the Christian world shudder. Here is what was said;
Dr. Schuller begins by speaking to Billy Graham:

Dr. Schuller: "Tell me, what is the future of Christianity?"

Dr. Graham: "Well, Christianity and being a true believer, you know, I think there's the body of Christ which comes from all the Christian groups around the world, or outside the Christian groups. I think that everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time."

"What God is doing today is calling people out of the world for His name. Whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that they don't have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they're saved and they're going to be with us in heaven."

Dr. Schuller: "What I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into a human heart and soul and life even if they've been born in darkness and have never had exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you're saying?"

Dr. Graham: "Yes it is because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, have never heard of Jesus but they've believed in their hearts that there is a God and they tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

Dr. Schuller: "This is fantastic. I'm so thrilled to hear you say that. There's a wideness in God's mercy.

Dr. Graham: There is. There definitely is."

The net is full of people that say things like this statement cannot co-exist with the belief that Jesus is the only way to heaven found in John 14:6. Another person said something to the effect that Billy Graham was attempting to be ecumenical to the point of error. John MacArthur even weighed in on the controversy in a very negative manner saying that Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists will all be in heaven according to Billy Graham.

I have read these authors views and listened to them speak and most of them are generally smart people. But they have really gotten it wrong on this one.

The position of Billy Graham is that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. OK they all agree on that. These folks that criticize probably the greatest evangelist of our time seem to easily dismiss the entirety of what he says to quibble over their own fears that he could saying there is another way to heaven.

He certainly did not say there is another path to heaven. He said that Jesus calls us, and when he calls us, he may do it without the help of evangelicals. WHAT? How utterly absurd, that someone could get to know Christ without my help. God, you can't bypass me! I am your hands and feet here on earth you know. They can't get saved unless I give them a bible, and share the Romans road with them.

Does that sound arrogant to anyone but me. Don't get me wrong, I am an evangelical that believes Jesus is the only way to heaven, it is my calling to share the Gospel and give bibles, but I am not so bold as to say Jesus has to use me. If God wants to reach someone through me and I don't get out of bed that day will that person go to hell? No your salvation is not based on my works. God calls us and no person comes to God unless he is called. If I don't show up you know he could use a rock, or another ass. Or in the case of Paul he could just appear to that person himself. Listen to the words of Paul himself;

"I did not receive it [the Gospel] from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ....But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus."

So how crazy is it to believe that God might call a Muslim while practicing that religion, or a Hindu or Buddhist or in Paul's case, someone who was preaching against Christ.

Jesus calls us as he wills, when he does he opens heavens gates to us no matter what is in our past. Because he is the only way the truth and the light. I own no patents on his gospel.

The Evangelical, Post-Modern, Emergent, Missional, Orthodox, Conservative, Liberal Body of Christ.

Wow my head is spinning. I had a great dinner last night with friends from a former church that imploded while we were attending. We have all gone separate ways; I am active in church leadership at Olathe Life Fellowship, another friend is a Pastor considering a new church plant in the Houston area, and the other finally getting settled into a church and becoming active in the life of that body of believers. The topic of labels came up when I ask my Pastor friend if he would consider himself an evangelical, he replied; "Yes, but I don't call myself that." Then he threw in the word "Emergent." We talked briefly about the controversy surrounding that word. So today I began to explore some of those labels and judgments surrounding some of our verbage and struggle to identify ourselves.

I know less now about where I fit in than I did yesterday.

So here is what I know for sure;

I am Evangelical.
Because I believe strongly that we are to carry the good news of the Gospel to the hurting, and that there is no other name in heaven or earth by which man can be saved, but Jesus.

I am Post-Modern.
Because of the period I live in, and the language I use to reach those around me, who live in this culture, with the Gospel of Christ.

I am Emergent.
Because of the creativity I use to share that Gospel with those around me.

I am Missional.
Because I am concerned for those in today's culture and when they hurt I hurt, so I seek to help them knowing, that God cares for them, and as I help them and care for them I show them a living example of the Gospel, and open the door for sharing the good news.

I am Orthodox.
Because I think the word of God is true and perfect in it's original form. That Jesus is and was God, creator of the universe and became flesh, and was tempted in every way that I am, and so he understands my temptations and I can look to him as my example. His sacrifice on the cross made it possible for me to have eternal fellowship with God, not by anything I could ever do or not do, but by his grace and mercy. Also because I believe that the great commission included the importance of discipleship.

I am Conservative.
Because I want to preserve the Gospel and it's truth so that it may change others lives. I am conservative because I believe in being responsible as we take care of the earth, and all that God has in trusted to us. I am conservative because I believe we are positionally perfect through Christ. I also believe that we should use the resources and intelligence we have been given to do what we believe God would have us do.

I am Liberal.
Because I believe we should give of our resources freely to help those in need, that when I meet Jesus he will ask me as well as all the nations "When I was hungry did you feed me, when I was naked did you clothe me.?" And because I believe that If Christ has set us free we are free indeed. I am liberal because while I believe we are positionally perfected in Christ, we cannot achieve perfection on the earth, even if we are church leadership. I believe that Gods Mercy and Grace trumps mans intelligence.

So you might say that I am just a mixed up kid. Or you might say I am rebelling against boxes and labels. What is important is; what God will say when I stand before him someday.