Michael A. Walrond Jr., one of New York City's most influential
pastors who leads the more than 10,000-member First Corinthian Baptist
Church in Harlem, is coming under fire online for telling his
congregants that the belief that Jesus is the only way to Heaven is
"insanity."
Prior to preaching one of his sermons at First Corinthian just over two weeks ago, Walrond asked the congregation to recite their purpose statement, which he said "shape[s] our identity as a congregation."
"We are an ever evolving community of visionaries, dreamers, and doers who have been called by God to live the lives we were created to live; commanded by God to love beyond the limits of our prejudices and commissioned by God to serve," the statement read.
It was while explaining the statement to those who were not familiar with the church's position that he explained his multiple ways to God concept.
"If you are a person who believes in God, these words can apply to you, no matter what your faith background. We get so twisted in this country and in many cultures, to create divides and boundaries and barriers between human beings because of our faith difference," said the pastor.
"Think about it. That we use the thing that we think makes us closer to God, the very thing to divide us from one another at times. And that makes no sense and so I'm not one of those people."
"There was a time when you would see people in the pulpit say, 'well, if you don't believe in Jesus you going to Hell'. That's insanity in many ways because that is not what Jesus even believes. And so the key is you believe in God. And whatever your path is to God I celebrate that. Personally I celebrate that," he said to a smattering of applause.
"Again, we have enough in this world that divides us we need to find those things that bring us together. And if God cannot bring us closer together then something is wrong, not with God but in how we think we know God and understand God."
A57-second clip of Walrond's statement was posted to Facebook, sparking a massive debate online. More than 32,000 people have viewed the clip and many have condemned Walrond for what they say is an apparent contradiction of Scripture.
Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr., founder of Total Outreach for Christ Ministries, Inc. and Word of Outreach Christian Center and Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, said Walrond is both "right and wrong."
"The preacher on this video is both right and wrong: he's right in that all roads do lead to God; but this God is both love and a consuming fire. If you meet Him on the Christ road of His love you live, but any other road, be it religion, philosophy, or a miscalculation of the Person of Christ, the lake of fire is waiting!" Smith said.
CP
*Few days ago, I was reminiscing on the times when the Word of God has sounded 'insane', those places where God's Word makes no sense. I will show you a few:
"Count it all joy when trials come your way...(James 1:2)"! It doesn't make sense. How can troubles make me joyful for crying out loud? Who likes troubles and difficult times? Yeah, but the Word of God says we should see it as an opportunity for great joy. Insane, right?
The world says 'seeing is believing' but do you know what Jesus says? "blessed are those not having seen, yet having believed" (John 20:29). That's insane, right? It sure doesn't make sense. A sane man would want to look before he leaps, abi? But Jesus says otherwise. Hmmm...
The third example of how insane God's Word can be is when Jesus said, "The greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt 23:11) No, the world thinks differently about this. How can the greatest be a servant? Oh no!
To mention but a few. The Word of God makes no sense. And it makes no sense when it says that Jesus is the only way to God. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." John 14:6. It's clean clear on that.
So yes, the Christian faith and our belief in Jesus as the ONLY way makes no sense, it's insane and the world calls it foolishness. Hahaha! But have you not heard that God has used the foolish things of this world to shame the wise (those who think they know)? 1 Cor 1:27
That's why it is called faith. We don't try to analyze it or reason it out or work it out or argue it out. We simply believe cos God says so. So, yes! Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven! I can shout it from the roof top. Lol
This is one way to test the spirit by which a pastor operates - his doctrine, what he teaches. If it's unscriptural and portrays Jesus as 'one of the many ways to God', that's a false prophet there. Run!
Prior to preaching one of his sermons at First Corinthian just over two weeks ago, Walrond asked the congregation to recite their purpose statement, which he said "shape[s] our identity as a congregation."
"We are an ever evolving community of visionaries, dreamers, and doers who have been called by God to live the lives we were created to live; commanded by God to love beyond the limits of our prejudices and commissioned by God to serve," the statement read.
It was while explaining the statement to those who were not familiar with the church's position that he explained his multiple ways to God concept.
"If you are a person who believes in God, these words can apply to you, no matter what your faith background. We get so twisted in this country and in many cultures, to create divides and boundaries and barriers between human beings because of our faith difference," said the pastor.
"Think about it. That we use the thing that we think makes us closer to God, the very thing to divide us from one another at times. And that makes no sense and so I'm not one of those people."
"There was a time when you would see people in the pulpit say, 'well, if you don't believe in Jesus you going to Hell'. That's insanity in many ways because that is not what Jesus even believes. And so the key is you believe in God. And whatever your path is to God I celebrate that. Personally I celebrate that," he said to a smattering of applause.
"Again, we have enough in this world that divides us we need to find those things that bring us together. And if God cannot bring us closer together then something is wrong, not with God but in how we think we know God and understand God."
A57-second clip of Walrond's statement was posted to Facebook, sparking a massive debate online. More than 32,000 people have viewed the clip and many have condemned Walrond for what they say is an apparent contradiction of Scripture.
Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr., founder of Total Outreach for Christ Ministries, Inc. and Word of Outreach Christian Center and Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, said Walrond is both "right and wrong."
"The preacher on this video is both right and wrong: he's right in that all roads do lead to God; but this God is both love and a consuming fire. If you meet Him on the Christ road of His love you live, but any other road, be it religion, philosophy, or a miscalculation of the Person of Christ, the lake of fire is waiting!" Smith said.
CP
*Few days ago, I was reminiscing on the times when the Word of God has sounded 'insane', those places where God's Word makes no sense. I will show you a few:
"Count it all joy when trials come your way...(James 1:2)"! It doesn't make sense. How can troubles make me joyful for crying out loud? Who likes troubles and difficult times? Yeah, but the Word of God says we should see it as an opportunity for great joy. Insane, right?
The world says 'seeing is believing' but do you know what Jesus says? "blessed are those not having seen, yet having believed" (John 20:29). That's insane, right? It sure doesn't make sense. A sane man would want to look before he leaps, abi? But Jesus says otherwise. Hmmm...
The third example of how insane God's Word can be is when Jesus said, "The greatest among you shall be your servant" (Matt 23:11) No, the world thinks differently about this. How can the greatest be a servant? Oh no!
To mention but a few. The Word of God makes no sense. And it makes no sense when it says that Jesus is the only way to God. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." John 14:6. It's clean clear on that.
So yes, the Christian faith and our belief in Jesus as the ONLY way makes no sense, it's insane and the world calls it foolishness. Hahaha! But have you not heard that God has used the foolish things of this world to shame the wise (those who think they know)? 1 Cor 1:27
That's why it is called faith. We don't try to analyze it or reason it out or work it out or argue it out. We simply believe cos God says so. So, yes! Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven! I can shout it from the roof top. Lol
This is one way to test the spirit by which a pastor operates - his doctrine, what he teaches. If it's unscriptural and portrays Jesus as 'one of the many ways to God', that's a false prophet there. Run!
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