OBAMA'S VIEW OF SALVATION

Obama's View of Salvation

Kerby Anderson

            I have said before that we shouldn't expect the Commander-in-Chief to also be our Theologian-in-Chief. The last two presidents have claimed to be Christians, but they haven't always said things that square theologically with the Bible. That's fine. I don't get my theology from presidents. I get it from the Bible and Bible teachers.

            But when a candidate running for president makes statements that are not only theologically false but undercut the gospel, I think we need to pay attention. Senator Obama has made certain comments about salvation that can hardly be considered orthodox. Some of those comments have been made on the campaign trail, and others appear in an extensive interview with him in 2004 in the Chicago Sun-Times. A recent column by Cal Thomas also provides many of the more important quotes.

            Senator Obama has said: "I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people." He is then asked how he reconciles his belief with John 14:6 where Jesus says: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Senator Obama replies that it depends on how people of different faiths hear and interpret this verse. But Jesus really didn't leave his proclamation open to various multicultural interpretations. Either Jesus is the only way to God or He is not.

            Recently, I did a television interview where I was asked about Oprah Winfrey's belief that there are many paths to God. I noted out that the illustration often used is that there are many paths to the top of a mountain and so that is supposed to be true about our paths to God. But I pointed out that a better illustration would be an airplane trying to land at an airport. There is only a narrow path you can follow to land that plane. Come in too high, and you miss the runway. Come in too low, and you crash on the runway.

            It may sound nice and tolerant to say there are many paths, but that is not what Jesus said and that is not how sinful man can be reconciled to a holy God. I'm Kerby Anderson, and that's my point of view.

By Kerby Anderson Click here for bio and archived articles