» Random Thoughts Current Archive [an error occurred while processing this directive]		July 1, 2007- Salvation exclusivity does not equal collective moral superiority        One of the major common rejections of frustrations with Christianity is its truth claims regarding salvation and their exclusive nature.  This frustration is based in the apparent offensiveness this exclusivity projects, typically relegating Christians as intolerant, close-minded, potentially condescending, elitists.  Regardless if one finds the exclusive salvation-related truth claims of Christianity intolerant or narrow (that is between you and God/Bible, not other Christians), it would be fallacious to assume those that embrace them are happy about the fact that some people will go to Hell.  Further, those that claim membership to this "elite club" (as if they had something to do with it) as their saving grace, pun intended, are in for a rude reckoning awakening. Hell's Population        What a rank idea to think that there are "Christians" out there that actually want certain people to go to Hell, or at the very least wish harm upon them.  As sick and twisted as that is, it's most likely true for a few.  There are probably some so-called Christians that want "activist" judges and other social neer-do-well's banished to Hades.  That said, despite the utter asinine thought that is (in light of Christian grace), the evil desire of a few Christians, or even the general thought of "sucks to be you"- in response to non-Christians, does not equate to some sort of collective superiority complex.  People do populate and will continue to populate Hell (I think some people deny this idea quite often) but that does not mean authentic Christians, let alone God on high, are happy about it.  In fact, many Christian's closest loved ones do not "believe".  Do you think those Christians want their loved ones going to Hell?  Do you really think they're sitting there saying "Well it sucks to be you."? In Da Club?        In fact quite the opposite is true and that is one of the primary motivations for Christians to evangelize their faith.  Whether a Christian has personal issues with the exclusivity of the Christian Gospel or not, they should have a desire and longing for those yet to embrace it to do so (just as God does - 1 Timothy 2:3-4).  So an exclusive salvation context does not equal this supposed social or religious sense of superiority.  In fact the embrace of the Christian Gospel requires one to realize their fragility and subordinate state in light of a holy and perfect God.  So you're "in da club" not because you're so great, on the contrary, it is because you're damned so hopelessly lost without God and his Son.  This idea that Christians view themselves as "elite" or "better than" because they're apparently excluding other well meaning people of different faiths is ludicrous and beside the point.  And if you find some that do, they obviously haven't experienced the saving grace of the Cross and aren't accurate representatives of the Biblical concept and embodiment that was in Christ. *Further, adhering to the Biblical doctrine of Hell isn't being intolerant in and of itself.  The doctrine is simply part of the Christian/Biblical paradigm; they cannot be separated.  You can have a problem with Christian theology, but it makes no sense to me to get upset at someone for being consistent within their set of beliefs.

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