Since That Which Unites Us Is the Gospel of Christ, I thought I would provide some quotes to help clear up exactly what it is in which “we” are “united.”
The following is from an interview conducted in 2006 by Wil S. Hylton for GQ magazine. The article is entitled The Gospel According to Jimmy. Click here for the full interview.
Do you think that if you had been raised in an Islamic culture, you would been comfortable in that faith?
I would surmise that I would.
But based on what you believe now, you would have been wrong.
That may be true. But Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It’s not for me to say that an ignorant Ethiopian who lives around a lake at the origin of the Blue Nile, where I was four days ago, and has never heard of Christ is condemned. I can’t believe that. And I can’t say that a child as you just described, that grew up with Islamic teachings and that believes in Mohammed and Allah, would be condemned. It’s not my role to condemn people. That’s a role to be played by God almighty.
But this would be about a sense of loss on your own part.
There would be. To know what I know now, I would be aggrieved if I had never known about Jesus Christ, because I have tried to apply, in a faltering way, the teachings of Jesus Christ. It’s been an inspiration to me, it’s been a guide to me, it’s been a stabilizing factor in my life. It has permeated my consciousness.
This will sound like the same question, but if you had been raised by atheists, do you think you would have had an inner feeling of faith?
I think so.
Here are a couple of excerpts from an interview with Lisa Miller of Newsweek:
A new book, “Religious Literacy,” by Stephen Prothero, argues that religion should be taught in public schools. Do you agree?
I wouldn’t have any aversion to that. To teach a comparative religions course, to compare Christianity with Judaism and Islam and Hinduism and so forth, would be constructive. It would show that there is a compatibility among them all. I can’t claim to be a scholar, but when our hostages were being held by Iran when I was president, I read the Quran, and I had Islamic scholars come and talk to me. The basic human-behavior principles were the same. The Islamic Bible, the Quran, teaches peace and justice and care for one’s neighbor and helping the poor. I would not be in favor of public schools endorsing Christianity.Do you think a Mormon is a Christian?
Yes, I do. I have a cousin who is a Mormon and she married one of the Marriott family. I don’t know anyone who’s more devout in their faith than she and her family. I admire them very much.
Not all of President Carter’s public statements about faith distort and contradict the core message of the Gospel the way those above do. Some of his statements are simply bizarre twisting of biblical truth. For example, at the funeral for his predecessor, President Gerald R. Ford, Carter had this to say during his eulogy of the 38th president:
Jerry and I shared a common commitment to our religious faith, not just in worshipping the same savior, but in attempting, in our own personal way, to achieve reconciliation within our respective denominations. We took to heart the admonition of the Apostle Paul that Christians should not be divided over seemingly important, but tangential issues, including sexual preferences and the role of women in the church, things like that.
Here is some great insight from a veteran Sunday school teacher on the authority and truthfulness of God’s Word, this from an appearance on Larry King Live:
Well, there’s some things, and, you know, there’s some things in the Bible that you can’t take literally. And I don’t think God intended for us to.
The earth is not flat. And stars can’t fall out of heaven on the ground like figs falling off a tree and things of that kind, but people can believe that if they want to.
I, personally, don’t believe that the earth was created in 4, 004 B.C. I think it was created a lot earlier than that. But some of those things are symbolic.
And every believer in Biblical text whether you’re Jewish or Christian, has to make some rational assumptions. And if science proves that the stars are a long distance away and that earth was created earlier by geology and so forth, then I don’t see it’s incompatibility with Christianity.
It is my hope that these quotes will put an end to any confusion about what it is that unites us. Or, not.
on May 21st, 2007 at 5:23 am
Wes,
Will you now pray with me that President Carter does what he said he would do about the Great Commission?
cb
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on May 21st, 2007 at 7:50 am
I’m not sure that what former President Carter calls the Gospel and what the Bible calls the Gospel are the same. I can’t be united with someone about preaching the Gospel who believes that Mormons are saved. I can be united about helping to build homes. If the Great Commission tells us the message to preach, I don’t think I would be teaching tem to observe all that Jesus commanded.
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on May 21st, 2007 at 8:47 am
Wes
As I pointed out on my blog also, these comments scream inclusivism. The deafening silence about these comments from those who chastise us for not uniting with Carter speaks volumes. This proves again that doctrine doesn’t matter to these folks.
Carter’s comments has nothing to do with so called 2nd or 3rd tier doctrines. It smacks of the most important 1st tier doctrine of exclusive salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’ atoning work on the cross and His resurrection.
Will those who have met with Carter come out and condemn his inclusivistic statements concerning Judaism and Mormonism?
My prayer is that Jimmy Carter will not do with the Great Commission what he says he will do, but I will pray he understands more fully the exclusivity of Jesus in the Great Commission. Once this is accomplished, my prayers are with him in accomplishing that commission.
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on May 21st, 2007 at 9:32 am
Robin,
I have not chastised you for anything. I simply ask of you that you pray for President Carter that he does what he said he would do. Doctrine does matter to me and my life and ministry has proven it. Be careful not to be so INCLUSIVE with your judgements.
I did ask President Carter questions related to the true gospel, Great Commission and the way of a true follower of Christ. The time and situation did not allow for theological debate. Had it I would have ask questions you would never even think to ask.
I have never said I agree with President Carter about many things. I do not, especially about war. He answered my questions properly. Therefore, I simply ask we pray he does what he said. If he does not it is God that will hold him accountable. It is needful for him to remember James 3:1.
It is needful for you to remember James 3:2-12. In this case you have spoken amiss relating to me. Thusly, I admonish you to stand down and cease to paint all with such a broad brush.
cb
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on May 21st, 2007 at 10:35 am
wes,
those quotes are even more eye opening about this whole nbc thing. thanks for the research.
david…volfan007
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on May 21st, 2007 at 10:42 am
Bro. CB
It was not my intent to include you in the broad brush of “This proves again that doctrine doesn’t matter to these folks.”
After talking with our mutual friend, Tim Rogers, I can see where you have a legitimate beef with me. Doctrine does matter to you. I apologize for my apparent misrepresentation of your beliefs.
With all due respect, I am still baffled as to how Jimmy Carter’s version of the Gospel is one in which I should participate with him. How do you feel about Jimmy Carter’s statements on the inclusivism of Mormons and Jews in his understanding of the Gospel? Were you able to question him on those areas when you met him? What was his response?
I guess what I am trying to understand is the mantra that it is missions that unite us. (I am again not saying that you do or do not believe that) As I have been saying for quite some time, that it is doctrine that unites us and impells us to do missions. It is also doctrine that instructs us on how to do missions. If someone believes that Judaism is a legitimate pathway to God, that affects how they do missions and accomplishes the Great Commission. If they believe that Mormons are Christians, that affects how missions will be done.
Again, it is not my intent to embarrass or misrepresent you or to be mean spirited towards you, so I kindly ask if you will now speak against those inclusivistic statements of Jimmy Carter.
God Bless
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on May 21st, 2007 at 10:52 am
The truth is the agenda of this group is not the gospel but to marginalize the SBC. Bill Underwood said as much.
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on May 21st, 2007 at 11:00 am
Based on the quotes you’ve provided, it sounds like President Carter’s core theology is “Judge not, lest you be judged.” His highest theological core value seems to be tolerance. This is so sad.
Les
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on May 21st, 2007 at 11:51 am
Robin,
Thank you for your comment here and the call. I will call you back just as soon as I deal with my foster son for breaking my rules of engagement about fighting at school. He got suspended and I have to deal with him. He fought for all the wrong reasons and then even in doing so he failed in steps 1-3 in the rules of proper engagement for fighting. Of course, so have several Presidents I could name, but I expect better from my son. I will get him started washing SUV’s and the back deck and then call you. It will also help him to know his misery is now known all over Blog Town. My job is to rear godly men who, if they were to become President of this nation, would be capable of dealing with real ememies of this nation rather than playing “pushed me first” games.
cb
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on May 21st, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Bro. CB
I know where you are at. My prayers are with you. BTW, I would be interested in knowing your rules of engagement?
God Bless
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on May 21st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Brother Robin,
Knowing Brother CB, his rules of engagement will be something like; Know your opponents weakness, do not trust anyone but yourself, always give ample opportunity to end conflict peacefully, if you have to battle do it to win.
I do not know if they are exact, but I believe they are somewhere close.
Blessings,
Tim
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on May 21st, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Also, I’m pretty confident that those rules include the word “hindmost” at some point…
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on May 22nd, 2007 at 11:21 am
Dear Brother Wes,
Ah, denial of the guilt of original sin rears its ugly head again!
I ask you, my brothers, for what sin is a person condemned? Is it for refusing the message of Christ in the Gospel? I’ve heard my Baptist colleagues say this. If so, why would President Carter be wrong about the Muslim who never hears the Gospel still going to heaven?
The sin for which we all are condemned is the sin of eating the forbidden fruit, which we committed in Adam (Romans 5:12). That’s why the Muslim and all others who have never heard of Christ are still condemned.
President Carter is wrong, but I am concerned that perhaps his wrong beliefs are only the logical conclusion of what we Baptist pastors have been teaching our people.
Love in Christ,
Jeff
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on May 22nd, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Here’s what I want to know, Wes: Did you Photoshop the picture on this post? Did you enlarge the teeth?
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on May 22nd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
bart,
lol. they are bright, arent they?
david…volfan007
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