Evangelicalism, Salvation, and other Religions: The Conversation Continues

Over at respectfulconversation.net, the second round of dialogue is now beginning. This month the topic is on evangelicalism and salvation (we theologians like to call it “soteriology”).

These are some of the questions we are addressing:

1. Is Christianity “exclusive”? What does that mean? Is Christianity the one true faith?

2. Is there anything for evangelicals to learn from other faiths?

3. Are all people who do not believe in Christ in this life consigned to eternal separation from God and everlasting torment? Is this a critical tenet of evangelical Christianity?

 4. Should all American evangelicals see evangelism as their primary task?

5. In our increasingly globalized world, there is ever more contact between people holding different religions. Relationships between evangelical Christians and non-Christians involve more than religion, but encompass business, political, and broader personal interests. How does this affect the relationships between evangelical Christians and non-Christians?

6. What is the role and goal of interreligious dialogue? How should such dialogue be fostered? What should its ground-rules be?

In my post, I emphasize the inclusive nature of the gospel and the implications that inclusivity should have on the way we think of persons of other faiths. The gospel has an “inclusive reach.” However, it is not up to us to determine who is “in” or “out” of that gospel’s reach. Our task is to witness to Jesus by our words–but even more by our lives.