She called it, "The single most important blog I will ever post"

I was reading a blog by a old college friend on her myspace page. It is something I've certainly thought about lately because I see so much in my travels. I know I haven't updated this blog in a loooonnnnggggg time, but I'm tryin to find some time to add some stuff!! Until then I hope you enjoy this and I truely hope it makes you stop for a second and think about your relationship with Christ!!

"It is presumptious and bigoted for Christians to say they are the only ones who are 'right.'"

"The followers of any faith will achieve their own salvation/reward so long as they are sincere."

"Surely Christians won't be the only ones in heaven-- God is too nice and loving."

I hear statements such as these from friends, acquaintances, and from strangers through the arms of the media. Each and every time, I feel shaken and troubled to the core. I know what I believe, and that it contradicts these popular opinions, but I haven't been able to articulate a meaningful, direct response. Finally, I have come across a passage in a book by the authors Missler and Eastman that says exactly what is in my heart and mind:

"No error is more fatal than universalism-- the idea that there are many paths to God. While this is the current politically correct theology, those who advocate universalism-- that all faiths lead to the same place-- are gambling their eternity that the Bible is wrong.

'Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father except through me.' (John 14:6)

'Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.' (Matthew 7:13-14)

If there were any other path to the throne of God, then Christ died in vain. His suffering is nothing but a tragedy. Universalism attempts to mask retributive justice; it changes our sin into our misfortune rather than guilt; it translates suffering into mere chastisement; it converts the sacrificial work of Christ into mere moral influence [have you ever heard someone say, 'Jesus was just a good man'?]; and it makes salvation a debt due to every person rather than an undeserved gift from God only to those who accept it."

I believe Jesus' words. He is the only way. The sad but true reality is that many, many people reject Him as God's single plan of salvation. I also believe His promise that He is coming again, and that this earth will pass away. (You simply cannot pick and choose which parts of the Bible are true. Either all of it is truth, or none is. Either Jesus' words are true and He is who He says He is, or He is a complete liar.) One of the greatest Christian intellectuals and apologists, C.S. Lewis, had something to say about this fateful moment in history:

"God, through Christ, is going to invade this earth in force. But what is the good of saying you are on his side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream... For this time, it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that is will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; it will be the time when we discover which side we have really chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back, to give us that chance. It will not last forever. We must take it or leave it."

I will take Christ at His word. He is the only way. Any other belief is dangerously erred with eternal consequences.

The Dixie Echoes-A Concert Review

David Bruce Murray give his review of a recent Dixie Echoes concert. Be sure and visit Dave's site at Musicscribe.com.

I took in a Dixie Echoes concert earlier this evening. They were coming off a late night sing in PA on Saturday that lasted until 2 AM or so. I think Stewart Varnado said they arrived in our neck of the woods at 11 AM on Sunday morning, so needless to say, they were fatigued. Those guys are pros, though, and they delivered an excellent performance.

The Dixie Echoes get a good bit of variety out of a traditional two mic setup. Varnado played a rapid-fire piano solo and kept the crowd entertained with his alternating looks of woe and glee. Tracy Crouch is sounding confident at the bass position. The father/son Shelnuts on the middle vocal parts sing to their strengths and provide variety with their guitar work. Dallas Rogers is an excellent tenor who should be able to write his own ticket in a couple of years. All told, it's the best combination of Dixie Echoes I've heard in several years.

They performed most of the songs on A New Chapter plus a number of standards like "Glory Road" and "Oh, What A Savior." The evening ended with an invitation and the guys sang "Just As I Am" out of the hymnal. It was a good overall mix of traditional vs. less familiar songs. The sound was at a comfortable volume that allowed the group to sing with dynamics, something that is too often overlooked with modern groups. More importantly, the Gospel message came through clearly, and they entertained the people as well.

David Bruce Murray