A Voice in the Wilderness In Defense of "Mere Conservatism"

America a "Hindu" nation?

Dr. Albert Mohler of Southern Theological seminary is an accomplished writer, thinker, columnist, and radio talk show host...not to mention the president of one of the most respected Christian seminaries in the country. In his latest blog-post, Dr. Mohler breaks down a recent Newsweek article that claims America in 2009 has more in common with the Hindu faith than the Christian one so closely associated with its founding and history.

The Newsweek piece contends that since the Hindu faith is more relativistic and accepting of other religions, we would do well to move in their direction. Dr. Mohler has other thoughts.

An excerpt:

Without doubt, Americans have been growing more and more accepting of plural and relative understandings of truth. A tragically large number of those who identify as Christians have been drinking from the same wells of thought.

The exclusivity of the Gospel is not merely a facet of the church's message. Indeed, a Gospel that does not affirm that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone is not the Gospel of Christ, but a false gospel. As Lisa Miller correctly recites, Jesus did say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." [John 14:6]

Another aspect of the story is this: Many Americans have such a doctrineless understanding of Christianity that they do not even know what the Gospel is -- not even remotely. A greater tragedy is that so many who consider themselves Christians seem to share in this confusion.

Many observers who trace these trends see this doctrinal shift among Christians as a good development. After all, if you hold to nothing more than a functional view of religion, this might seem to promise less conflict among religious believers. But, if you believe that truth is essential to Christian faith, there is every reason to see these trends as nothing less than catastrophic