[This question is a follow-up to “There Can Be Only One”]

Why are all the other religions wrong?  Are 1.5 billion people going to heaven while 4.5 billion will burn in hell?  It almost doesn't seem like the fair and loving God I would worship.

Sincerely,
All-Inclusive

Dear All-Inclusive,

God is perfectly fair – we just aren’t very grateful for what He has offered us.  There is nothing unfair about God’s plan of salvation.  Everyone can be saved in Christ (Jhn 3:16).  Jesus opened a door to salvation that anyone can walk through.  Anyone that desires to have salvation through Christ can have it (Rev 3:20).  It isn’t His fault that many people spurn His invitation.  Which road we take is our choice (Matt 7:13).

I have pondered about the idea of a messiah.  It seemed to me that all cultures and religions have a savior.  It seems to me quite possible that God sent His son, or Himself, or the third iteration of Himself (however one interprets the messiah) to all different peoples to lead them around the same time, essentially.  And presently, Satan exploits this to make humans fight each other because we all worship the same god.  So any theism works… that is what I'm trying to say and what I think.

Is Jesus Christ special, or was Isus the Egyptian messiah, or Allah, or Krishnu, or Jehovah just as good?

Sincerely,
Open Minded

Dear Open Minded,

Jesus is special, and He left no room for other gods.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jhn 14:6).  Jesus was either the one and only Messiah – or He was a crazy lunatic.  Jesus teaches that we can only have one Master (Matt 23:10) and that serving anyone else is a sin.  Jesus taught that we either confess Him as the Christ, or we will be denied before God (Lk 12:8-9).  Jesus cannot coexist with other gods.  The Bible is clear – there can be only one (Eph 4:4-6).  Isus, Allah, Krishnu, etc. are all false gods.

What does the Bible say about "pastor appreciation"?  Is there such a thing, or is it a man-made tradition that churches practice?

Sincerely,
A Little Too Much Gratitude

Dear A Little Too Much Gratitude,

We aren’t completely sure what you mean by “pastor appreciation”.  If you mean a certain day or month to commemorate those who serve as elders in the church… there is no Bible precedent for that.  The Bible never sets aside a specific way or time to show kindness to the eldership.  Heb 13:7 says that we should remember and imitate those who are over us in the church.  Heb 13:17 says that we should submit to the eldership, so their work can be a joy instead of a grief.

Elders have some of the loneliest and most difficult jobs on the planet.  The church eldership has the responsibility to watch over every soul in the congregation.  Elders see every problem, trouble, travail, and heartache that a church faces.  It is the least we can do to humbly show our appreciation for the work they have committed their lives to.  The Bible doesn’t tell us to set a day aside; it tells us to have an attitude of gratitude.

My wife is a member of a Baptist church.  I have never been a member at any church.  I hardly ever went, and if I did it was a different church every so often.  Her father is the pastor there.  I asked her the other day if maybe we could visit a different church and listen to some different preaching other than her father’s sometime.  I only asked if we could do this like once every three months or so.  She bluntly said, “NO!”  I asked why, and she said, “I’m a member of my church, and I won’t go anywhere else.”  I have to admit, this made me sort of upset.  What’s the Bible’s take on this????

Sincerely,
The Un-Baptist Son-In-Law

Dear The Un-Baptist Son-In-Law,

The Bible says that you must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12).  Regardless of your wife’s choices, you must make it a point to seek out and find the truth.  Not all churches are equal.  As we have said to people in other posts, denominationalism is wrong.  Baptist churches make Baptists, Lutheran churches make Lutherans, Catholic churches make Catholics, etc.  You want to find a church that teaches the Bible, not manmade doctrines.  There were no Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, etc. in Christ’s day… and that should stand as a warning to us about the dangers of adding things that Christ never intended.  We shouldn’t add to God’s law nor subtract from it (Rev 22:18-19).  We recommend you read “All For One” for more information about the blight of denominationalism.

You are right to want to look around and search for the truth (Lk 11:9).  It is important that we worship God in a way that is both zealous and obedient to the truth (Jhn 4:24).  Visit around, ask questions, and test the preaching of various congregations (1 Jn 4:1).  Make it your goal to find the truth… not simply a congregation that is enjoyable to visit.  Feel free to read “Finding A Church” and “Preacher Interrogation” to help arm yourself to ask the right questions and find a faithful congregation in your area.

Christians believe that Jesus did almost everything in fulfilling the prophecy here on Earth, and what He didn't do, He will do in His second coming.  Jews believe there is nowhere in the Bible that says their Messiah will come back a second time, so they just believe Jesus was some crazy guy.

Please, show me Scriptures on this subject.  Where in the Bible does it say Jesus will come back for a SECOND time… and do I have the general idea right?

Thank you so much for your time.  I don't know the Bible like I SHOULD.  But I'm going to fix that.  Thank you, again.

Sincerely,
Repeat Visit?

Dear Repeat Visit,

When Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels promised the apostles that someday Jesus would return in exactly the same way as He left (Acts 1:10-11).  The Scriptures are very clear that Jesus will someday return to claim His people (1 Thess 4:13-18).  You are right on the money with that part.

Jesus’ second coming isn’t the reason the Jews don’t believe He is the Messiah.  The reason they don’t believe He is the Messiah is because He died on the cross and never saved them from Rome.  The Jews expected a Messiah that would save them from their physical enemies and set up a powerful kingdom on earth.  However, Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one (Jhn 18:36).  The Jews mocked Jesus while He was on the cross because they believed His crucifixion clearly proved He wasn’t the Savior (Lk 23:35).  In short, the Jews expected a physical king, and Jesus came as a spiritual king.  They never accepted Him because of it.