The Church of England is divided over a proposed motion for it to proclaim Christianity as the only way to salvation and offer strategies on how to evangelize Muslims.
Senior church leaders as well as some Muslim figures have voiced anger at the motion proposed by Paul Eddy – a lay member of the church’s General Synod, according to BBC. Eddy, along with traditionalist Anglicans, argues that the church should stop avoiding hard questions about its beliefs.
The Church of England must make it clear that it believes in what the Bible says about Jesus being the only way to salvation, he said. Currently training to become a priest, Eddy believes that being upfront about the church’s beliefs will be helpful to Muslim-Christian relations.
“Most Muslims that I’ve talked to say, ‘I really wish that Christians would stop watering down their faith and expecting us to do the same,’” Eddy said on BBC Radio Four on Sunday. “Until we start really saying what we really believe in our faith, there will be no respect.”
Also, Muslims expect Christians to believe that Jesus is the only way to God, Eddy noted.
“They will expect us – if we’re true Christians – to try to evangelize them, in the same way they will expect us, if they’re true Muslims, to adopt their faith,” he said.
But the problem is that the church, in an effort to be inclusive and to avoid offending people of other faiths, has “lost its nerve” and has “not doing what the Bible says,” he noted.
"Both Christianity and Islam are missionary faiths," Eddy pointed out. "For years, we have sent missionaries throughout the whole world, but when we have the privilege of people of all nations on our doorstep, we have a responsibility as the state church to share the gospel of Jesus Christ."
He urges Anglican bishops to give church members advice on how to evangelize, and how to better support Muslims who have converted to Christianity and are now ostracized by their communities.
The proposal is expected to be discussed at the General Synod summer meeting, July 4 to 8, in the city of York in central England.
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Our American Christians need to be wary of becoming "lukewarm". We need to encourage our fellowships to continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our preachers need to encourage and exhort the fellowship to continue to seek after our Lord Jesus Christ and become more like Him. Then we'll be able to witness by our actions and by our word.
Eddy is absolutely correct. England, as well as the rest of Europe, is so concerned about "not hurting" someone's feelings and about politically correct, they are having terrible problems. They rarely even report that certain groups perpetrate the most crimes.
The church, and Christians must stand firm - if you are a Christian, and believe Christ is the way to salvation, then we MUST speak that out. Muslims are very clear on what their beliefs are. Christians, for the most part, have become cowardly in this regard. The churches should be teaching evangelism, particularly towards a group that is now so dominating their society. Things aren't as bad int the US yet, but they will be. More and more, Muslims are trying to get their religious beliefs become a part of the society. And, for heaven's sake - Muslims turned Christian need a lot of support. They are considered apostates from their own group, and can suffer not only being ostracized, but torture and death...
Paul Eddy is absolutely correct about standing up for the Gospel with regards to muslims.
I just wonder if he is as admant in his assertion when it comes to what the Bible says about homosexuality.
Matthew 7:13
[ The Narrow Way ] “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Matthew 7:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 7:14
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)
Luke 13:24
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:23-25 (in Context) Luke 13 (Whole Chapter)
Result pages:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
John 14:6 (New King James Version)
New King James Version (NKJV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.