Understand The Times, International

Comment from Understand the Times:

Is George Barna serious or just influenced by his Roman Catholic Jesuit education? To say that 25% of born-again Christians have universalist beliefs is like saying that 25% of those who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ based on their salvation on Jesus Christ and the finished work of the cross alone are going to hell because they do not believe in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. How can one be born again and at the same time not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the scriptures?

If the George Barna group really understands the meaning of the gospel according to the scriptures, then the Barna Group should come up with another survey which reflects the apostasy they are part of promoting.

Recently, Barna spoke at a conference with David Barton who claims that the American Founding Fathers were Christians and that America is a Christian nation. Barna, Barton and others were part of the "Rediscover God in America Conference: One Nation Under God" that was held in the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Sanctuary on Saturday March 26, 2011 between 9AM and 3PM. (Childcare was free and lunch was available for purchase).

So is there a connection between George Barna, David Barton and whoever promoted this conference at Calvary Costa Mesa? Time will tell, won't it?

Article: Unbiblical Christianity

April 18 - Many Born-Again Christians Hold Universalist Views, Barna Finds

One in four born-again Christians hold universalist thoughts when it comes to salvation, according to a new Barna analysis of trend data.

Twenty-five percent of born-again Christians said all people are eventually saved or accepted by God. A similar proportion, 26 percent, said a person�s religion does not matter because all faiths teach the same lessons.

And an even higher proportion, 40 percent, of born-again Christians said they believe Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

According to the Barna analysis, 43 percent of Americans in general agreed with the statement �It doesn�t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons,� while 54 percent disagreed.

For many evangelicals, the idea of Christians holding universalist ideas is particularly disturbing because it nullifies the need for Christ to die on the cross and the message of Jesus that he is the only way, truth and life.

While universalism is nothing new, some believe cultural trends are placing pressure on Christians and their beliefs. Don Carson, research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, said at The Gospel Coalition�s national conference last week that many are feeling pressure from the culture "to find universalism attractive."

"There are pressures in our culture to reduce the truth content of Scripture and then simply dismiss people by saying that they're intolerant or narrow-minded ... or bigoted without actually engaging the truth question at all. And that is really sad and in the long haul, horribly dangerous."

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