This is just something sharing to share, not deep, not long, but simply something I have noticed for a while with my involvement in ministry and apologetics over the years. I talk to people a lot online, whether by email or in audio/text chat rooms, and I come across a lot of people who are so set in their traditional denominational mindset of theology and sometimes I believe they have went to far in their extremes with exclusiveness.

What do I mean? Take for example (some of you may of not experienced this directly) Calvinism or Arminianism. A high percentage of Calvinists are so convinced by their traditions and how they read Scripture that the gospel message is the TULIP (acronym for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints) and if one does not hold to all the five points they are not saved or born again. You have the Arminians who pretty much hold to the opposite of the TULIP in understanding who say things like if you believe in OSAS (acronym for Once Saved Always Saved) you are not saved and have believed a doctrine of the devil. You have other groups such as those who believe you must be water baptized to be saved and if you have not you are not truly born again. You have those who teach if you don't speak in tongues you are not saved.

Folks, where does it say one must believe in the TULIP to be saved? Where does it say if you believe in eternal security you are not saved? Is the gospel about being water baptized for salvation or are those Scriptures being taken out of context? Where does Scripture say one must speak in tongues to be saved? Oh and don't get me started on the King James onlyism folks 'who some' say if you don't read from it you are not a Christian and have been deceived by the devilish Bibles that are not the KJ.

There is so much whackiness going on in the name of Jesus, not just outside of the body of Christ but within. I guess I am just saddened when I see other (Lord willing they truly are) believers being so legalistic on making a certain understanding a salvation issue when it is not stated that in Scripture. Scripture says one must repent, believe, trust in, follow, deny self, come after, accept, receive, Jesus as Lord and Savior, as the Son of God in the flesh, as sent from the Father, the eternal Word who is by nature God in the flesh, and more... Point is, if we are going to say one must believe such and such in order to be saved, "MAKE SURE IT IS IN THE BIBLE AND IN CONTEXT".

Just my thoughts, it is sad when non believers see so many things being misrepresented in the name of Jesus or through denominations.