Context is Everything

This morning while in a sleepy stupor from having worked till 4am, I was able to catch a live broadcast of Jeremiah Wright (Barrack Obama's pastor) confronting questions at the National Press Club. I was intrigued to see what kind of questions would be asked of him surrounding all the recent controversy so I settled in to listen.

To no surprise he expounded the same facts I have heard in his sermon clips and was not shocked by anything up until one of the last questions.

This is from the transcripts from FoxNews.com:

MODERATOR: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the father but through me.” Do you believe this? And do you think Islam is a way to salvation?

WRIGHT: Jesus also said, “Other sheep have I who are not of this fold.”

(APPLAUSE)

The (APPLAUSE) does not do justice to crowds reaction. There was much applause along with cheers, whistles and standing ovations.

Mr. Wright is an extremely intelligent man and is well studied in public speaking and in various aspects of world history, however, this "scripture quote" is far beyond out of context.

He is quoting only a portion of the gospel of John 10:16:

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

Note that Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience with the foreshadowing of outsiders (Gentiles) coming into the fold of God. Is this true for Muslims? Yes. Is it true for Buddhists? Yes. So it is true for every other religion, ----- IF ----- They forsake their false religions and turn to the one true God through His only Son.

Look at verse 14. Jesus says that HE is the Shepherd and He knows His own and they know Him. Then in verse 16 He says "I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice". Jesus MUST bring them in. He is the ONLY one able to bring them in. Muhammad can bring no one to the Father, Buddha can bring no one to the Father, inner peace can bring no one to the Father. ALL must repent and cling to Christ alone for salvation.

My heart is burdened and saddened for the many people in that room today. They sat there in a fog of happenstance without any understanding of the eternal danger they are in. Death's chilly waters are filling the lungs of followers of false religions and death and judgment will overcome them.

Lord Jesus, may we follow your example and be willing to weep and pray over the lost. Lord, I pray for each one that heard those false words today and pray that You would put people in place to share the true gospel message with each.