Hi Buffalo, (I still owe you a response from back in our other thread I'm sorry about that real life always gets the better of me on the boards)
I'm glad you can acknowledge that most Christians are out of harmony with the Bible. And I'm afraid your "interpretations" (distortions) can't compete with the clear words of your savior on this subject.
Oh they most certainly can Buffalo. I'm sure MsJack can clearly answer your challenge but I just couldn't let this go much longer. Many Christians are out of harmony with the Bible, you are correct, so are many of the "chrildren" of those who are out of harmony with the Bible and find themselves as agnostics or atheists with the same disharmony towards the scripture, like yourself If I might be so bold. If the clear words of the Savior is the agreed upon standard let's begin,
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
You obviously have just foisted this quip unto a broader misunderstanding that you carry. If the context of what is said here is taken into consideration your surely wrong. As I will point out below the general context of Christ's message is inclusivist and all of that would have to be ignored to understand the scripture you refer to in how you would wish us to understand it.
Immediate context of the verse you rely on is from the Sermon on the Mount and concerns faith and not judging others which is in a deep contrast to the judgmentalism of the Pharisees. This was early in Christs ministry and his disciples were eager to convert the whole world. That over enthusiastic spirit was quelled by Christ in preparing them that during that present age (and most ages) most would reject the gospel and just a few would come to Christ - that is what the verse means. It isn't contextually sensible to understand the verse as being about eternal salvific status but the current epistemological reality of the many that will not join as opposed to the few that will.
Neal Punt has made an especially helpful comment upon this Scripture:
'The "small gate," "narrow road," and "few" finding convey the intrinsic value of salvation, not the extent of it's availability. These expressions have the same meaning as finding the "hidden treasure" and selling everything else in order to purchase the "pearl of great value." These figures of speech are intended to teach us to covet salvation as a rare discovery and an invaluable treasure.' (chapter 22, page 219, 'A Theology of Inclusivism' - 2008.)
Jesus said very few will be saved
No he didn't, John Calvin might have. His parables are overwhelming inclusivist and his stance contra. the Pharisees makes no sense if he were the exclusivist you want us to believe. He attacks the the concept that only the Jews are the true people of God and he attacks notions of assumed privilege. He teaches strikingly against the pharisees model that many that are invited won't attend and many that aren't will eat at the king's feast. Luke 14:21-24.
Your sadistic comment is pure rhetoric and so I won't respond.
my regards, mikwut
All communication relies, to a noticeable extent on evoking knowledge that we cannot tell, all our knowledge of mental processes, like feelings or conscious intellectual activities, is based on a knowledge which we cannot tell.
-Michael Polanyi
"Why are you afraid, have you still no faith?" Mark 4:40