The Presbyterian Church USA’s statement of faith says God through Jesus Christ delivers followers “from death to life eternal.”
But one in three members of the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination seem to believe there’s some wiggle room for non-Christians to get into heaven, according to a recent poll.
The Presbyterian Panel’s “Religious and Demographic Profile of Presbyterians” found that 36 percent of members disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement: “Only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved.” Another 39 percent, or about two-fifths, agreed or strongly agreed with the statement.
This is hardly a controversial opinion in either mainline or moderate evangelical circles, let alone in Catholicism, where it’s pretty much official teaching.
For some evangelicals it remains a cardinal doctrine of the faith that anyone who hasn’t signed on the dotted line is going to be eternally tormented. But even my extremely conservative Holiness grandmother allowed that there might be some “wiggle room.” I am continually astounded by how shocking some conservative Protestants find this claim. I guess this is a place where we Wesleyans (the theological tradition, not the denomination) really are different!