In Person Relationships: In The Church
Simplicity of the Gospel
In World Vision, writer Tony Campolo tells of taking an airplane from California to Philadelphia one stormy night. It was late, but when the man in the next seat learned that Campolo was a Christian, he wanted to talk. “I believe that going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia,” the man said. You can get there by airplane, by train, by bus, by automobile. There are many ways to get to Philadelphia. Campolo writes:
As we started descending into Philadelphia, the place was fogged in. The wind was blowing, the rain was beating on the plane, and everyone looked nervous and tight. As we were circling in the fog, I turned to the theological expert on my right. “I’m certainly glad the pilot doesn’t agree with your theology,” I said.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“The people in the control booth are giving instructions to the pilot: ‘Coming north by northwest, three degrees, you’re on beam you’re on beam, don’t deviate from beam.’ I’m glad the pilot’s not saying, ‘There are many ways into the airport. There are many approaches we can take.’ I’m glad he is saying, ‘There’s only one way we can land this plane, and I’m going to stay with it.’ ”
There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ