The Washington Post and Newsweek magazine have an online forum for religious dialogue called “On Faith.” In this forum, scholars and religious leaders answer questions that are put to them by the editors of the “On Faith” site. Recently, the question up for discussion was this:
“Do you have to believe the resurrection is literally true — that Jesus came back to life in his body — to be a Christian?”
Obviously, the orthodox answer to this question is “yes,” but there were some who answered “no.” Among those who answered “yes” were Albert Mohler, N. T. Wright, Cal Thomas, and Chuck Colson. Among the ones who answered “no” were Kathleen Flake and Deepak Chopra. You can read all of the responses here. Dr. Mohler devoted an entire radio program to the question, and you can hear it below.
“Must One Believe in the Resurrection to be a Christian?” – The Albert Mohler Program
8 Comments
Jesica
We are reconciled by His death and saved by His life.
How much more essential can it get?
Brett
Yeah, if I am dogmatic about anything, it’s the resurrection of Christ. Our faith is worthless if he did not resurrect. This is an absolute essential for Chrisianity
Lucas Knisely
AWW YEA!!
jeremy z
I am very thankful and grateful for Albert Mohler’s minstry. True blessing!
Joe
Well, of course !!!! Go Al !!
Ferg
Christus Victor!
Hoey
“Christus Victor!”
Haha! Nice…
Lights fuse, steps back, watches the show…
Kevin J
If Christ is our penal substitute then He must also be our life substitute. In Him we died and in Him we live. If He is not alive then we are still in our sins and are eternally dead.