I was at the NPC breakfast with Wright this morning, and no one seems to have picked up on what I thought was one of the most remarkable comments this morning:
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.”
That was the extent of his answer, and after he gave it, Wright backed suddenly away from the podium to gaze at the audience for dramatic effect.
Now Wright is running around saying that he’s not a political person — he’s a pastor. But the answer he gives here is far more political than pastoral.
As a practicing Christian, I’ve always been under the distinct impression that Christianity was not to be regarded as part of a spiritual smorgasboard where all options are equally valid, as Wright seems to suggest here. In fact, the full verse of John 10:16 seems to disprove Jeremiah Wright’s own point: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” [emphasis mine]
It’s not news that certain liberal elements of some churches are rank with this kind of relativism, but I don’t think that this rejection of the Gospel truth is representative of a Christianity the vast majority Americans recognize. Trinity United Church of Christ describes itself as “Unapologetically Christian,” and that seems accurate: apologetics is not one of Wright’s strong suits.