[PhanthomOps]

Dear Mia,

This is starting to get deep. Please take a deep breath, and relax.

Just for clarification purposes - what is your religious faith?

Quote:
"My brother and a close friend tell me I am doomed if I believe in the legitimacy of other religions."

With all due respect to your brother and close friend - ask them to show you the actual passages in the Bible, where Jesus condemns you on this basis. And please let me know.

Question for your brother and close friend - Are the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist or Pentacostal churchs illegitimate?

Quote:
"I can't believe Christ is the way for me and then say others have another way."

Why not? Do you believe and acknowledge that there are Athesists, Buddists, Hebrews, Muslims, etc.?

Each of these have their own individual way of professing and practicing their religious beliefs.

Just because you accept their existance in no way says that you believe in what they believe, or follow what they follow.

Even within the Christian belief there are many divisions. Roman Catholic, Baptist, Preysbeterian, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentacostal, etc. Each of these "religions" recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and God and profess Him as Lord and Savior. However, for some reason each have a slightly different intrepretation of some of the scriptures. Does this slight difference make then any less Christian?

Quote:
"And I can't be a "real" Christian if I DON'T believe that Christ is the only way, for myself and others."

Mia, your walk with Jesus is a personal and individual one, day by day. What others believe or don't believe is of no consequence to you, and should not have any effect on your precious and personal relationship with Christ.

Do you believe that:
1) Jesus is your Lord and Savior?
2) He died to cleanse and save you from your sins?
3) Jesus is a forgiving and loving God?
4) Jesus loves you?
5) Jesus hurts when you hurt?
6) no one comes to the Father but by Jesus?
7) Jesus is the only way for YOU? (forget all the others)

I could list more, however, if you said yes, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

I hope and pray that this is of some help to you. If you would prefer to talk about this privately, let me know and I'll give you my phone number.

Remember Romans 8:1-2

Peace be with you - Philip