Quote Originally Posted by Skyman
Love thy neighbor as you would thyself

QED

There is a big big difference between proclaiming "I believe Jesus is the path to Salvation" and saying "you are going to hell as you don't believe what I do."

Interfaith dialogue can never be allowed to take a "my belief is better than yours approach" Jesus would not do that. Jesus didn't tell the apostles to drop their belief structures overnight. He showed them Love and said follow me. That is also what we must do.

I obviously read that passage very very differently than you do and this is a big issue with scripture. my interpretation of the whole verse - I try not to take these things out of context, would be: I am sending you out to continue my work. you already know the nice stuff about loving thy neighbor and healing the sick, but let me tell you it is going to be hard work. People won't like your ideas, people will hate you and argue amongst themselves about what you have to say.

Remember most of Jesus' teaching was in parables. This obviously isn't a parable but I believe Jesus is "steeling his disciples" for a lifetime of hard work.

Let me ask you Mr Soldier

Do you own anything more than the clothes on your back?
Do you have a bank account?

How then would you interpret Mathew 10: 9-10?

9 "Don't take any money with you.

10 Don't carry a traveler's bag with an extra coat and sandals or even a walking stick. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.

The Bible is a way to understand God's word, but it was written in God's language not ours yes it is the literal word of God but I doubt (although who am I to say I understand Gods ways) that we are meant to take it literally. - I too can selectively pick and choose Gods words to suit my own ends.

I believe this thread was supposed to be about sharing our beliefs in a positive non judgmental way. I hope that it remains so.
If I may shed some light on this particular topic speaking of believing in Jesus for salvation and what dictates the ultimate judgment of hell.

Jesus speaks clearly and plainly to us in John 3 when he states that God did not send His son to "condemn" the world, but to "save" the world. Jesus then proceeds to explain that unless an individual is born of the physical flesh AND of the spiritual Spirit, he/she would not enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches that those in the world are "condemned" already, and that by coming to the light and believing we can be "saved". He continues to teach that those who come to the LIGHT and believe are not condemned, but that those who reject the light in exchange for darkness will remain in their condemation.
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:15-21 KJV

Therefore, according to Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, those who believe in HIM will not perish but will have eternal life. Again, those who come to the light and believe in Jesus Christ are no longer condemned, but those who refuse to come out of the darkness into the light are condemned already.