Michael A. Walrond Jr., senior pastor at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York City, which has more than 10,000 members, has sparked shock online after stating that it is "insanity" to believe that the only way to heaven is to put your faith in salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
Walrond, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential pastors in New York City, made the statements while delivering a sermon at First Corinthian.
The megachurch pastor was explaining the congregation's purpose statement, which read, "We are an ever evolving community of visionaries, dreamers, and doers who have been called by God to live the lives we were created to live; commanded by God to love beyond the limits of our prejudices and commissioned by God to serve."
According to Walrond, those words apply to anyone who believes in God, regardless of his or her faith background. He explained that differences in faith have already created so many barriers between people, not only among Americans but those from other cultures as well.
"There was a time when you would see people in the pulpit say, 'Well, if you don't believe in Jesus you going to Hell. That's insanity in many ways because that is not what Jesus even believes," the pastor said, adding, "And so the key is you believe in God. And whatever your path is to God I celebrate that. Personally I celebrate that."
He then reiterated that the focus should be on things that bring people together, not on those that create division.
While the pastor's words received applause from those who were listening to his sermon, his comments sparked anger and outrage online after Kevin Davis, minister of music at Friendship Baptist Church in Texas, posted a 57-second clip capturing Walrond's controversial sermon statements on Facebook.
In his post, Davis wrote, "My thoughts? He is way off base! Based on this ideology Jesus died for naught."
Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr., who founded Total Outreach for Christ Ministries, Inc. and Word of Outreach Christian Center and Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas, thought differently. He said, "The preacher on this video is both right and wrong: he's right in that all roads do lead to God; but this God is both love and a consuming fire. If you meet Him on the Christ road of His love you live, but any other road, be it religion, philosophy, or a miscalculation of the Person of Christ, the lake of fire is waiting!"
Meanwhile, Ken Stone, academic dean at Chicago Theological Seminary, found Walrond's statement agreeable, although Stone mentioned that they might not have used the same words. He said, "Institutionally, we do celebrate multiple paths to God and to God's wisdom and truth and that's what I understand also to be Rev. Walrond's position."
Walrond has been instrumental in growing the First Corinthian Baptist Church. Since joining in 2004, church membership has reportedly expanded from 300 to 9,000 in 2014, and to more than 10,000 as of report writing. Walrond rides a motorcycle and is known to wear jeans during church services. He also encourages posting on social media during his sermons.
