I was about to move on to something else here, but I ran across this little gem on Youtube; a comment in defense of a video of a certain stadium-packing “Christian” teacher – rebuking those who were protesting his twisting of the Bible and the gospel:
STOP CLINGING TO YOUR BIBLE. How do you even know that the bible is the true word of God? How do you know some guy named Bob didn’t write this book sitting in his underwear years and years ago? Just listen to the message. IT MAKES SENSE. Pull your nose out of that nonsensical, contradictory BOOK and USE YOUR BRAIN.
After I commented how amazing I found this statement, and how it made me sad, this was the second response:
I seek common sense .. not blind faith. I am secure in being a good person. I’m sure God looks down on me with favor. Do not be sad for me. I am not sad for you. Every one needs to follow their own path. I’m sure that both you and I will make it to the Kingdom of God.
I was so amazed to find an example which so clearly demonstrated why I believe this message is dangerous. It leaves people comfortable in their fallen state, trusting in their own righteousness! They believe they are secure in the favor of God, even WITHOUT any scripture at all. I have sent this commenter a personal message in an attempt to open a dialogue. (They just agreed… prayers appreciated!) I honestly want to know what they think their “goodness” is, what it earns them, who they think God is and how they know they have His favor if they do not accept His Word as a source of truth. I honestly do want to know. I also want to know how this popular teaching is encouraging them in this position, because they are defending it quite earnestly.
Is it okay to give people comfort and encouragement on a sinking ship or better to offer them a life raft? The deal is, they have to leave the sinking ship behind and this man is telling them Jesus came to give them a royal suite on that sinking ship! Do you see a problem here?
It is so easy to be carried away by flowing speech and encouraging words. But in this case that voice is offering the promises belonging to God’s children to all people, regardless of their relationship to Him. In the same breath he offers people things God never promised to anyone. I pray for the man speaking with all my heart, to see what he is doing – and for those who are hearing him. I love him, but I don’t love what he is saying.
“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you,
for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”
Okay, now for something completely different! 🙂
8thDay4Life 
Isaiah 64:6 (King James Version)
6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
trusting in our self to gain salvation is the biggest mistake that we can make. We can not gain salvation on our own merit.
Also I wonder did you get the chance to have a discussing with him?
Thank you for your input – and no – the conversation never really got started although they initially agreed. I probably said too much too soon…. something I tend to do, a lot.