In response to the letter in last week’s paper from Happeth Jones, I believe that she missed Jesus’ message completely if she thinks religion should be about who is the “best.”

Jesus was all about accepting the hated, the despised, and those marginalized by the society of his day — not those considered the best. He taught love for everyone and non-violence — not “come unto me and beat your opponent.”

He left us with only two commandments: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Very simple! But many of us Christians continue to claim that our faith is the only way to salvation and we teach that all others will suffer eternal damnation. Not a good guide for how to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Ms. Jones says, “If a minister doesn’t believe his faith is the best, then he shouldn’t be a minister.”

I would disagree. I believe Fountain Hills is extremely fortunate to have a pastor such as David Felten who teaches the true gospel of Jesus Christ; who acknowledges the grace and goodness (and dare I say reflection of God) present in people from all different religions; who studies and teaches how to bring peace in our time by getting folks from all faith traditions together to discover how much we all have in common.

Thinking that Christianity is but one road to God does not diminish Christianity but expands it to be more in line with Jesus’ teachings of inclusiveness. One of his last charges to us was to “love each other as I have loved you.”