They are not about to damn the likes of Gandhi or the Dali Lama to hell simply because they have not embraced Christianity.
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I am a Baptist and strong in my Christian beliefs, but this is something that I have struggled with. Would be interested in discussion on this subject, but maybe I need to head over to the Religion board.
see post #31. would appreciate your opinion on this subject...
Viscerally, I understand the reluctance. But we balk because of our skewed values. We feel like, if someone is "good" and kind, nice to kids and puppies, and merely doesn't happen to agree with us on this one doctrinal point... well, that's not worth his going to Hell over.
Basically, that's because we haven't worked out the implications of the First Commandment. Jesus says that the crucial commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; loving our neighbor comes second.
Saying that someone should get a pass on shattering the first commandment because he seems decent about the second shows we haven't fully embraced just how "first" the first commandment is. It is like saying, "Look, this guy pays his taxes, mows his lawn, feeds his dog. Just because he sexually molested that little girl — that's nothing to send him to jail over!" Well, yes it is. That crime "trumps" all the other virtues.
Or, to put it another way: here's a man with a loathesome, fatal disease. He'll take vitamins, he'll eat his vegetables, he'll subject himself to acupuncture. The only thing he refuses to do is to take the one medicine that will cure his fatal disease. Is it "unfair" that he dies?
Hope that helps. Go to my Message Board, get more answers and discussions.
Dan
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CharlieOK1: "I am a Baptist and strong in my Christian beliefs, but this is something that I have struggled with. Would be interested in discussion on this subject, but maybe I need to head over to the Religion board."
What's to struggle with? Remember the thief on the cross? He was one of God's Elect, but it wasn't evident until the very day he died.
Just because Gandhi or the Dali Lama don't embrace the ONE true God today, doesn't mean we can count them out just yet.
Where there's life, there's hope that they (and many others) are one of God's elect (that he chose before the foundation of the earth. Rev.13:7-8; 17:8; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9:11-13; Romans 11:7; 2Thess.2:13; 1 Pet.1:1 (NIV); 2:9, etc., etc., etc.
What's the struggle? God isn't a nice guy. Heaven is the most exclusive country club there is. God is a tough love Judge of All.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. -- Matthew 7
John 14:6 also holds:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."