FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2024 - EXCLUSITIVITY?

 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2024 - EXCLUSIVITY?

I tend to write spiritual things on Friday - and today, I’m asking a question.

First, some scriptures:

John 3:16-18

God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

John 14:6

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

Romans 10:9-13

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you accept and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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Matthew 22:37-39

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. 

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Karen’s questionable analysis,

God is all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite, all-loving, and all-merciful.

If God can only (???) accept people who accept Jesus as Savior, can a Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, etc. be saved?

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So, if God can do anything (and everything) and wants all people to be in Heaven (whatever that is), he can make it happen. It’s not quite the situation, but if God waves a “magic wand” over a non-Christian person, boom—that person can be part of God’s kingdom.  

Catholics have a concept of purgatory, where, after death, some people may spend some “time” (whatever time is) in a waiting room. I think that the waiting room is a “mud room.” A farmer has been out feeding the pigs, cattle, horses, etc., and his (her) boots are covered in manure. The farmer enters the house through a mud room, where they strip, take off their shoes, shower, and get clean. Does that exist for all people?  To be in the perfect place, the “Holy of Holies” - we need to be clean - so - boom, the almighty God touches us and makes us perfect.   (And, of course, God could just breathe on us to cleanse us!!!)

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Matthew 7:1-3

 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. You will be judged in the way you judge, and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?

Romans 2:1-4

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things. We know God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.  So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

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Okay, too much quoting of Christian Scriptures.  

I have known Christians - who, for one reason or another, have left Christianity (maybe a pastor irked and abused them).  I've known Muslims, Hindus, and others leading good lives.  

Guess what? I am NOT GOING TO JUDGE ANYBODY!!!  I not going to judge Adolf Hitler or any criminal. It’s not my job. It’s not in my job description.  As Jesus and Stephen said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they are doing.”  

I am to love everyone - love my neighbor (and all people are my neighbors).  I understand that God’s ways are not mine (hallelujah - because I’m a sinner - hopefully forgiven by God’s mercy and compassion.  

So, I can’t totally embrace the first scriptures above. I’m not going to judge others, but I will love them.

I can only change myself.  Others have to adapt and change themselves.  (That is become transformed)

BECAUSE:

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, 

October 11, 2024