"Don't go around looking for the 'perfect church' because as soon as you find it, you'll mess it up!"
We are imperfect people and the church is an imperfect people. Nevertheless, we strive to glorify God and to be the loving people that God created us to be.
Matt challenged us on Sunday with the question, "What are you going to do to try to build yourself into a more perfect part of Christ's church?" How would you respond to this challenge?
Is it helpful or hurtful for you to know that the church (including you) is imperfect and will never be perfect?
Matt alluded to the story in Acts 5 of Ananias and Sapphira. What do you make of this story?
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9 comments:
I know the church is not perfect but I wonder...
What will happen to devout Muslims, Hindus, Buddists, etc. when they die? I mean, they've been as devout a follower of their higher being as I have been of God.
Will they go to heaven? Do they go to a separate heaven or do they, because they do not believe in Jesus Christ as son of God, go to Hell?
I don't know. I guess my question is: Did Jesus only die for Christians?
I would like to respond to Anonymous' question "Did Jesus die only for Christians?" My understanding is that Jesus died for all people(John 3:16) but it is up to each individual to accept His gift of grace. We must allow Him to be the Leader of our lives. So, no. He did not die "only for Christians."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (NRSV) I believe that our current definition of "everone who believes in him" equates to "Christians". So who did Jesus die for, the world or everyone who believes in him?
John Wesley taught of a concept known as "Universal Redemption" which means that Christ's atoning death was sufficient for every sin of every person. But this is not the same as "Universal Salvation" which would suggest that every person, regardless of whether s/he has a relationship with God through Christ, is saved. It is difficult for me to read the Scriptures and proclaim a universal salvation - I just don't see it.
In other words, God's gift of Salvation through Jesus' death was for the whole world, but only those who accept the gift (i.e. have faith - "Christians") have truly received it.
I am glad that I do not have to be the judge of each person's soul. But I am also glad that I serve a God who is wholly loving and wholly just. I don't think he's going to make a bad call about who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.
Is the purpose of Christianity just to be a devout religious person? Or is it to be in real relationship (that starts now and goes on into eternity) with a real God who has revealed himself in Jesus Christ?
How does the conversation change if the Muslim/Hindu/Buddist has never heard the story of Christ? I suppose this would apply more to the Hindu or Buddhist that has never heard the Gospel, as a Muslim would have heard a story of Christ, just not THE story of Christ.
But if this person hasn't heard the Gospel, does God honor their devotion and efforts as righteousness, per Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, and Galatians 3:6?
What about the answer to the first questions? What happens to the devout Hindus, Muslims, Buddist, etc when they die? Will they go to Hell because they are not Christians?
There have been so many questions about this aspect of salvation. What about the ancient Jews who were God's chosen people? They sinned like we do and did not know Christ. Will God redeem his chosen? What about modern Jews? What about children and the mentally ill? What about "good people" like say Ghandi? What about those who feed, clothe and visit the "least of these"? Aren't they the sheep the "whoever" that Jesus was talking about? Good deeds are not limited to Christians.
I have struggled and prayed about this a lot and in the process have changed the way I think. First, I agree with Andrew that I trust God not to make a bad call on this. Second, I agree with Andrew that I am truly thankful I don't have to make that decision. And third, I began to approach this question, not from what I think, but how God would want me to act.
If I am not sure about the scope of His redemption, then I start from the premise that God truly loves all the people of the world, past, present and future, and so must I. Then my task, my challenge, is to never have an "us vs. them" attitude with regard to Christians and non-Christian, or those who believe in the One True God and those who worship something else, or even those who are "good" and those who are "bad". I believe Jesus requires me to love everyone, leave all judgement to the Almighty and to simply tell people the good news. Just like any good news you tell someone, they can either take it or leave it, regardless, it's still good news. Jesus took away the sins of the entire world, past, present and future. This proves God's love for us. Then, Jesus rose from the dead, proving that God will not abandon us, in life or death. How cool is that?
In reply to the post on July 20th...
I don't pretend to have the "answer" to the fate of the world...but I do think your question raises the bar in our expectations as ministers to the world.
The whole chapter of Galatians 3 gives some helpful insight here. It claims that Abraham was given the good news. And that Abraham wasn't credited righteousness due to his devotion or efforts, but through belief! It was Abraham's relationship with God that saved him, (consummated by an eternal relationship with God in heaven).
The way I interpret the Gospel message is that God is not interested in religious devotion (the Pharisees were VERY religious and VERY devoted, and yet Jesus calls them out on multiple occasions). God is interested in in a relationship with his children (Galatians 3:7). Heaven is the consummation of that relationship.
All that being said, it raises the bar for us to get the Word out! As Paul says in Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!""
In conclusion, I don't know whether every devoted Hindu who has never heard the Gospel will end up in Hell...but I DO know that I am not satisfied to sit back and wait to find out. I want to get the good news out to EVERYONE, whether they are devout religious people or pagans, so that they can begin experiencing "heaven" here and now on earth.
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