R
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R
ralphinal
Guest
This is not shocking. Between the poor teachings that Catholics have suffered in the past and the pushing of the concept of American Rugged individuality, it was bound to happen.
Not to mention the Church of Harpo Productions, with its prophettess/high preistess Oprah Winfrey.
Not to mention the Church of Harpo Productions, with its prophettess/high preistess Oprah Winfrey.
S
Steadfast
Guest
A very clever and accurate way to describe it is “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.”
God exists to help us live better lives and feel better about ourselves.
This encompasses everyone from Oprah to Osteen.
And this is THE biggest problem in American Spiritual life, the reduction of God to a self-improvement program.
God exists to help us live better lives and feel better about ourselves.
This encompasses everyone from Oprah to Osteen.
And this is THE biggest problem in American Spiritual life, the reduction of God to a self-improvement program.
R
ralphinal
Guest
S
SSTeacher
Guest
I believe that some non–Christians can get into heaven. On what grounds might some Christians (apparently the minority) disagree with me?
Curiously,
Mick
E
Eucharisted
Guest
Please post all news in the news forum 
Hi Mick,I believe that some non–Christians can get into heaven. On what grounds might some Christians (apparently the minority) disagree with me?
Curiously,
Mick
I don’t necessarily disagree, except that there appears no scriptural grounds to support the salvation of non-christians.
All that said, we have a merciful god, and a loving savior.
Jon
S
SSTeacher
Guest
Hey Jon,
Happy New Year and thanks for your comment. I guess you’re right in that there doesn’t appear to be any verse or passage that can be adduced to provide direct support but don’t you think such a thing can reasonably be inferred? Three thoughts came to my mind.
Firstly, I thought of the implications attendant to the appearance of Elijah and Moses at the Transfiguration.
Secondly, I thought back to a phrase that I’ve heard used by both a Catholic priest and a Wesleyan pastor: “God will judge people according to their lights.”
Thirdly, I remembered something I read in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I’ve chased it up and found it on line at philosophyforlife.com/mc10.htm:
“Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who have heard of Christ and been able to believe in Him? But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him.”
So for some time, now, it’s seemed to me that for a Christian (of whatever denomination) the cautious approach is the right approach. The qualified response to the question would perhaps be along the lines of, “Some non–Christians may indeed get into heaven but when they do it will be because of the grace of God and not because of the life they lived outside of Christendom.”
I don’t see why any Christian couldn’t go along with a line similar to that. It contains no denial of Christ or of His sufficiency. It’s really a bit like saying, “I know for certain where the Holy Spirit is but I can’t say for sure where He isn’t.”
Have I done enough to get your unqualified agreement?
In Christ,
Mick
Complete, unqualified agreement.Hey Jon,
Happy New Year and thanks for your comment. I guess you’re right in that there doesn’t appear to be any verse or passage that can be adduced to provide direct support but don’t you think such a thing can reasonably be inferred? Three thoughts came to my mind.
Firstly, I thought of the implications attendant to the appearance of Elijah and Moses at the Transfiguration.
Secondly, I thought back to a phrase that I’ve heard used by both a Catholic priest and a Wesleyan pastor: “God will judge people according to their lights.”
Thirdly, I remembered something I read in Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I’ve chased it up and found it on line at philosophyforlife.com/mc10.htm:
“Is it not frightfully unfair that this new life should be confined to people who have heard of Christ and been able to believe in Him? But the truth is God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him.”
So for some time, now, it’s seemed to me that for a Christian (of whatever denomination) the cautious approach is the right approach. The qualified response to the question would perhaps be along the lines of, “Some non–Christians may indeed get into heaven but when they do it will be **because of the grace of God **and not because of the life they lived outside of Christendom.”
I don’t see why any Christian couldn’t go along with a line similar to that. It contains no denial of Christ or of His sufficiency. It’s really a bit like saying, “I know for certain where the Holy Spirit is but I can’t say for sure where He isn’t.”
Have I done enough to get your unqualified agreement?
In Christ,
Mick
Jon
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