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barsapp
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Al Masetti:
parable of the talents, Matthew 25, 14-30
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Exalt
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I think C.S. Lewis had some great insight to this whole question when he wrote the last book in the Chronicles of Narnia series.
In the Last Battle, there is a character named Emeth who is from the cruel, powerful empire south of Narnia. Ever since he was a child, he believed in and served Tash, a cruel and hateful god. He hated the name of Aslan, who is Christ in this world. He had heard that Tash appeared in Narnia, so he went to Narnia in a mission to capture it. When the time came for Tash to appear, he was the only one of any species or nationality that dared to enter and face him.
However, when he went to meet Tash, he found himself face to face with Aslan (Alsan=Christ, remember). Here’s what he has to say: “Surely this is the hour of death, for Aslan (who is worthy of all honor) will know I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see Aslan and die than be the Emporer of the world and not to have seen him.”
"I said, 'Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash.
"He answered, “Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.’”
“‘Then is it true, Lord, that thou and Tash are one?’”
“Aslan growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, ‘It is fasle.’”
“Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore, if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him.”
I think that there is alot of wisdom here. Christ saves everyone. No one can come to know God except through Christ and to Christ - even if they don’t know it. Those who are Muslim and come to God are really going through Christ. Those who are Buddist and come to know God and do good are really doing it through Christ.
More on this later. (class time now)
In the Last Battle, there is a character named Emeth who is from the cruel, powerful empire south of Narnia. Ever since he was a child, he believed in and served Tash, a cruel and hateful god. He hated the name of Aslan, who is Christ in this world. He had heard that Tash appeared in Narnia, so he went to Narnia in a mission to capture it. When the time came for Tash to appear, he was the only one of any species or nationality that dared to enter and face him.
However, when he went to meet Tash, he found himself face to face with Aslan (Alsan=Christ, remember). Here’s what he has to say: “Surely this is the hour of death, for Aslan (who is worthy of all honor) will know I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless, it is better to see Aslan and die than be the Emporer of the world and not to have seen him.”
"I said, 'Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash.
"He answered, “Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.’”
“‘Then is it true, Lord, that thou and Tash are one?’”
“Aslan growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, ‘It is fasle.’”
“Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites, I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore, if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him.”
I think that there is alot of wisdom here. Christ saves everyone. No one can come to know God except through Christ and to Christ - even if they don’t know it. Those who are Muslim and come to God are really going through Christ. Those who are Buddist and come to know God and do good are really doing it through Christ.
More on this later. (class time now)
M
Melchior
Guest
Kristina P,
Mel
But this is a pretty radical departure from church history where it was assumed that those who believed in false religions were in grave danger of damnation. Take a look at what prompted most missionary endeavors throughout church history - it was to save souls from Hell.But none of us has any place assuming that another person is in Hell or is Hell-bound, regardless of their religion.
Mel
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