So, here I am again, not having a clue what God is, or where He?? is, or what He?? is doing with the world.
I keep having thoughts that are so far beyond the realm of possibility because my Christian upbringing is making me immediately counteract my thoughts with self-loathing, or comments like, "That can't be right...it's not in the Bible!"
But, here's what I've been thinking. You know how in the Old Testament that God would destroy cities, take people up into Heaven, have donkeys talk to humans, part the sea, have water come from a rock...and most importantly...well, not most importantly...but, it's a biggie--destroy the world?????????????????????
Yes, God has the power to destroy the world. And, even though He made a covenant not to do it again--I personally believe it's still possible that God can do such a thing.
Well, anyway, my twisted thinking got me thinking about other religions again. I just honestly don't know about them. If they're right and wrong.
Because we, as Christians think of praying to Buddha as heresy, and idolatry. But, the Hindus, and whatnot....they think of us praying to Jesus, and God, as stupid as well!
They think WE'RE the ones in the wrong. But, that's just because they were raised to believe that from the beginning. And, they will believe that until the day they die.
(Well, the most of them will.) I just don't fully believe that they should be punished by our standards--because they refuse to believe in something foreign, which was introduced into their lives at a latter time.)
If somebody came up to me with the Qu'ran, I dunno if I'd start believing in it, or have some divine revelation...ya know??? I'm happy where I'm already at--only there is one problem, I don't know where I am at.
I honestly can say that if I die, I don't know if I'll be going to Heaven--because I don't know if I'm worshipping God the way I am supposed to be.
So, I was thinking, "Is it beyond the realm of possibility to have God create other religions?"
I think of the OT, and I think of a God of wrath, and of anger, and of compassion, and everything of the sort like that. But, could God have created the Muslim religion, and just like us...we have to follow our teachings to get to Heaven?
Yeah....it sounds weird. And, people are going to think I'm crazy--but, it's the way I think. To me, nothing is beyond God. And, God is something that I don't try to understand--because it ends up limiting my views on what God can and cannot do...
Questions, comments...etc.??
thanks for listening to me ramble. I want to say soooooooooooooooo much more. Seriously. But, I fell asleep halfway through this post, and need to go to bed.
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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Second, our getting into heaven is not based on how we worship (or pray, or give, etc.) As Christians, we believe that one must accept Jesus as savior to go to heaven. There are no qualifiers there - just believe.
Third, I'm going to tell you what my old pastor (and currently ex-friend) used to say: I don't know the answers to your questions, but I'm just glad I'm not the one that has to make that decision! I think the question about other religions is one of those things we should leave to the Man Upstairs!
Just love. That's enough.
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Grace is the acceptance of that which is rejected. ~Paul Tillich
Read John 14-16 and Romans 5-8. I think these chapters best settle the issue.
Just remember that the ONLY reason why ANYONE goes to heaven to be with God is because God has to first be within them. If someone accepts the love of God in Jesus Christ, no matter who they are, then they are saved and are ready for heaven because Jesus comes and lives in their heart and makes them over from the inside out into the children of God that He wants them to be.
It's not your RELIGION TO GOD that saves you, but your RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD that makes you right in His eyes. And God always makes sure that there is a "remnant" in every culture that HE shows the basic truth of the love of Christ to each of them. We can't see how He does it with each and every person that has or ever will live on this planet, but we do no from the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in the book of Acts that God makes sure everyone knows the truth of about His love in Christ, and has the choice to either accept that love or to reject it.
I don't want to say anything bad, or put anybody down, but I'm not sure it's going to help Darrel to hear "Just believe in Jesus and you'll go to heaven," or "we're Christians because we believe everyone has to believe in Jesus." Darrel has stated that he understands all of that, and his concerns are more along the lines of "How do we know we're right?" if I understand him. This already puts his questions beyond the answers that have been given.
If I'm wrong, Darrel, correct me, and I'm sorry everyone- I really don't mean to say your answers aren't right, or true, or meaningful. What I'm saying is, I think I've been where Darrel is (or close to where he is) and I know that in that state of questioning, the standard (dare I say "pat") answers are meaningless in that context.
Darrel wrote: ...my Christian upbringing is making me immediately counteract my thoughts with self-loathing, or comments like, "That can't be right...it's not in the Bible!"
The problem with that thinking is that the Bible isn't SUPPOSED to have all the answers. The Bible is supposed to give us more QUESTIONS than it gives us answers- questions that lead us to the answers, but not the answers themselves. So just because you can't find what you're thinking about in the Bible doesn't mean it's wrong--- or all we all bonkers talking about gay marriage?!?!
Well, anyway, my twisted thinking got me thinking about other religions again. I just honestly don't know about them. If they're right and wrong.
Jesus said one day he would place all the "goats" on the left, and all the "lambs" on the right... What was the distinction? Whether they were Christians or not? Actually no.
Because we, as Christians think of praying to Buddha as heresy, and idolatry. But, the Hindus, and whatnot....they think of us praying to Jesus, and God, as stupid as well!
Actually, it's not that dualistic. A friend of mine is an extremely smart gentleman from Estonia who has an amazing grasp of so many languages, he doesn't even know how many languages he really can speak. He's the only non-Chinese person who has ever been an Associate Instructor of Chinese at Indiana university.
He is an unapologetic and faithful Christian, who has broken the barriers of language and culture. He has also broken barriers in religion. He has spent long months in Tibet, meditating with the monks there. They have allowed him to ask all sorts of questions, read their scriptures, and live amongst them. He does not judge them, and they do not judge him. I think that's what we're all supposed to do. I know sometimes some people do judge each other's beliefs, but not everyone does that, and not every religion says you MUST be a jerk to other people.
(Well, the most of them will.) I just don't fully believe that they should be punished by our standards--because they refuse to believe in something foreign, which was introduced into their lives at a latter time.)
I think that's an excellent point.
To me, nothing is beyond God. And, God is something that I don't try to understand--because it ends up limiting my views on what God can and cannot do...
Again, great insights!! Maybe you're not so confused as you think!
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"I'd place myself... oh... somewhere between Galadriel and Peter Griffin."
