S
Soma-Sight
Guest
For the past five years of heartfelt studying and reflection I believe that Matt 25 best describes the Biblical approach to "Other Religions and Salvation".
The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Here we see that in the Last Days Christ will institute a Judgement on All Nations, not just the Jew and Christian ones. Regardless of your cultural background and racial profile, you will be judged!
33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
The first group of people to be separated, the Sheeps will go to "Heaven" or "The Kingdom of God".
This is pretty obvious....
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Now looking as to the Standard with which the "Sheeps" are to be "graded" by.....
It has nothing to do with affiliation with any particular "sect", "denom" or portion of Christianity, or even by which nation you grew up in....
It does not matter if you belong to the Southern Baptist League of rue Believers or the SDA Sabbath School extravanganza...
The standard for being a True believer is simple....
Love and Compassion for all fellow men demonstrated in a Christlike manner.
Feeding the poor Hindu.
Visiting the confused pagan in prison.
Ministering to the Homosexual with AIDS in a Hospital.
"Pretty much anything that has to do with the principles of Selfless service and Love for mankind as perfected by Christ Himself"
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The least?
Who are the least?
Those that are rejected by "Mainstream" organizations and institutions.
The leper, the gay, the prisoner, the pagan, the Islamist (for our country), any "Other" group that is designated by your particular cultural programing
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
Now we see the criteria for those that will go on to the Hellfire.
Shunning others that do not fit in your "saved" paradigm.
Judging others when you should show compassion.
Turning your head on the suffering in your own family and the "world" family.
Etc, Etc.....
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
It is very plain and simple.
The Word of God is a "Living" Word that exists through action and not just theory.
The Spirit of Christ is "alive" when people go against the mold of the "mainstream" and stick up for those that are "destined for hell".
As far as the topic of "Other Religions and Salvation" I believe that the attitude of the True Believer is one of Love and Compassion rather than Judgement and Condemnation.
Sharing the Gospel to a starving man in the gutter does not include throwing Bible verses at him but in giving him what he really needs.....
Christlike Love and Compassion
That is how we get to Heaven and how we should regard any person regardless of religious persuation.
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Here we see that in the Last Days Christ will institute a Judgement on All Nations, not just the Jew and Christian ones. Regardless of your cultural background and racial profile, you will be judged!
33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
The first group of people to be separated, the Sheeps will go to "Heaven" or "The Kingdom of God".
This is pretty obvious....
35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Now looking as to the Standard with which the "Sheeps" are to be "graded" by.....
It has nothing to do with affiliation with any particular "sect", "denom" or portion of Christianity, or even by which nation you grew up in....
It does not matter if you belong to the Southern Baptist League of rue Believers or the SDA Sabbath School extravanganza...
The standard for being a True believer is simple....
Love and Compassion for all fellow men demonstrated in a Christlike manner.
Feeding the poor Hindu.
Visiting the confused pagan in prison.
Ministering to the Homosexual with AIDS in a Hospital.
"Pretty much anything that has to do with the principles of Selfless service and Love for mankind as perfected by Christ Himself"
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
The least?
Who are the least?
Those that are rejected by "Mainstream" organizations and institutions.
The leper, the gay, the prisoner, the pagan, the Islamist (for our country), any "Other" group that is designated by your particular cultural programing
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
Now we see the criteria for those that will go on to the Hellfire.
Shunning others that do not fit in your "saved" paradigm.
Judging others when you should show compassion.
Turning your head on the suffering in your own family and the "world" family.
Etc, Etc.....
44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
It is very plain and simple.
The Word of God is a "Living" Word that exists through action and not just theory.
The Spirit of Christ is "alive" when people go against the mold of the "mainstream" and stick up for those that are "destined for hell".
As far as the topic of "Other Religions and Salvation" I believe that the attitude of the True Believer is one of Love and Compassion rather than Judgement and Condemnation.
Sharing the Gospel to a starving man in the gutter does not include throwing Bible verses at him but in giving him what he really needs.....
Christlike Love and Compassion
That is how we get to Heaven and how we should regard any person regardless of religious persuation.
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.