Posted by Jason on December 17, 1999 at 10:47:09:
Dave,
I'm not sure if I completely understand what you are saying. Initially, though, I want you to know that I have been thinking about you over the past years, and have been hoping everything has been going well. I think that we were able to really connect in the short moments we were able to "hang out." That said...
(I had several ideas of what I wanted to say next that were all rejected by the Hifidelities Morality Engine. I tried to appeal to its sense of humor, but appently, that portion of the application was developed by the Apple corporation, and we all know how funny Steve Jobs is... Of course Bill Gates isn't much better! Nerd!).
What an amazing digression!
Ok. Here's an attempt to clearly state my view without drawing any reference from "The Latest Vatican Statement on Christianity and Other Religions" by John Hicks. My feeling is that in order for an individual to enter heaven, he must acknowledge his/her sin-fullness, accept there is nothing he/she can do about it, acknowledge Jesus Christ as God (i.e. capable to forgive sin), feel genuine remorse for committing the sin (against self and God), sincerely ask forgiveness of the sin from Jesus Christ, and in that process have a "heart's change" whereby turning away from the sin/activity. This is the foundation of my belief. I will extend this in two directions (where relevent to our discussion).
Direction 1: The Aslan Factor
In a previous reply, I quoted C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia." This is actually the origins of my understanding in this area, so this is where I will start. At the last battle the "army" of Aslan (Old Narnia) came to meet the armies of the Calormene and the "New" Narnians. The Calormene worshipped a god named Tash, while Narnians, New and Old believed in Aslan. The Calormene "combined" the two under one name, Tashlan (or something like that). Anyway, a challenge went out to all the people in the camp (I skipped a lot of details here) - Calormene and New and Old Narnians to meet this "Tashlan" in an old shed (a LOT of details! :-). A young Calormene jumped up and said something along the lines of the fact that he had worshipped and followed Tash all his life, and this was his opportunity to meet him. Meanwhile, all the Old Narnians were gathered up and tossed into the shed. The resolution came when they were taken to a beautiful place where they ended up meeting Aslan (who represents Christ). The Calormene, too, was taken to this beautiful place. He was confused, because Tash was not there, but Aslan explained to him that "...everything you did in service toward Tash, I count as service toward me..." (<-- or something along those lines).
I would not go so far as to say that a person can go about life ignoring Christ and the calling of the Holy Spirit to pursue his/her own objectives. I would say that if an individual is true to their "religion," and (most importantly) have not come into a "spiritual understanding" of who Christ is, then it is possible that Jesus, in is infinite lovingkindness, could forgive that individual and acceept him/her in the same way Aslan accepted the young Calormene. The driving factor behind my belief is that I accept that this is possible. I have not founded my relationship with God on this (i.e. God, if you forgive people in this manner, I will serve you and love you -- if not, then forget it). I have founded my relationshiop with God on the fact that He first loved me, and all that entails... or entrails... yuck!
Direction 2: The Post Mortem Question
What happens after death? Is the soul immediately damned to hell or received into heaven? I have to beg forgiveness, because I don't have a bible handy, but there is a scripture in I Peter where Jesus is said to have gone down into prison and preached to the souls there. Ok, now I know that there is some kind of correlation to that and the pre-ressurection/ascention soul. People could not come to Christ if He had not yet walked the earth (please understand what I mean -- this is not to say that there are exceptions and room for argument). My point is that somewhere outside of our understanding resides a place that souls go. This might be heaven immediately, this might be hell immediately, this might be purgatory, this might even be the restaurant at the end of the universe. Who knows? All I'm saying here is that I also believe it is possible that a soul might get to meet Jesus and have the opportunity to accept or reject Him. I don't know. My feeling is that Jesus loves everyone, regardless. I believe that He would do everything in His power to help His children and show them love. This is what I would do for my Abraham, and Jesus loves Abraham more than I could imagine - again, His love fills the cup of my understanding (I had to repeat that one for Steve ;-).
No More Directions...
I hope I have clarified my views. I accept that God desires to reach everyone and reveal His son, Jesus, to all. It may not physically be possible for this to happen, so He might have to rely on other means. All that aside, I must follow Christ, because of what "I" know and because of what he has revealed to "me" (quotations to indicate italics). I cannot proclaim these beliefs as a method of salvation -- Jesus is salvation. I must proclaim Christ, and His crucifixtion, and subsequent ressurection. He now sits at the right hand of God offering (this might be a strong word -) pleas of mercy. He "knows" us (" = italics). He loves us. He has forgiven us. This is the message of love that the bible reveals. Everything I mentioned previously is not explicitly revealed in the bible because it doesn't directly lead to Christ (only by default).
Where does that put me in terms of the Accurate Reporter, Interesting Theologian, or whatever the other guy was? What are your thoughts? Anyone?
Whew!
Love,
Jason