I participated in a conversation the other day that still nags at me. The conversation was between a minister and several close friends and family members of a woman who had recently died. They were planning her memorial service.
One of the friends mentioned that someone who was also friends of the family (and who belonged to the Baha'i faith) wanted to read a Baha'i prayer at the memorial service. "They're Christian, too," she said. "They don't believe in a triune God, but they believe in one God and in peace and love, just like we do."
The minister spoke up, saying, "But if they don't believe in Jesus, they're not Christian." She reminded the people gathered there that our belief in Christ is what distinguishes us from other faiths.
I've noticed a tendency lately to blur the lines between religions, to focus so much on our commonalities that we forget those things which make us unique from each other. In an effort to seek peace and reconciliation, it seems to me that we sometimes forget that it is important to stand firm on certain points.
My faith in Christ is one thing I hold fast to and don't apologize for.
What do you think? Am I being unduly "cranky"?
"I am the way, the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me." John 14:6.
ReplyDeleteMany, including Christians, have debated the meaning of this saying by Jesus over the years, and no doubt will continue to do so.
There is a tendency amongst Christians, perhaps encouraged by the Church, to blur the lines somewhat. But at the end of the day there are certain basic principles that are non-negotiable:
One God.
Christ His only Son,
Virgin Birth, death and Resurrection.
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit - three in one.
I can't see anyone not believing in these yet being a Christian. That said, I see no reason to exclude anyone from a funeral service because they are not Christian.
You are certainly not "cranky;" my best advice is to think how your actions (or lack of same) will appear to Him when you stand before Him for judgement. "I will deny him before my Father who denies me before men."
ReplyDeleteDave
I can't say it any better than Victor did. The first thing that came to my mind was that Christ is the main part of the word Christian. How can you be Christ-ian without believing in Christ.
ReplyDeleteI would not want a prayer said at my funeral if it was of another faith because I would not want others to be misled into believing that other religions are all of equal value.
I don't think you are cranky at all. I think you about truth and to say that they are Christian when they aren't is like saying you are a muslim, or a canine for that matter.
ReplyDeleteSeems like there are two ditches in this area. The first is too narrow and the second is too broad. Some want to define Christianity exclusively to their own group or denomination while others want to include everyone who believes in God. These two verses describe this tension:
ReplyDelete"Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. -Mark 9:38-40
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. -Matthew 12:30
To call a non-Christian a Christian is wrong. There are differences and they are important. However, I do believe that the same God hears all prayers of both Christians and non-Christians. He loves us all, we are all His children. And, I believe that all prayer has value, regardless of the faith tradition.
ReplyDeleteWhen Pope John Paul II died,there were members from all faiths present at this funeral memorial here in Milwaukee and they all offered prayers. I thought it was beautiful. They all recognized holiness and wanted to commend this holy man to God in the way that they each knew best.
Love is a common denominator in all faiths. I agree with Kansas Bob.
Had to come over from Kansas Bob blog to see what you had written here. I definately fall on the side of ---- if you believe if Christ and his attoining work you are a Christian, if you do not believe in Christ and his finished work on the cross you are not. We are becoming too "agreeable" and too afraid to stand and speak truth.
ReplyDeleteSusan
How many physical fathers can one child have?
ReplyDeleteHow many faiths lead home?
Hmmm, how dumb are we... let's see. Let's try to be agreeable here. Excuse my sourcasim.
I hope that those reading this blog will be filled with the precious fire of God, and fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ as they submit their ignorance to the law of God and not mans mere intellect..
Eph 4:13
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Col 2:8-10
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power...
God hears the "prayers of all faiths" is slightly incomplete.
Herein I make my proclamation, and decree it. Jesus is Lord! Jesus doesn't share his crown except with those who die and live in Christ and yeild their life to his precious Holy Spirit. You can't serve two masters. Jesus said that, I didn't say it! I only am repeating the truth of God's written Word, which happens to be the Law of God. I personally have nothing outside of Him.
What you surround yourself with is who and what you begin to mirror.
Rom 3:23-26
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Who do you believe in?
Keep the main thing the main thing!
God bless,
Linford W.