Each December 25, Christians celebrate the time when God became flesh. The technical term is wrapped in the word, ‘incarnation.’ And this is a good time to consider a question (below). But first some backstory:
Some time ago I led a weekly Bible study regularly visited by a middle-aged woman. After about a year of near-weekly attendance, she engaged me in a discussion of a book she was in the process of reading. It was written by a Buddhist whom she’d met on several occasions. She called him a ‘holy man’ and suggested I also read the book.
I told her in as plain language as I could, God does not – God cannot – consider any Buddhist, or Muslim, or Hindu, or any non-Christian ‘holy.’ Such an idea is as far removed from Biblical teaching as darkness is from light.
Sadly, she never returned to my Bible studies.
And now, my question. I ask it because that woman is not the only church-attender who is of the opinion that one does not have to follow Jesus to be holy. Or go to heaven after death.
The question: Do you believe God considers any person of non-Christian faith to be ‘holy’?
If you think yes, please support your opinion with Scripture. If you think not, please do likewise. And if you wish to include your church affiliation, I’d be curious to know that, too. Consider this a quick and non-scientific survey during the season we celebrate the incarnation.
Rich Maffeo /
npub1sn…kfmld
2023-12-24 02:50:41
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2023-12-24 02:50:41Event JSON
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"content": "Each December 25, Christians celebrate the time when God became flesh. The technical term is wrapped in the word, ‘incarnation.’ And this is a good time to consider a question (below). But first some backstory:\n\nSome time ago I led a weekly Bible study regularly visited by a middle-aged woman. After about a year of near-weekly attendance, she engaged me in a discussion of a book she was in the process of reading. It was written by a Buddhist whom she’d met on several occasions. She called him a ‘holy man’ and suggested I also read the book.\n\nI told her in as plain language as I could, God does not – God cannot – consider any Buddhist, or Muslim, or Hindu, or any non-Christian ‘holy.’ Such an idea is as far removed from Biblical teaching as darkness is from light.\n\nSadly, she never returned to my Bible studies.\n\nAnd now, my question. I ask it because that woman is not the only church-attender who is of the opinion that one does not have to follow Jesus to be holy. Or go to heaven after death.\n\nThe question: Do you believe God considers any person of non-Christian faith to be ‘holy’?\n\nIf you think yes, please support your opinion with Scripture. If you think not, please do likewise. And if you wish to include your church affiliation, I’d be curious to know that, too. Consider this a quick and non-scientific survey during the season we celebrate the incarnation.",
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