WHEN CHRISTIANS GET IT WRONG Christians and Other

WHEN CHRISTIANS GET IT WRONG Christians and Other Religions

What insights did you gain from rating your beliefs? What are some of your 5’s?

CHRISTIANITY ISLAM HINDUISM JUDAISM BUDDHISM OTHER SOME ALL NONE In terms of who gets eternal life, one of the above has to be correct. Suppose after you die, you find that Islam was correct, how would you want God to treat you? Taking your answer to the above question, how do you think God should treat non. Christians?

There is nothing wrong with Christians sharing their faith with people belonging to another faith. The problem is when Christians share their faith in ways that are arrogant, disrespectful, hurtful, insulting and insensitive. So how would you share your faith with someone of another faith and what would be your purpose in sharing your faith with that person?

Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reasons behind your faith and the hope that you have, but do it with gentleness and respect.

Three views to answer the question of the fate of faithful Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Christian Exclusivism Christian Universalism Christian Inclusivism

Christian Exclusivism In its harshest form this view excludes from heaven any who have never heard the good news of Jesus Christ.

According to his view, human beings are born contaminated by sin. Sin separates us from God cannot admit persons who are still sinful into heaven. God made a sacrificial offering of His Son to save us from sin and death. One has to accept Jesus as their Savior.

What is your view on the doctrine of original sin? Jesus said nothing about it , nor is the doctrine found in Judaism. In the New Testament, it is only found in the teachings of Paul. Read Romans 5: 12 -21

The doctrine began to be developed by the 2 ndcentury Bishop Iraneaus in a controversy with the Gnostics. It was in the West that precise definition of the doctrine arose where it was considered that mankind shares in Adam's sin. This was led by Augustine.

Opposition to Augustine's ideas about original sin arose rapidly voiced particularly by the Pelagians. After a long and bitter struggle the general principles of Augustine's teaching were confirmed within Western Christianity by many councils, especially the 2 nd Council of Orange in 529 CE.

John Calvin (1500’s) believed that humans inherit Adamic guilt and are in a state of sin from the moment of conception. John Wesley said Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually

The doctrine of Augustine and Calvin excludes infants who had not been baptized, those with mental disabilities who did not receive Christ, And those who never had a chance to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Do you agree with this? If so, then you probably you would belong to the Christian Exclusivist group. Stances on this doctrine have softened over the years.

Christian Universalism The main idea here is that for those who don’t understand or have not made sense of the Gospel, but who have sought God, this very expression of seeking God is an expression of faith.

This view suggests that ALL persons will ultimately be reconciled to God and go to heaven. Hell is a temporary place, for redemption not punishment. Removes freedom to reject God, resist God’s grace, reject God’s will, do things God abhors, ie you get in no matter how evil you are. How do you feel about this view?

Christian Inclusivism We are saved by God’s initiative, because of God’s love, God’s righteousness, God’s kindness, and God’s mercy.

Jesus is the Son of God. Salvation to the world is made through Jesus Christ. Salvation can be given by God regardless of whether an individual personally knows Jesus Christ. The gift is based on God’s criteria.

Human beings do nothing to merit salvation, it is a gift of God’s grace. Our part is simply faith and trust. Those who came before the time of Jesus were also save by faith. Read Hebrews 11: 1 -13

In the NT, grace refers to God’s kindness, love, care, work on our behalf, blessings, gifts, goodness, and salvation and it is all undeserved. Paul tells us how salvation works. Read Ephesians 2: 4 -9 How do you feel about the Christian Inclusivist view?

Three views to answer the question of the fate of faithful Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Christian Exclusivism Christian Universalism Christian Inclusivism Which view do you prefer and why?

Why do you want to share the Gospel with others? Others who belong to a different faith? Others who do not believe in God? Others who have fallen away from the church?

Do you think one should become a Christian to avoid going to hell? Do you think one should become a Christian to get a ticket to heaven?

The author says that he tells others about Jesus not because he is afraid that God will eternally torment them in hell if he doesn’t, but because he believes that in Jesus we see God who God is and who we are meant to be.

The author says he tells others about Jesus because Jesus teaches us about love, mercy, and the grace of God.

The author says he tells others about Jesus because in Christ, we hear the good news of God’s sacrificial love, of forgiveness of sins, and the hope of everlasting life.

The author says the he tells others about Jesus because he wants them to know that God already loves them and that becoming a Christian has changed his life.

Do you understand the difference in this approach to sharing your faith as opposed to coming across as judgmental? Which way offers you the best chance of having others listen to you when you want to share the Gospel with them?

We need to be accepting of others where they are not where we want them to be. We need to show respect to people of other faiths, listen to them, learn from them, and humbly share our faith with them. THAT’S WHEN CHRISTIANS GET IT RIGHT!!