Continuing the theme of Godism, Peter Sammons considers the genuine question of dialogue and relationship.
RATIONALIZE AWAY THE INCONSISTENCIES
There are two types of modern Godist. In The Empty Promise of Godism I identify the “determined” variety, as being those who have considered at least some of the glaring inconsistencies between The Religions and Christianity, and have rationalized these inconsistencies away (or, more typically, simply ignored then as mere inconveniences).
Then we find the “casual” Godist, who might be thought of as your “average man in the street” and who has not troubled himself to consider the inherent difficulties entailed in Godism, but simply says: “all religions lead to God. It would be unfair if they did not”.
The Empty Promise of Godism defines and analyses Godist beliefs, noting that our world is not (in one sense) anti-God – not in the sense that our world has developed many religions and many people want to have some sort of relationship with the Deity.
CHRIST-AVERSE
This world is, generally speaking, anti-Christ, or Christ-averse. All ‘religions’ supposedly enable their adherents to earn their ‘salvation’ (howsoever that may be understood).
By contrast true Christianity focuses on the spiritual poverty of humankind, averring that Jesus has assuaged the just, and holy, (and yes indeed, loving) wrath of God, and that life in Jesus is a gift that cannot be earned – it must simply be accepted by the penitent sinner.
HONEST DIALOGUE
Dialogue between The Religions and (true) Christianity is both possible, and desirable. The important thing is that there should be a measure of openness about objectives and expectations. To start from the premise that all religions can “learn” from each other may be politically correct, but simply runs counter to the revelation of Jesus Christ. And it runs counter to the whole witness of the Bible, and its exclusive claims for the God of Israel, and the Son of God.
If God has revealed Himself in a multiplicity of different guises, presumably the determined Godist sees deficiencies in all The Religions? But will he, or she, be open about those deficiencies?!
“Are you saying that the people of the Religions are lost or damned, Mr Sammons?” I would not be so bold! Only God can know this and I, for one, am happy to leave eternal questions in His Holy and Righteous and Loving hands. Whilst the Bible does not give a definitive answer to that question, it does graciously allow us to work through the issues aided by the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit, and in His Word revealed.
WHY IS THE SKY GREEN?
When we encounter this particular question (are only Christians saved – its sub-text being ‘you Christians damn everyone else’), perhaps our first response should be “I will be happy to answer your question when you answer me this question – why is the sky green?” If we begin with that widely assumed difficulty about those of The Religions, and their presumed eternal destinies, we are almost certain to reach the wrong answer, because we ask the wrong question!
It is, if you like, a non-sequitur. If we press our question ‘why the sky is green?’, sooner or later some bright spark will provide some sort of reasoned, semi-rational, answer! But whatever their answer, it will be meaningless because the question itself is wrong.
As regards the destiny of those who reject Christ, God does – very graciously – allow us to explore all the issues, biblically, and this is something that we try to do in The Empty Promise of Godism. What God does not allow us to do, however, is to “make it up as we go along”, and declare that everyone will be saved because it would be unfair if they were not.
EMPTY PROMISE – BROKEN BEFORE SPOKEN
The apparent promise of Godism is, in reality, empty. It promises to yield a future of collegiate “understanding” between the Religions – even of peace between The Religions and the nations that host them. A lovely idea, perhaps, but one that most people will recognize is profoundly unrealistic. Western politicians, in particular, are heavily supportive of the underlying philosophy of Godism (and perhaps that should give us some pause for thought!), as a plank in their social cohesiveness ambitions.
But the promise is false. It is broken before it is spoken. The Bible indicates that a time will come when people will gather around them religious “teachers” who will preach what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4: 3) and will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead they will turn aside to myths. Perhaps that time has now arrived as we find, increasingly, clergymen who tell us that all “the higher” Religions are genuine expressions of the Divine plan. This runs counter to the clear teaching of the Bible. And are we not warned to be wary of false teachers? (Matthew 7: 15).
THE GOOD NEWS REMAINS!
The good news is that the good news IS good news! The good news, in spite of all the foregoing, is that our Lord Jesus today is still working. In spite of the decline of Christianity in the West, Christianity is burgeoning in other parts of the World. There is now an expectation that in a few decades, the majority of the world’s national-based Christians will be Chinese – whilst the entire West slips into relative, and now absolute, decline.
(With ageing populations and massive immigration, the West itself is unlikely to prosper – and may not even survive in the way that we understand ourselves today as open, pluralist, and tolerant societies. As some are saying, “your future is Islam”!)
Jesus still offers the gift of New Life, of freedom from sin and from the consequences of sin. Jesus still offers a straight and narrow road that leads to that place of perfect shalom. Jesus does not offer us ‘religion’ – rather He offers relationship! Globally, more and more people are discovering that true Way! The Way of Life! The Way to Life!
Praise God!
© P A Sammons, 2024
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We are heading towards a one-world religion:
https://christiancomment.org/2023/05/22/coming-world-religion/
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The Empty Promise of Godism can be downloaded here as PDF chapters:
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