Neighbors in the Kingdom

Is our faith one of exclusion or inclusion?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."- John 14:6-7

One of the most often quoted verses in the New Testament is the first of these two, which has Jesus saying emphatically that he is the way to the father.

This statement causes a dilemma for many of us, because we want to be inclusive.  We want all to share in the joy we feel knowing and following Christ, but we also don't want anyone left behind.

It is the belief that there is only one door to the kingdom that gives rise to evangelism, which is not necessarily a bad thing, though many see it that way today.  It is the way of the right, which doesn't mean it is the Right way all the time.

When we share our faith with those who have none, we contribute to the process of healing and we help Jesus lead those people to salvation.

But when we seek to tear down the faith of others simply because it is not the same as our own, what are we accomplishing?

Jesus told his disciples he has prepared a place for them.  All who follow me, he tells them, will be led to that place.  But does that mean there are no other places for those who don't follow him?

We believe that he and God are one, and that sets us apart from non-Christians.  Jesus gives us a unique connection with God in this regard, closer than the connections God's people have had in the past, through the prophets, and perhaps even closer than those who follow prophets that came after him.

I do not say this to discount or nullify the the paths those prophets revealed to the people.  It could be that all are valid, though not for everyone.

So, in believing that all faiths can lead true followers to the "rooms" in the Kingdom that are prepared for them, one can share in the understanding of his faith with members of other faiths, and vice versa, without threat or condemnation.

Is that a cop out?

I don't believe it is.  Personally, I feel God felt He needed to come to be among us, not because we are a special group, selected to be closer to Him than all others, but because we were not finding our way to Him by any means.

And that is our mission as Christians, to find the lost sheep and offer them the way back.

So, imagine this.  A Jew, a Muslim and a Christian sit down with someone who has no faith, no hope, no connection with God.  Each shares his or her faith in turn, and each explains that for them, this is the real deal, the true path.

If when all three are done, the individual chooses to follow one, have we not saved a lost sheep?

We could be doing exactly what Jesus commanded Peter to do, feeding his sheep, but while we are caught up in which "food" is best, the sheep drifts away seeking a different place to graze.

We need to be Interfaith Citizens, working together for the salvation of all relationships with God, for we may find we are all neighbors in that mansion in the Kingdom.

More to come...