Jesus' Universal Gospel continued
To say that God will reconcile all of creation is not to say that Jesus' death means nothing or that sin means nothing. If we take the passages that speak of judgment and condemnation and see them as God's pronouncement that evil must not reign does not mean that we cannot affirm God's intention to bring all of creation into a relationship that is healing and restorative.
To say that there is truth to be found in other faith traditions does not mean that each is simply a different road to salvation -- in fact for a Buddhist the Christian understanding of salvation makes little sense -- it's talking about apples and oranges. Each of our religious traditions, the Christian one included, stand under God's judgment. Our practices as Christians are not always in line with the teachings of Jesus. We have done much to betray him. But that does not mean that there is nothing good in my faith tradition.
I do believe that "God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself" and that God is "entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:19).
This passage of scripture has been central to my faith for many years. I continue to look to it for guidance and seek to better understand its meaning. This passage may not be explicitly universal, but I believe that in Paul's statement that God desires to make all things new, that includes each of us.
Paul makes clear that this act of reconciliation is costly for God. Indeed, it is the biblical witness that God's act of redemption, the act of bringing humanity back into relationship involved God's own act of suffering in Christ on the Cross. But, again, this act of reconciliation need not be limited, any more than God's costly grace needs to be limited.
To say that there is truth to be found in other faith traditions does not mean that each is simply a different road to salvation -- in fact for a Buddhist the Christian understanding of salvation makes little sense -- it's talking about apples and oranges. Each of our religious traditions, the Christian one included, stand under God's judgment. Our practices as Christians are not always in line with the teachings of Jesus. We have done much to betray him. But that does not mean that there is nothing good in my faith tradition.
I do believe that "God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself" and that God is "entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:19).
This passage of scripture has been central to my faith for many years. I continue to look to it for guidance and seek to better understand its meaning. This passage may not be explicitly universal, but I believe that in Paul's statement that God desires to make all things new, that includes each of us.
Paul makes clear that this act of reconciliation is costly for God. Indeed, it is the biblical witness that God's act of redemption, the act of bringing humanity back into relationship involved God's own act of suffering in Christ on the Cross. But, again, this act of reconciliation need not be limited, any more than God's costly grace needs to be limited.
Comments
Yes, salvation is universal. And money grows on trees, the moon is made of cheeze, and Santa Claus will bring me a pony for Christmas.