@rickwarren's Tweet on Thursday got me thinking: Some subgroups of Christians will be shocked when they see who is in heaven."I have sheep that arent of this fold"- Jesus
First, I've got nothing against Brother Rick—he once bought me mini doughnuts and a pint of milk, and told me he was a Bapticostal, thereby securing my affections. I'm not even sure exactly where he was going with the Tweet, but I know that the passage he cited has often been interpreted as an inclusivist text:
"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." - John 10:16
On a daily basis, Jesus reveals Himself personally in visions to Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and animists—without the help of a missionary—and they experience radical conversion. But inclusivists believe there may be people in other religions who are saved apart from putting faith in Jesus. In other words, Jesus saves them without their knowledge.
Of course, these are not the Hitlers, Pol Pots or Idi Amins of their respective religions we're talking about here. They are the sweetly ignorant savages who have good hearts but are geographically isolated from the gospel. That would be so cool if it weren't so Pelagian.
Does the context—and the meaning—of John 10:16 really support the idea that people can be saved apart from putting conscious faith in Jesus?
4 comments:
I suspect he was pointing at denominationalism within Christianity...though that is NOT what the verse is pointing to... :-)
I don't think so, but it does remind me of something great from the Simpsons:
"I'm gonna die! Jesus, Allah, Buddha - I love you all!"
Andy, I do remember that quote. Simpsons often does a good job of poking fun at our pluralistic culture.
I'm pretty sure that Jesus is refferencing the Gentiles here...different fold, but still sheep, not goats, and still under the leadership of one shepherd, Jesus Christ.
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