Running "ask a zealot" thread

Can someone who is trying to be a decent person, can that person be doing God's work?

 

Is the question, can a non-Christian be doing God's work by doing good?
If so, there are really two answers.
First, yes. As I said before, God can use anyone. If you remember the story of Jonah and the whale, he was fleeing because he didn't want to prophesy to Ninevah. That's how he ended up swallowed by the whale, which led to his going to Ninevah. Throughout the story, he acts like a spoiled child who doesn't want to do what his father asks him to, but he eventually grudgingly does it.
There is no doubt non-Christians have done great things throughout history. I believe God used Ghandi, for example (though not against his will, mind you).
But to get to an even more important answer, I don't think that matters. Doing God's will is a wonderful thing. So is being a good person. Neither has any bearing on your after-life destination.

 

I don't think any religion has more credibility than Christianity. I don't think any religion has less credibility, either. I believe that if God created the world and everyone in it, it would be petty and small minded for that God to choose favourites. God would reveal Herself to all of her creation, not just some of it.

The problem is that religion is not of God. Religion is man made. God is God and that is enough. The need to codify and explain is human.

 

By the way, if you're simply asking if trying to do good is doing God's will, then I'd say usually yes. God wants us to take care of each other. It's just that often his will gets much more specific.

 

So, in your opinion, is Ghandi in hell?

 

God HAS revealed Himself to all of creation. His evidence is around us all the time.
I believe the relationship between God and mankind was initiated by him. There are traditions that are man-made (and those always go awry), but He reached out to us because He wanted us to know Him. We'll just have to agree to disagree on that point, I'm guessing.

 

Call it a sidestep if you want, but I refuse to offer my opinion on who is in Hell. I know nothing about the relationship between God and Ghandi.
I will say I believe Ghandi was a much better person than I am and much more deserving of a spot in Heaven.

 

You may be right. But would you consider the possibility that God has reached out to mankind using languages and images that communicate to different cultures? That all of them are valid?

 

Much more deserving than many, I suspect. But he didn't acknowledge the sacrifice of Christ since he was a practicing Hindu.

 

I have considered that. I wish it were true. However, I can't understand why the death of Jesus would be necessary if we could attain salvation any other way.
There are some great things in all the major religions, but only Christianity has a way to truly atone for our sin. That's an important distinction.

 

Only if you buy the notion that we're inherently sinful.

 

Just wanted to note that this thread has been very useful so far. Thanks.