Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!mit-eddie!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ta00est@unccvax.uncc.edu (elizabeth s tallant) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: I'd say that is has more to do with knowing God Spiritually Message-ID: Date: 4 Oct 90 03:39:42 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of NC at Charlotte Lines: 98 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , davidh@tektronix.tek.com (David L Hatcher) writes: > In article timv@cadfx.ccad.uiowa.edu (Timothy VanFosson) writes: > >In an article I posted you added this comment: > >> [This continues an exchange between David Hatcher and Tim Hoogasian > >> on the subject of Christ as the only way. The problem is > >>> there are so many > >>> from other spiritual traditions who also know and live with in > >>> the Grace and Glory of God just as much an *any* Christian does. > >> Both Tim and David seem to believe that there is some need for > >> rethinking what it means to say that Christ is the only way. --clh] > >> I personally know people, including my own husband, who have converted from Judiasm, Islam, and Hinduism who would wholeheartedly and without doubt disagree with this assumption. They will tell you in plain English that "something" was literally missing from inside of them until they became Christians, and that "something" was the Holy Spirit and salvation through Jesus Christ. They will tell you that although they believed in God's existance, they were definately NOT following Him as they should have and they definately did NOT have salvation. Now, there are many people in this world who will never see a Bible and will never enter a church. For example, in Saudia Arabia, one can be jailed for carrying a Bible and teaching the Gospel among the Saudi population. Therefore, most Saudis will never have access to the Bible or Christian teachings. Does that mean that these people will never reach Heaven? Certainly not. The Bible teaches that God has written His laws upon the hearts of (wo)man, therefore, those who do not have access to the written law will be judged differently than those of us who do. Still, we are instructed to spread the Gospel among the nations. Further, those who have the written law (us) will be held responsible for it. The Bible states that Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light. NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME." Anyone who implies other than this statement is without question teaching false doctrine. Anyone who implies that Mohammed, Guru Nanuck, Buddha, or anyone else is the way to Heaven, is, quite simply, WRONG. > In short, when going right to the Godhead, how does one know that > they have reached God through Jesus Christ? What sort of feedback or > spiritual experience lets them know that they are on the right track? > I suppose that everyone has something differnt to contribute here, but for me, I am sure that I know God through Jesus Christ because of what I "feel" inside. Now, I am not talking about feeling like a feeling of emtions, instead, I am talking about actually knowing that a diving being is living inside of me. I don't just "feel" or "think" that Christ is the way, I KNOW He is the way. Furthermore, I can see changes is myself and in my life over which I, by myself have no control. I know that God is making things happen for me. > OK, now to bring the experience of the Divine down here to earth. Those > whom have in some way actually touched God, in the spiritual sense, begin > to manifest a different self. They become changed. They change in a > way that reflects or mirror some aspect of the Divine that they have > touched. This is when the fruit is manifested and can be seen by all. > So in looking ~at~ the fruit, and ~how~ it is manifested, what aspect > of the Divine that is manifested through a Christian *IS NOT* also > manifested with in others of other spiritual paths? > As I mentioned above, those of other religions do not have the same inner peace as do Christians. They live in constant fear that they will go to he--. They do not have salvation, and therefore they fear God's judgement. Also, they do not feel the same love from God that Christians feel. Furthermore, wether they will admit it to you or not, they feel lost. They question "why should I pray five times a day, why should I not eat pork - what do these mechanical actions have to do with serving God?" Yet, this is part of their religion. They have religions of action. Other relgions teach that eternal life or eternal damnation rests upon whether or not they don't eat beef, pork, or whatever. Yet, followers try to obey these rules out of fear for their souls much moreso than out of love for God. While this will no doubt draw criticism from those of other religions, just ask those who have converted to Christianity. They will tell you that their rantings, ravings, and cursing of Jesus were much moreso attempts to reassure themselves tham to convince anyone else. > Question: > There is a difference in the experiences of the > Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Does the > Christian experience those 3 Divine Persons in > 3 distinct ways, or do they experience them > all by a general awareness? Yes and yes. Elizabeth Tallant ta00ext@unccvax.uncc.edu