Thursday, April 18, 2024

Who Is In and Who Is Out?

Who is in and who is out? I grew up in a church culture that believed everyone who was not like us and believed like us were out. Out of whatever the eternal goal might be. As I think about that attitude now, it seems arrogant. I was taught from John 3:16 that God loves the world. Does that mean God really does not love the entire world; just my part of it. I now think it is entirely possible that God’s Spirit, which blows wherever it wants to blow according to the Christian scriptures (John 3:8), might have been the inspirer for Mohammed, Buddha, Lao Taz, the tribal leaders in Africa and Native Americans, etc. We are not in control of God’s Spirit to do whatever that Spirit chooses to do. I think it is wise to let God be the one to decide who is in and who is out; not me, because my vision is too narrow and exclusive, although I am trying with the Spirit’s help to enlarge that vision.