Luke 18:8 However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
| Desmond Tutu, retired Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, says heaven is for Buddhists and all “good people.†Speaking at the Alliance of Civilizations awards ceremony in Cape Town on October 8 he said, “Most of us think God is a Christian, but if you think that God is going to tell the Dalai Lama ‘you’re a good person, but sorry you’re not a Christian’ then (I say) rubbish†(News24, South Africa, Oct. 7, 2007). |
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I’m no fan of Desmond Tutu. This “bishop” is in the line of so many Episcopalians and Anglicans who are just nominal Christian, because it is part of their cultural backgroung. And this goes for Christians of all sorts, even Orthodox, Phil. 🙂 For them the way of the Cross is solely to do social work and to help the poor which are indeed noble and pursuits to which we are called by our Lord Jesus Christ to do. But they make those the essence of the Faith while allowing for all sorts of diverse teachings which are contrary to our Lord’s teaching.
Nonetheless, I have to agree somewhat with what he says. He shouldn’t be making this statement in the first place, mind you, because salvation is simply not something for us to speculate on regarding those who are “outside” the Church.
God can save whomever He wishes. Why do Christians (again talkig about all sorts here) persistently have to go out and say who’s in and who’s out like Heaven is some sort of country club? I prefer to leave my salvation and the salvation of others in the hands of God. Am I still a believing Orthodox Christian? Yes, though a poor one, to be sure. Will I stop? No. Will I ever depend upon my own merits and hope God takes notice? Of course not. That is sure folly. But will I worry about whether my neighbor is saved? No, but what I will do (hopefully) is treat him, pray for him still and serve him well because I see that he is an icon of Christ as we all are since He fashioned us.
One thing though that I do know; everyone in heaven will be an Orthodox Christian. Those atheists, Buddhists, Catholics, Taoists, Muslims, Methodists, Lutherans, Jews, etc whom God has chosen to save, once they gaze upon the height of the heavenly glory, will become Orthodox in belief.
Desmond Tutu should focus on his job which is to pastor his flock and not make radical diversity statements about how everyone is good and that God wouldn’t cast anyone out. At the same time, we must realize, that salvation is not ours to mete out for God. He is quite capable of doing that on His own. Let us live and follow the way of our Lord, Jesus Christ calling upon His Holy Name for our salvation.
Chris,
I am surprised by your comments. Although it seems arrogant to say so, the church does have the role of deciding who is in and who is out. It is not arrogant, because God has given this role to the church.
Matthew 16:18-19 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
And you must clarify, are you saying that some of other faiths will become orthodox at the Lord’s return,or while still living on this earth?
Phil,
Again, the point I am trying to make is that no one, no hierarch, no priest, no layman, no heretic noone whosever has the power to say, “you’re in” or “you’re out.” That was the difference. I am saying that NO INDIVIDUAL has that power.
I think I also have to clarify what the Church is. The Church is a hospital whose life-giving Mysteries are given to heal the sins which we have committed and to transform us to go forth to do the Lord’s work both here and in the life of the world to come.
I am fully aware what Christ said to Peter and I am also aware of what He said before He ascended into heaven insturcting his apostles in the forgiveness of sins and that whatever was unforgiven would remain so. But Christ is speaking to the Church, not to individuals. My post was to say that individuals had not this responsiblity.
I am not saying other faiths, but other persons, will become Orthodox in the life of the world to come. I am not saying that God will take what is Orthodox in Islam or Lutheranism or Catholicism or Buddhism or Judaism and make that faith Orthodox (for there is only one Faith, one Baptism, etc.), but those individuals will become Orthodox. When will that happen? Ask God, not me.