Can non-Christians react to God's love with love?

[avertist]

Hello everyone, I've been investigating Orthodoxy for a few months now, and I have a question regarding the idea of heaven and hell being defined by accepting or rejecting God's love (as is described in River of Fire). Does Orthodoxy teach that a person reacts to God's love with acceptance if and only if one is Christian? That is, suppose there's a Muslim or something who happens to have made central to his/her faith the same idea of God's love that Orthodox do. Could this person then react to God's love with love? Or is this the wrong thing to ask, because the idea of "God's love" in question is exclusive to Orthodoxy?

[countrymouse33ad]

The idea of God's love is not exclusive to Orthodoxy; neither do we believe that we have some kind of monopoly on God's grace. While only the Orthodox Church has the fullness of the truth, other Christians have some truth, also, and we don't pass judgment on whether they truly love God or not. Even outside Christendom you find the idea that we should love our neighbors and treat others as we would like to be treated. It may be that God holds each one responsible for the truth he's had, but that's only a guess on my part.

[Monica, child of God]

In order to answer this we would need to do two things: 1) know men’s hearts and 2) know the mind of God. We can do neither, therefore we must plead ignorance as to what will happen on the day of Judgement and concentrate on our own salvation.

...Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law,...they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:14-16


Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Cor. 4:5

Blessings!
Monica

[Orthosdoxa]

Good answers, ladies.

Welcome to TAW, friend. :wave:

[blakesto]

Hello everyone, I've been investigating Orthodoxy for a few months now, and I have a question regarding the idea of heaven and hell being defined by accepting or rejecting God's love (as is described in River of Fire). Does Orthodoxy teach that a person reacts to God's love with acceptance if and only if one is Christian? That is, suppose there's a Muslim or something who happens to have made central to his/her faith the same idea of God's love that Orthodox do. Could this person then react to God's love with love? Or is this the wrong thing to ask, because the idea of "God's love" in question is exclusive to Orthodoxy?

My priest likes to tell this story about a guy who asks a monk this same question. The guy asking the question sets up a hypothetical person who is Buddhist but is earnestly seeking the truth. The monk says "he will enter Paradise, but he will be blind."

[gord96]

interesting

[avertist]

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. Monica, what you said in 2) seems to imply that Orthodox also cannot be sure about their own salvation. Is this actually the case or am I misunderstanding something?

[Orthosdoxa]

No, you are correct, Avertist. Unlike some Protestant groups, we understand salvation to be a journey, not an event. And because God gives us free will, there is always the chance that we will not finish the journey. We must never be so proud as to think we have it all together, or are so pious, because we are all sinners.

[avertist]

Right, that is one of the most common accusations I've heard levied against Orthodoxy (as well as Roman Catholicism), that "they think Jesus isn't enough." What is the Orthodox response to this?

[Orthosdoxa]

My answer: They're wrong. :)

St. Paul exhorted the Philipians to "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling". That leaves no room for the idea that salvation is an instant magic thing that we "get" by saying the right prayer.

Salvation is not by faith OR by works. It is by God's grace. But we must actively receive it, all our lives. He will never force Himself on us, for that is slavery, not love.

[Monica, child of God]

Right, that is one of the most common accusations I've heard levied against Orthodoxy (as well as Roman Catholicism), that "they think Jesus isn't enough." What is the Orthodox response to this?


Avertist,

Let’s look at the words of the God that we worship:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13

The important thing to remember is that we are never alone in working out our salvation. We are simply joining God in His work. “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." --1 Corinthians 3:9 We must prepare the soil of our hearts to recieve God’s word so that it will bear fruit in our lives. We do this by laying aside earthly cares and distractions, avoiding sin and tempation and when we do stumble, confessing it and repenting of it. We must build the house of our faith on the foundation of Christ. Not by our own blood and sweat alone but by allowing the grace of God to change us and work through us.

Scripture speaks of salvation in past, present and future tenses. Peter says in his first epistle, verse 9 “you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” This is a process that will not end until the last day. Jesus said, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.” --Matthew 10:22

Read the parables of Christ: the wise and foolish virgins, the soil, the talents, etc. They all speak of the necessity of our vigilance in holding to God’s word and ridding ourselves of anything that may oppose it’s growth. “If a man cleanses himself...he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
2 Timothy 2:21

"But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy– to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." --Jude

Yes, Amen Amen.

Monica

[avertist]

Thanks to both of you for the responses and the Scriptural references. I much prefer the idea of salvation as a process than an event, but being relatively new to the idea I'm not very good yet at justifying it in a way acceptable to Protestants who shun virtually anything not in the Bible. :)

[blakesto]

Right, that is one of the most common accusations I've heard levied against Orthodoxy (as well as Roman Catholicism), that "they think Jesus isn't enough." What is the Orthodox response to this?

The whole "you don't think Jesus is enough?" thing is pretty annoying because you can say the same thing to many Protestants who accuse the RC and EO of that. "Why do you have to believe in order to be forgiven? You don't think Jesus is enough?"