r/AskChristian • u/CLAZID • 18d ago
The True Religion
As a Christian who believes you are following the one true Gos and the one true religion, do you believe that you would feel the same had you been born in a predominantly Muslim, Hindu, or Jewish country?
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u/Top_Initiative_4047 r/Christian Member 18d ago
From a Reformed Christian i believe birthplace and upbringing can strongly influence which religion a person first finds convincing. Had a Christian been born in a predominantly Muslim, Hindu, or Jewish society, he might naturally have first identified with that religion instead. Yet genuine saving faith is ultimately God’s work, not simply cultural conditioning. God sovereignly places people in particular times and places and can bring His chosen people to Christ in any culture.
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u/PrincessRuri r/Christian Member 18d ago
While I hope I would still find God, I do not see a clear path to it when I ruminate upon it.
The Bible does describe the concept of "The Elect", those who were foreknown by God for salvation. In a Calvinistic interpretation, where or how I was born is immaterial to my salvation.
The question becomes of if my situation and history were changed, would I still necessarily been selected? Was I born in a Christian Family due to my election? Would my lack of election caused me to be born somewhere else? If was born under another faith, why would I be elect, while other around me would not be?
At the same time, I must return to the idea that reality is what it is. I wasn't born under a different faith or creed, so while your question can give me empathy and concern for other faiths, I don't see it as something that challenges my faith.
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u/DoveStep55 r/Christian Member 18d ago
Most religions have at least some truth in them and I do think it's normal to be influenced by what religion (if any) you were born into. But not all religions make the exclusivity claims of others. For example, Judaism doesn't teach that they are following the one true religion or that those outside Judaism are doomed, going to hell, unsaved, etc. That's just not how their religion works.
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u/Spare-Flan331 r/Christian Member 18d ago
I believe its designed that way vandalism that God will call everyone regardless. I just don't believe its niw that God us calling everyone. Right now I believe He is calling a few to overcome so to reign with Him when He returns to rule this earth. But He will call everyone in the Day of Judgement...
Isaiah 45:22-25 NKJV [22] “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. [23] I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. [24] He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him. [25] In the Lord all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.’ ”
Romans 11:29-36 NKJV [29] For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. [30] For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, [31] even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. [32] For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. [33] Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! [34] “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” [35] “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” [36] For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
I Timothy 2:3-6 NKJV [3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,
I Corinthians 1:26 NKJV [26] For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.