"God intended us to live in harmony with God, with one another, with the rest of God's creation. God's dream was shattered by sin. The alienation just got worse, reaching a kind of climax in the scattering of the peoples in the story of the Tower of Babel when human community became impossible because humans could no longer communicate in a common language. "Jesus, it appears, was quite serious when he said that God was our father and that we belonged all to one family, because in this family all, not some, are insiders. None is an outsider – black and white, yellow and red, rich and poor, educated and not educated, beautiful and not so beautiful, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, all belong, all are held in a divine embrace that will not let us go – all, for God has no enemies. "I have said that God is not a Christian. Some people chewed me up for saying that, but I believe it. Some like to think that we Christians have the duty of protecting God. But I wish these people could meet the Dalai Lama. He is a holy person, incredible. We are the ones who keep trying to put limits on God, but God gives the incredible gift of grace.""Bishop" Desmond Tutu has made a very - obvious - point. Of course God is not a Christian. God is Christ. Apparently, when man sinned, God was tearing His hair out trying to figure out what to do. It crushed His dream! No, the Bible says that Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. The plan of redemption was God's plan from the beginning because it would result in the maximum glory to Him. And apparently God has no enemies. I suppose, then, that these verses don't mean anything:
I am not the one who is saying this. God's Word is the defining factor here. Where does the Bible say that "Buddhists, Hindus, [and] atheists" are held in God's "embrace"? The Bible says that if you have not called on the name of Christ, you are condemned already! God's Word tells us that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is one name given under heaven by which men can be saved." (Acts 4:12) This is not about my opinion. The fact is, by trying to "not condemn" people (a philosophy that I am sure Mr. Tutu would adhere to), we are in faccondemningng them to Hell. If we are too chicken to tell people what God's Word says, then we are sending them to Hell in a handbasket. So do you think I am being too harsh and this guy is pretty close to the truth? You tell me. In Him, David S. MacMillan III"May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before him." (Psalm 68:1) " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ' " (Matthew 22:44)
5 comments:
Tutu is correct in that God is Creator and Lord of all, and that he has no enemies BECAUSE of race or heritage or location or ethnic background. See, generally, Paul's sermons in Acts.
Secondly, he has no enemies remaining outside his Lordship. See 1 Cor. 15:23-28.
In this sense, he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:27)
What has to keep us all from God is sin. Not least is unbelief. Unbelief is calling God a false witness in the testimony he has given us about his Son. Call it defamation, breach of good faith, homicide, etc. We've committed it against God.
Still, do you think he loves those of his elect who are already Christians more than those who have yet to become Christians? Yes, God's wrath is over them, but it doesn't land because of his mercy in keeping them alive until he finally grants them repentance.
To these, I would hope Tutu agrees. But he sounds like a person who would agree to anything to win a convert. Or at least an ally.
So, the "divine embrace" idea I would point to providence and Lordship, as well as the offer of salvation.
The one thing that blows my mind is how you can call the Lama "holy" in any objective sense. Maybe in the sense of posturing, or in his moral dealings with fellow men. I'm sure he is a grand person... maybe like Abimelech of Philistia, or Joseph's father-in-law the priest of On, or Gov. Festus.... But he's still worshiping idols. That shows selfishness, stubborn ignorance, and ingratitude, withholding glory from God. Ok, for some more perspective on the Lama, read this from one of Randy Alcorn's novels. http://epm.org/articles/safelyhome_dalai-lama.html
You make some very good points about the errors in this man's beliefs. I don't think you're being too harsh.
I agree with you on this (but I do have to exclude myself from the Dalai Lama-as-holy statement, as I have seen him speak and have read his books. Humble, perhaps, if you can see past the part where he thinks he is the Buddha incarnate). I've been reading Jim Wallis' "God's Politics" and I have been blessed. I haven't read through your whole blog, but I see a couple similarities in your approach to understand how to truly follow Christ.
Thanks!
I asked my invisible friend Maurice who is never wrong, and he says "That all people goto heaven, and that you are in general wrong"
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