Can we have world peace?

[wordsower]

The following is part of an article that was sent to my personal e-mail address.  It is over 50 pages long so I haven't posted it all.  In a day when holy war is being proclaimed on us in the name of god, I think it is important that we understand exactly who we define as being God and remember that Jesus said He did not come to bring peace, but the sword.  World peace is an illusion not to be fulfilled until the Prince of Peace returns:

In recent years Pope John Paul II has worked hard to woo

Mecca to Rome. In May 2001 the pope made history by becoming the

first Catholic leader to set foot into a mosque and participate in an

organized prayer service.  The symbolic meeting took place when the

Pope entered the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

This mosque has significance for both Muslims and Christians. For

Muslims it is the oldest stone mosque in the world, while for

Christians it is the alleged place where John the Baptist was

buried.  

The Pope led in Christian prayers, while his Moslem

counterpart, Sheikh Ahmed Kataro, led in Moslem prayers. By this

dramatic act of worshipping in a mosque, the Pope underlined his

commitment to work toward a rapprochement with the Muslims.

Twelve days after the horrors of September 11, 2001, the Pope

renewed his commitment to work toward a new partnership with Moslems

in his message to  the predominantly Muslim nation of Kazakhstan. The

Pope declared: "'There is one God'. The Apostle proclaims before all

else the absolute oneness of God. This is a truth which Christians

inherited from the children of Israel and which they share with

Muslims: it is faith in the one God, 'Lord of heaven and earth'

(Lk.10:21), almighty and merciful. In the name of this one God, I

turn to the people of deep and ancient religious traditions, the

people of Kazakhstan."1

The Pope then appealed to both Muslims and Christians to work

together to build  a "civilization of love":  "This 'logic of love'

is what he [Jesus] holds out to us, asking us to live it above all

through generosity to those in need. It is a logic which can bring

together Christians and Muslims, and commit them to work together for

the 'civilization of love'. It is a logic which overcomes all the

cunning of this world and allows us to make true friends who will

welcome us 'into the eternal dwelling-places' (Lk.16:9), into the

'homeland' of heaven."2

In his final prayer, the Pope again appealed for Christians

and Muslims to work together side by side in fulfilling God's will:

"And in this celebration we want to pray for Kazakhstan and its

inhabitants, so that this vast nation, with all its ethnic, cultural

and religious variety, will grow stronger in justice, solidarity and

peace. May it progress on the basis in particular of cooperation

between Christians and Muslims, committed day by day, side by side,

in the effort to fulfil God's will."3

In spite of the catastrophic events of September 11th, the

Pope is still committed to work toward a partnership with the

Muslims.   The basis of this partnership is the belief that Catholics

and Muslims worship the same God of Abraham.

This belief is clearly expressed in the new official

Catechism of the Catholic Church, which speaks of the new Catholic

relationship with the Muslims in these terms: "The plan of salvation

also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place

amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of

Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God,

mankind's judge on the last day."4

The Catechism continues affirming  that "The Church has also

a high regard for the Muslims. They worship God, who is one, living

and subsistent, merciful and almighty, the Creator of heaven and

earth, who has also spoken to men. They strive to submit themselves

without reserve to the hidden decrees of God, just as Abraham

submitted himself to God's plan, whose faith Muslims eagerly link to

their own. Although not acknowledging him as God, they venerate Jesus

as a prophet, his virgin Mother they also honor, and even at times

devotedly invoke. Further, they await the day of judgment and the

reward of God following the resurrection of the dead. For this reason

they highly esteem an upright life and worship God, especially by way

of prayer, alms-deeds and fasting."5

It is evident that the Catholic estimation of Islam has

undergone a fundamental change from the religion of "infidels" to

that of believers who worship the same God of Abraham.  While in the

past the Catholic Church denounced Islam as an evil religion to be

suppressed by crusades (Holy War), today  she welcomes and affirms

Muslims as having the same faith of Abraham as herself.

[Guest Shilo]

Very good post....I knew that the pope believed in the same god as the muslims and the hindus...so that leaves them not to believe in the God of Israel...how sad  :butbut:

[Guest astralis]

Your beliefs are extra-Biblical.  God looked upon His creation and said it was good.  I still believe that.

[Guest Xan]

How does the pope reconcile the fact Muslims believe Jesus is a dead prophet?  If the only way to the Father is through the Son and Muslims don't believe in the Son, then how are they saved?

[Guest astralis]

They aren't and the Pope knows that and has said that.

But, what about people who have never had the chance to know who Jesus is? Think about the children who have no exposure.  Will they go to heaven?

[Lanakila]

Astralis this is not based on feelings. I don't want people who have never heard to go to hell either, but Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by Him. Narrow is the path that leads to eternal life, and wide is the path that leads to destruction. I am posting scriptures not feelings.

Romans 10:9-15 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

11.  As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

12.  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,

13.  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

14.  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

15.  And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

This passage among others teach that the heathen (unbelievers are lost) and we are commanded to tell them the truth. If the heathen are going to heaven before we tell them, the truth will just condemn those who reject it, right? They would be better off not knowing. The Great Commission is good news, not bad, so your reasoning is off.

[munari]

What the Church is saying is that if the Muslims are TRULY ignorant of Christ and do not know the Truth and are not freely rejecting Truth with and understanding of what Truth is, then there is a chance that they can be saved, and if they are saved, it is salvation through Christ, even if they do not believe in Him. Just knowing Jesus' name does not mean that one knows what He did for us.

I think the Muslims (for the most part) can be categorized into the group mentioned here:

2 Peter 2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

The Muslims do not know and most have never known "the way of righteousness". That chapter also speaks more on the topic, but that verse in particular was what I thought of.

[wordsower]

Are we suppose to fellowship, even pray with them?

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not be partakers with them.  For you were once indarkness but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth, proving what is acceptable to the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."

Ephesians 5:6-11.

Astralis, regarding those who do not know:  Luke 12:48--But he who did not know, yet committed things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few.

[For Him Alone]

astralis, those who died having not heard the gospel get the same chance for redemption as those who died Before our Savior came.

[Guest astralis]

FHA,

 And it is through Christ's redemption that it can happen.