Citizen Columns

Citizen Columns >> Answer (October 28th, 2006)

Question

Is it possible not to follow a particular religion and still go to heaven or please God?

Answer

The answer depends on what you are following. For Christians Jesus Christ is the model we have for understanding what it is to lead a life that is pleasing to God. Does this mean everyone must be a Christian? Some would say yes, and there continue to be debates about the degree of inclusivity/exclusivity the Christian faith teaches. Orthodox Christians believe that God has revealed himself "in many and various" ways, and this includes many of the teachings of other religions and philosophies, and the examples given by holy and just men and women of all cultures. But we still claim that the fullness of God's revelation to human beings has come in the person of Jesus Christ. And this is an affront to some. We would also say that to the extent any person-regardless of their worldview-practices the way of life demonstrated by Jesus-love of God, self-sacrificial love of neighbour and love of enemies for example-to that extent they are pleasing to God. In fact, how we treat others is the criterion Jesus gives for judgment of our lives (Matthew 25). This may exclude many of us who call ourselves Christian. In any case, the judgment is not ours but God's, who alone can look at hearts.

The lesson that Jesus consistently demonstrated was that he is capable of looking beyond the boundaries of conventional religion to see people who are pleasing to God. He told his disciples that a pagan Canaanite woman had more faith than he had seen in them or anywhere else. When he looked for an example of the goodness and mercy he was seeking, he singled out a Samaritan heretic. And while his disciples left him to die on the cross, he told a thief crucified next to him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

Father John Jillions