Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
I can't answer that question from God's standpoint because I don't know that woman's heart like God does.
When Paul went to Athens ( Acts 17:15-34, probably August AD 50) it is reported that his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the whole city given to idolatry. He went to the synagogue as was his custom since he was a Rabbi and could teach there. He also talked to people in the market/agora. His message in the agora was twofold --Iesous and anastasia (Jesus and the resurrection). Some thought he was teaching a new male and female deity. He was brought to the Areopagus or Mars Hill, a large rock 370 feet high NW of Athens to investigate these "new gods" that Paul seemed to be preaching. Paul had seen altars and monuments to many gods all around him in the city. He even saw one to "the unknown god" (agnosto theo) and he took that as his text. He told them that they were very superstitious/religious and that he was going to tell them about that unknown god they were worshipping. He began there and quoted a few of their poets. They weren't Jews with Scriptures so he couldn't start there. He explained that they didn't realize it but they were worshipping the one true God as "the unknown god." He went on to explain that this unknown god was the creator of all; He didn't need us to carry Him around and feed Him because He was the giver of life and breath; that He is everywhere present all around us; that He made all humankind from one blood; that we are to seek Him; that since we are His offspring He would look like us -not like some kind of an animal; that He had given us freedom but now it was time to seek Him because He was going to raise all humankind from the dead and judge them just like He had raised His son from the dead.
Well, it is my understanding that Paul believed those folks were actually worshiping the one true God as the unknown god. If that was true back then, would it be too great a stretch to say that if a person was taught that there is only one God and His name is Allah, and that person was trying to worship the one true God instead of idols or many gods, the person was really worshiping the one true God in ignorance? |
The Mars Hill story is one of the most fascinating of the bible and opens SO many doors to discussion. Great post!
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