I posed a question last night....?

Question

And while that majority of people seemed to understand what I was saying, I have a question for some of the Christians that answered. If your father was Jewish, on his deathbed would you really be trying to "show him the Truth", or would you allow him to make his own peace with God? I am sorry in advance if anyone is offended. Anyone who is not of this mindset please feel free to answer the other question...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiXXrNNdpJtrbAkMCLKKcGrsy6IX?qid=20060714204148AAX1C6a

Answer 1

I read your first question from the link you provided, and understand what you mean by this one.

While most people who answered chose either one or the other, much depends on the relationship between you and your father, and circumstances in that relationship and the love you have for him.

While there are MANY Christians (and others) who believe being compassionate might be the ONLY answer, being truthful might, in its own way, be a form of compassion also.

I know it's hard to understand, but your questions set up a dilema in my mind... Do you tell the truth, knowing what you know IS the truth, and wanting to share and CARE for the soul of a man you love.....or do you let him think as he does, allowing him to go with God as he believes is the only way?

There is NO easy answer to this....but to look at this in yet another way....

God is called by many many names, He abounds in MANY religions, and each country, each religion, each people have their own name for the one Almighty Being. I call him God....my friend calls him Jehovah...yet another calls him Buddah....but in MY mind, He is all three, and so many more! What your father believes, for him, IS the truth....and if you understand that despite HOW we pray, or practice our religion, even Allah is the SAME God you worship, as Jehovah and Buddah are. Know he loves God, and his worshipping practices, although different from yours, end up with the same results, exhaulting the ONE God this world has.

And isn't that all that counts? God knows He is all things to different people....your father's beliefs are his way of worshipping....as yours are yours, and mine are mine.....

Let your father live, and die as he believes, because God knows your father's heart is exactly where it needs to be, for him.

Answer 2

No...it's a really good question. There's not a Christian on this planet who knows God's whole Truth nor who has made perfect peace with God.

In that sense, a Christian is no different from an Atheist, a Jew, or a Democrat (ooops.)

All religions hold some element of the truth...for better or worse...even Satan "worshipers" know some element of the Truth...after all, there's a dark side to it.

So as far a Jew is concerned, he's lived his life faithful to the True God as best he could. That's all God asks. (God didn't "choose" the Jews because he wanted them grandfathered into Hell.)

Stillborn children don't get the basement apartment either.

I'm Catholic and this is pretty much the Church's teaching on this issue.

One exercise I do to TRY and understand God's incredible capacity for forgiveness and justice is to ask myself this question...regardless of how hard it is for the human mind to fathom: Could it be possible that Hitler in his last moments repented of his evil ways and is now in Heaven? Or is it possible that Mother Teresa cursed God on her deathbed and is now in Hell?

These are terrible questions...but can any human being ever know for certain the answers to them?

Answer 3

No one should force anything on anyone against their free will. However, there is nothing wrong with sincerely presenting "the truth" to someone and praying that they will eventually understand. We are only to present the truth and live by it. Part of that truth says that no man comes to the father except that the Holy Spirit draws him.. So all we can do is present what we know, and then God has to do the rest. To intentionlly withhold truth would also be wrong, and unfair to the person, who might eventually consider the truth if it were presented.

Answer 4

While, as a Christian Pastor, I know that no man comes to the Father but through Jesus Christ I have to say the following;

I know a number of Jewish men and women and in all honesty they seem to have a much deeper understanding of who God is and what God's will is.
While I have studied for years i am amazed at the depth of knowledge that is held by many Jewish Rabbi's.

Personally I would let him die in peace and contemplation of the God of my fathers.

Answer 5

I didn't answer you last night, but I will now. "If" but is not so I can't go for that one. But your earlier question; it's best to be informed then leave them in peace. God says not to argue, you simply let them know what it is and go to pray for them and let God take care of the rest. My family has seen a change in me and my life is living proof what it is to have Christ. Yes we are human and yes we are imperfect, but it's what you do when you fall that matters. I don't walk around telling people you're going to hell. I let them ask me what makes me look the way I do in the middle of the storm, and they want what I have which is peace and joy.

Answer 6

I don't beleive in telling anyone that they are not the correct religion. I HATE PEOPLE THAT DO THIS. I have people in my family from Moonie to Catholicism. They have all tried to change my religion.

I would prefer on my father's deathbed to tell my Dad that I loved him. My Dad did not go to church but he taught us right from wrong and was a wonderful example of a human being.

It is God's right to judge others, not ours.

Answer 7

of course i would let him make his peace i would never keep anyone from that Jesus was a Jew there is not anything wrong with being a Jew they have the same father as i do in heaven we are still brothers and sisters in the kingdom of heaven Jews are Gods chosen people if you say you Love God but you hate your brother you are a liar and there will be no liars in the kingdom of heaven God Bless You.

Answer 8

The death bed should be a place of peace, not of trying to convince the dying person that they were wrong while they were living; it is a time to make memories, not to make anger and remorse. The person should leave this life with a calm and accepting mind, not with worry and strife.

Answer 9

If I knew my family wasnt saved and was on their death bed, yes I would witness to them. But if you really think about it, all of us are on our death beds. We were born to die, but Jesus gave me a birth to live. It is better to know you witnessed to your father before he died then to not do a thing. Cause what if what you say makes a difference. I dont mean go cram God down His throat. Ask Go what you should say, and let Him speak through you. When God does it he does it right.

Answer 10

I would not be talking about religion to him on his deathbed, I would make our last moments together as happy as I could for him. I would remind him how much I love him, and how much he means to me