From: mussack@innerdoor.austin.ibm.com (Christopher Mussack)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Dodd and Gandi
Date: 22 Jan 93 08:42:36 GMT

Bill Mayne asks a pertinent question:
> (Christopher Mussack) [me] writes:
> >
> >I think there are people who "follow Christ" who have rejected
> >"Christianity."
> 
> Thomas Jefferson, for example? Are you claiming that someone who
> believes only in some of the ethical teachings of usually
> associated with Jesus (which are by no means unique among religions
> and philosophies) but specifically rejects the theological
> dogma of Christianity is "following Christ" and might be saved,
> according to Biblical standards? Or do you have some extra-Biblical
> standard?
> 
> Bill Mayne

I simply think there are good people who love God and try to do
His will who have been given a perverted view of Christianity
that they reject.

If you are asking for quotes from the Bible to back up my claim:

from Jerusalem Bible:
Acts 14:2
    Some of the Jews, however, refused to believe, and they poisoned
    the minds of the pagans against the brothers.

2 Peter 2:2
    but there will be many who copy their shameful behaviour and the 
    way of Truth will be brought into disrepute on their accounts.

Acts 17:23
    [Paul said] "because I noticed, as I strolled around admiring your
    sacred monuments, that you had an altar inscribed: To an Unknown 
    God. Well, the God whom I proclaim is in fact the one whom you 
    already worship without knowing it."

Matthew  25:34ff
    Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you 
    whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritiage the kingdom 
    prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was 
    hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; 
    I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, 
    sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me." Then 
    the virtuous will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see 
    you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When 
    did we see you in a stranger and make you welcome; naked and 
    clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?" And the King 
    will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this 
    to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

So there are people who think badly of "Christianity" because
of false teachers and there are people who are unaware they are
doing right. Sometimes these situations might coincide.

OFM: You can cut this post here if it is too inflamatory.

Controversial issue #1:
Was Martin Luther "following Christ" when he rejected the 
"Christianity" of his day? If yes then my assertion holds.
If no, then why aren't all who follow Christ Catholics?

Controversial issue #2:
Black Americans sometimes face this dilema of a "Christianity" that
endorsed slavery of their ancestors and today teaches them to 
accept their unequal station. Many turn to Islam as their true
cultural heritage in defiance of the "White man's Jesus".
They find a sprituality and ethic that they can be proud of.

In high school I read "Soul on Ice" by Eldredge Cleaver and
"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" with the conceited notion that 
I could forarm myself with an understanding of the errors in their 
black militant philosophies. I was stunned that I could find no
logical flaws, the "flaw" was in their interpretation of their
experiences. They rejected Christianity as the status quo of the
white society that tried to keep them down. I wanted to reach into
the pages of the books and shake them and tell them "No, that's
not what Christianity is about!" Malcolm X finally found the true 
brotherhood of man when he searched for true Islam. Why didn't 
he find it in Christianity? Eldredge Cleaver later did accept
Christ as described in his book "Soul on Fire."

I really am not speculating on anyone's eternal reward. I am 
not endorsing any other religion. I do not apologize for my
Faith. I believe all truth can be found in Christ, but we have 
to look for it. I am not so conceited that I can condemn someone 
else for not finding it.

Chris Mussack (White middle class Catholic guy)