Gorbachev a Christian...

Very interesting. I'd like to know more about his journey. Perhaps more will be published.:godisgood:

 

I suspected this when in the 80s, Gorby made reference to God in a speech. Nikita Kruschev or Leonid Brezhnev would never have done so.

 

He is a Roman Catholic. But a Christian? Not in the New Testament sense it would seem.

 

Actually, I think it said he was Russian Orthodox.

 

About as New Testament as one can get.

 

I am glad that he finally has the courage to state what he believes in!

 

Either way, he is hardly a Christian in the New Testament sense.

 

Only if you subscribe to easy believism.

 

Russian Orthodox

Being born and growing up in Russia it is not surprising that he is Russian Orthodox. In fact, it would be surprising if he were not. I would not be too quick to judge him or anyone living in that society.

In 1995 I was in China and met a young Chinese woman who was Christian. She said she could not tell anyone as it would cause great trouble within her family and she would loose her job if it were known.

I told her that was fine, that she probably was right where Christ wanted her and though she could not openly tell her co-workers she was Christian, that she was in a perfect position to influence them for good. If she told them and lost her job then she would have no way to influence them. And that if she waited patiently in the Lord the time and place would come that she could witness.

 

Don't tell Ulsterman or he will no doubt declare her unsaved as well!

It's a good think we don't get to decide who does and who doesn't belong to Christ.

 

Nice that you are the one to decide that.

 

Fortunately, the Bible answers for us.

 

Well if you believe the New Testament teaches that we should force feed infants communion wine, fair enough, but that's what the Russian Orthodox do. If you think the spirits of the dead haunt their relatives unless they tend to their graves is a New Testament teaching, well, I'm not sure which version you are reading. I thought the whole point of the New Testament was teach us what Christianity is and how to practice it, but apparently I am not allowed to compare religious practice by it and determine whether something is Christian or not. If you think our faith is to be hallmarked by icons and images, so be it, but I happen to disagree.

So Gorbachev has a faith, and that, I suppose, in social terms is better than atheism, but in spiritual terms it matters not one bit unless his faith, your faith or mine is placed in the truth of the Gospel. I accept his faith may be genuine, but sincerity is no substitute for truth. There is nothing in the article that intimates his faith is Bible based or evangelical in any way. On that basis and, in that context, I question why the term Christian is so readily accepted by you and others.

 

Well it seem you have decided who does. By what standard do you draw this judgment? By the fact that someone belongs to or goes to a church? Gorbachev is quoted in the article as saying, ""St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ." The article infers that his heart lies there. (2Cor 11:2-3)

 

So you prefer difficult believism?

 

I don't know what is in Gorbachev's heart or why he views things the way he does. He says he is a Christian and I leave it at that.

 

While what you say (bolded part) is true, the very fact that you (collective "YOU", not just you, df) don't know, should tend to make you skeptical without evidence; as noted by Christ in the following verses.

Mat 7:20-21 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
:godisgood:

 

If it's evidence of faith alone in Christ alone by the drawing grace of God alone, then there's really nothing that we can do or say to undo this genuine conversion.