This diagram is not my invention.  I came across the diagram a couple years ago.

The circles certainly cannot be in correct proportion.  There is no way to know this.

The largest circle represents every person that has ever lived on the earth (all creation).  This will be billions and billions of people – from Adam to the last baby born seconds ago.  The thing is - God loves them all.  I believe this.  He does not does not love just his “special little group”, if there is such a thing.  He loves them all. 

The smallest circle represents “the church visible”.  That is all who profess to be Christian.  We know that not all who profess to follow Christ actually do so.  We know those who are faithful church-goers who show by their lives that they are nowhere near Christian.

The larger circle that has lines through it represents the “church invisible”.  These are God’s people, those who actually follow God’s way of life regardless of their religion – or no religion.  And we know those who fall into this category.  Those who do the right thing just because it is the right thing, not because they are trying to please their god.  They do not fit the stereotype of what we would call “Christian”.  It is just the way they are.  They may be smokers, drinkers, rotten language, etc.  But there is nothing they would not do to help anyone.

Notice that the line for this circle slices right through the “Church Visible” circle.  That is because some of the “Church Visible” group are God’s people and some are not, regardless of what they say.

I know this flies in the face of most of what we heard about what it means to be a Christian.  We learned that to truly be Christian, we had to believe a certain way about worship, where we go when we die, what we eat and drink, all that stuff.  Not many SDAs would agree with this chart because it challenges them about these things.

But this idea is supported by scriptures.  You can read it yourself.  I don’t know how we overlooked it.  I think we took our very narrow view of God and tried to fit it into what we thought was truth instead of letting the scripture mold the way we think about God.  Check it out.

John 10:16 says God has sheep in other folds.  We always thought this meant that there may possibly have been some in churches, other than SDA, that God could save.  But this actually means that God includes people we would never have considered.  Other folds may not be referring even  to other Christian churches but other faiths and even those who don’t recognize Him as God.

Romans 2:12-14 says that there are other people, even Pagans, who live their lives in service to others – doing the right things because that they are responding to God’s way of life without even realizing it.

Matthew 25:31 -  Jesus explains (too late for many) that some can be doing the right things for the wrong reason (for show) and some do the right thing just because it is the right thing and not even know it.  It is just what is in their heart.  These are the ones God invites to spend eternity with Him, not the ones who think obeying a list of commandments is what God wants.

I hope this helps explain a very inclusive God – one who wants nothing but the best for His children.  To me, it gives me hope.  I have kids and friends who may not believe exactly the way I do.  You do not have to believe just like I do to be considered God’s child.  This gives me hope, not only for me but for those I can share this with.

Acts 4:12 says there is no other name except Jesus that will save us.  I confess, I do not know just how this applies to those of other religions.  There are billions who have never even heard His name.  I just know that no one will be saved except for the plan of salvation that cost the life of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.