My Amish Doctor Experience

So I visited an “Amish doctor” (Iridologist)…

Those who know that I have made this trip are super curious as to my experience, so I thought that I’d share for those who are interested.

I’m neither recommending or criticizing any aspect of Amish medicine/healthcare, I am simply sharing my experience, resources, and hope you find it helpful for your own journey to physical health.

Luke 5:31 "And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.'" (ESV)

Why call them an “Amish doctor”?

I don’t think either Reuben Schwartz or Jake Shirk would ever claim to be a doctor, but they are the local Amish men trained to care for their community health needs.  I will reference Jake (who I saw; Reuben is now retired) as a doctor throughout this post out of respect to his training and practice and not out of disrespect to modern doctors who go through more than a decade’s worth of schooling and training.

Who are Reuben Schwartz and Jake Shirk?

I now live in central Kentucky, and for the past 10 years I have heard several personal stories of Amish medical care that sometimes discovers health issues and solutions.  This blog resource has lots of helpful information about their practice: https://barefootfaithjourney.com/category/reuben-schwartz-amish-iridologist/ 

What is “iridology” and who are “iridologists?

One definition of “iridology” from a medical website: “Iridologists claim to be able to diagnose medical conditions through abnormalities of pigmentation in the iris. This technique is popular in many countries.”

For some modern medical perspectives on Iridology consider:

• “Iridology: A Systematic Review": https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10213874/ 
• “Iridology: Not Useful and Potentially Harmful”: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/412789 )

I’ve attached an image of an “iridology” chart sold at Mount Air Herbs (down the road from the Amish doctor).

Why did you go to an Amish doctor?

About 3 months ago I suffered from an unprovoked deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in my leg and lungs without a known cause).  Although my clots are improving, my health has progressively declined and to-date my modern doctors (whom I am continuing to see frequently) have yet to ascertain a specific diagnosis or solution.  I was open to the possibility of Amish medicine offering some insights or helps so I was curious as to what sort of recommendations they would make for my health conditions.  While some traditional medical approaches world-wide can be connected with spirit-worship and occult practices, it was encouraging to hear the love of Jesus in the Amish community.  As a pastor, I try to be super-discerning with what I participate with, and throughout my experience I did not note anything unbiblical in their approach to helping and healing the sick.

What was your visit to the Amish doctor like?

It was a beautiful rural drive to this particular Amish community (about two hours from where I live) near the Kentucky and Tennessee border.  My GPS took me to the edge of Radure Rd., from which an Amish woman told me to proceed another mile or so to the address: 1205 Radure Road, Hestand, KY 42151.  After turning onto Radure Rd. I passed an abandoned church on the right, Mountain Air Herbs on the left, and then a mile or so later turned left at a small black mailbox marked “1205.”

The building is a simple storefront with no clear signage but stood out with the cars parked in front.  Upon entering, I filled out a simple one page form with my information and a list of the medicines I was currently taking.  On the backside was a waiver form of sorts.

There were several people in the room waiting to see the Amish doctor and another few were checking out and purchasing some of the herbal medications.  I was seen by Jake Shirk within a few minutes even though I was thirty minutes early for my appointment.  He was extremely kind and would peer into my eyes with a small pen light and glass magnifying lens.  After each look into my eyes he would ask me specific questions like:

• Do you suffer from chest or heart pains? (I do.)
• Do you have problems with reflux? (Occasionally)
• Do you crave sugars and sweets? (Always lol)
• Do you drink sodas? (I don’t, just water, tea, and coffee mainly)
• What do you like to eat? (Too much junk)
• Are you stressed? (He asked me this one several times… I said I sincerely trust the Lord with my health and the situations of my life and am honestly not stressed.)
• Do you suffer from shakiness? (I don’t)
• Do you get up to go to the bathroom a lot at night? (TMI but nope)
• Are you easily agitated? (With my ongoing pain and children, “yes” I said.  But he meant joint pain and inflammation by “agitated” bahaha)

As he would look into my eyes and then ask questions, he would write his recommendations on a small note card and explain what he was prescribing.

After his questions and looks into my eyes, I then shared some of the modern medical findings and was more specifically revealing about my health situation and ongoing pain.  He was extremely humble and gracious with his responses and thoughts.  He was inquisitive and helpful.  He shared that he had several patients with unexplained illnesses that may be connected to the COVID19 vaccine and had recommendations (websites written down by non-Amish friends) as well as the Amish medicines to remove “poison”.  

Notably I have found that the modern medical community quickly jumps to blame COVID with my unknown suffering while the non-medical community quickly jumps to blame the COVID19 vaccines.  My personal goal at this point is, regardless of the origins of my suffering, to simply to find a solution that provides healing.

After Jake finished my “prescription” notecard he shared a sheet full of dietary recommendations.  I found this very interesting as few modern doctors inquire about my diet or make dietary recommendations.  Again, he was super gracious and humble with all of his recommendations.  Although others were waiting to see Jake, he never rushed me and was super patient with my questions.  There was no charge to Jake’s services, but if I wanted to leave a donation for their ministry there was a small cardboard box to do so.  My recommendation would be to consider what you would self-pay for a general practice doctor today ($100-$200?), and make a comparable cash donation (no credit cards).

After I was finished with Jake I simply walked into the adjoining room to a sweet older Amish couple who filled my prescription.  They wrote notes and highlighted items on a sheet while explaining the costs if I desired to purchased the prescriptions from them.  They were not high pressure and didn’t grab anything off a shelf until I was comfortable with the total bill.  Items they did not carry were marked with a black sharpie dot for me to consider filling at Mountain Air Herbs.  A typical “2 week” dosage of an herbal medicine was about $10-$12 at the Amish storefront and a similar product seemed to be about double or triple the price at Mountain Air Herbs (which seems priced similar to other online retailers).  I went ahead and got all of my “prescription” filled and added in some honey, sorghum, grits, and goats milk soap for my wife and daughters as a souvenir gift :)  

When leaving you can easily scheduled a follow on appointment.  The older Amish couple was super sweet and I enjoyed hearing talking Scripture with the Amish man.

How do I make an appointment with Jake Shirk?

The Amish do not use electricity, internet, or phones so the only way to contact them is to write snail-mail to:

V. C. Christian Charity

1205 Radure Road

Hestand, KY 42151

If you want an appointment (they are currently booked about 2 weeks out), then write them a note with your available dates and they’ll write you back with an appointment.  If what they write you doesn’t work, just write them back until you find a workable date.

Walk-ins are available but they only see up to 13 patients a day I believe.  They are currently open Monday and Friday - 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday - 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m (central time). (Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).  Everyone that walked in seemed to be seen by about 3pm the day that I visited.

What diet does an Amish doctor recommend?

I’ve attached the diet in case you are interested in the dietary recommendations.  It is basically a natural diet with an emphasis on stepping away from sugars and processed foods.  Honestly, a natural diet would probably do a lot of us Americans a lot of good even without any of the herbal medicines.

What medicine does an Amish doctor recommend?

All of the medical recommendations are also attached.  Lots of herbal remedies of which I have no clue as to their effectiveness, interactions, or dangers.  Although I have heard stories of some gaining great benefit and healing from these sorts of treatments, I also know that others have had serious problems.  All of the medicines (most come in capsules or glass dropper bottles) say “Not approved by the FDA” or “For Animal Use Only” lol.

How do I order such medicines online? What is “Mountain Air Herbs”?

Just down the street is a small shop with the same hours as the Amish doctor.  They are “English” (i.e. modern, non-Amish) and thus use electricity, have a credit card machine, and sell online.  A lot of the items prescribed seem to be available online but some may be harder to find than others.

Website: https://stores.mountainairherbs.com/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountainairherbs/

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A2JJRL664LKS4Z 

Address:

Mountain Air Herbs

1945 Radure Road

Hestand, KY 42151 

United States of America

Herb Store hours are: Monday and Friday - 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday - 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday)

My Takeaways

• The Amish are super kind, humble, and genuinely want to help.  The experience in visiting them was super interesting and enjoyable.
• Modern doctors have seldom asked about my diet and or made dietary recommendations.  I think a more natural diet (and exercise) would be helpful for most Americans, myself included.
• I am super thankful for the access I have to modern healthcare and modern medicine (many people in the world have no such options).  However, I am concerned about some of the modern pharmaceutical motives and side effects (often unknown or not well understood).
• I am open to the possibility that traditional medicine (herbal/natural remedies) may be helpful and have been too overlooked in modern times.  In my current situation of declining health with no diagnosis or effective modern treatment, I am hopeful for a natural remedy to work.
• Never stop seeing regular modern doctors but don’t be dismissive about more natural medical methods like the Amish.

My Plan

I am continuing to be proactive with my medical concerns through modern medical doctors, testing, and medicine.  At the same time I definitely need to adjust my diet to be more naturally healthy.  The Amish recommendations for diet, water-drinking, and exercise all make sense to me, although I will likely to continue to struggle to eat green things.

As far as the Amish herbal medicines, I plan on a trial and error approach with each one.  I will take caution and seek advice to ensure there aren’t interactions with my modern medicine and be careful to see what seems to be effective and helpful.

I hope that the sharing of my experience is helpful (or at least interesting) to you!

Here are the notes I received from my appointment:

NOTE: I know there are a BAZILLION online books and blogs on this stuff, and I am not recommending anything (I haven’t tried any of this yet), I am simply sharing for those who are interested in Amish dietary, health, and medical opinions.  Please do you own research and seek out medical advice before trying any of this.

Regenerative Diet

The below are general suggestions:

Any human body with a serious degenerative condition needs a prioritized diet to deliver maximum food energy to it so that repair and regeneration may take place. The following diet is designed to deliver optimum amounts and ratios of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The guidelines on this side of this sheet will all apply to you unless crossed out. The other side of sheet will only apply if indicated.

• All white sugar and sugar products must be eliminated from the diet. This includes all foods such as cake, cookies, candy, candy bars, granola bars, sweetened cereals, sweetened drinks, sweetened fruit juices, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, sweet teas, etc.
• White flour and all products made with white flour must be eliminated.
• White potatoes, because of the adverse effect they have on blood sugar, should not be used.
• Bread and other baked goods should only be used if and as indicated below.
• No junk food (or "fast-foods") such as French fries, hamburgers, pizza, etc. should be eaten.
• All nuts, except coconut, almonds and Pinole nuts, are excluded, because they are difficult to digest.
• If any dried fruits are used, they should first be soaked in distilled water for 24 hours before using.
• All meats are eliminated unless otherwise indicated below.
• Breakfast: One (1) egg should be used for breakfast at least four (4) times per week. The following cooked cereals should be used: oatmeal, grits, cream of rye, millet, cream of rice, or any mixed grain cooked cereal, such as 7-grain cereal. Some fresh fruit mav be used with breakfast, such as grapefruit, orange, grapes, pineapple, pear, kiwi, mango, apple, cantaloupe, cherries, or peaches. Try to use a different one each day, and use variety. These fruits can be used with the noon meal as well.
• Lunch: Lunch should be a substantial meal the largest meal of the day. It can consist of a variety of any of the foods indicated below.
• Supper: Supper should be a very small, light meal. A vegetable soup or salad is a good choice.

The following foods may be used as indicated:

• One (1) serving of asparagus three (3) times per week
• One (1) serving of beets daily
• Heinz sweet pickles (or juice) may be used.
• A leafy green salad with a variety of vegetables should be used two (2) times daily.
• Olive oil should be used daily. (This can be made into a salad dressing.)
• Avocados may be used three (3) times per week.
• Pears may be used four (4) times per week.
• Cherries may be used four (4) times per week.
• Fruit juices can be used between meals.
• Coconut and Pinole nuts may be used four (4) times per week.
• Hominy may be used four (4) times per week.
• Yogurt may be used daily.
• One-half (1/2) cup cottage cheese three (3) times per week.
• Blackstrap molasses should be used daily.
• One (1) slice of bread (whole wheat) is allowed a day. This is best if toasted.
• Cornbread may be used four (4) times per week.
• Chicken gravy (made with 'free-range' chicken) is allowed two (2) times per week.
• Northern ocean fish may be used two (2) times per week.
• Flax seeds should be used daily.
• Raw milk, 8 to 16 oz. per day.
• Herbal teas may be used with meals.
• Real butter is O.K.

Make a point to include the following VEGETABLES in your diet: cucumbers, green beans, carrots, mustard, ripe olives, asparagus, avocados, beets, okra, peppers, onions, garlic, radish, lettuce, turnips and greens, broccoli, tomatoes, squash, sweet corn, and sweet potatoes.

70% of your vegetables should be cooked. 30% should be eaten raw.

Make a point to include the following FRUITS in your diet: apples, pears, plums, watermelon, mangos, grapes, cherries, pineapple, cranberries, peaches, kiwi, apricots, blueberries, oranges, and grapefruit.

Avoid stuffing! Eat only an amount sufficient to satisfy

EXERCISE is very important! Walking is probably the best form of exercise. If you are too weak to take a long walk, take a 5-minute walk, 6 - 12 times per day.

Get at least 30 minutes of SUNSHINE, 2 times per day. (In the summer, avoid sunburns.)

You should sing or do deep breathing several times every day in order to get more oxygen into your system.'

One Day Liver and Gall Bladder Cleanse

• Choose a day like Saturday to do your cleanse so you can rest the next day.
• Take no medicine, vitamins, or pills that you can do without.
• Eat a no-fat breakfast and lunch.
• Do not eat anything or drink much after 2:00 p.m

Things you will need:

• 4 tablespoons Epsom salts
• ½ cup of olive oil
• 1 large or 2 small fresh, pink grapefruit (enough for ¾ cup juice)

• 2:00 p.m. Mix 4 tablespoons Epsom salts in 3 cups water. This makes four servings of ¾ cup each. Set in refrigerator. Have grapefruit and olive oil at room temperature
• 6:00 p.m. Drink one serving, ¾ cup, Epsom salts.
• 8:00 p.m. Repeat Epsom salts dosage of ¾ cup. BE ON TIME!
• 9:45 p.m. Squeeze grapefruit into cup. Remove pulp. You may also add the juice of one lemon. Pour into olive oil and beat with rotary beater so they don't separate. Now visit the bathroom one more time and prepare for bed.
• 10:00 p.m. Drink the potion you have mixed. You may use one lump of brown sugar to
• chase it down. Get it down in 5 minutes. Lie down immediately. Lie flat on your back with your head high on pillows. Hold still at least twenty minutes.

• Go to sleep.

• Next morning: Take third dose of Epsom salts. (Don't take before 6:00 a.m.)
• 2 hours later: Take fourth (the last) dose of Epsom salts.
• After two more hours, you may begin eating lightly, preferably starting with fruits and juices. Expect diarrhea all day. Watch for gallstones (they float and look like green peas). This cleanse is to be done only once unless otherwise specified. Never cleanse when you are ill.

The suggestions below are for conditions as specified. Use accordingly.

For Diabetes or High Blood Sugar

• Avoid using white or Irish potatoes, white sugar and flour products.
• Use no fruits, sweets, pastas or starches after 2:00 pm.
• Evening meal should consist of things like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, cabbage, onions, any dark leafy greens cooked or juiced raw, cottage cheese, plain non-fat yogurt, fax seeds and pumpkin seeds.
• Drink plenty distilled water and do as much walking as possible. Evening meal should be 3 hours before bedtime if possible in order to burn calories before retiring.

For Individuals with High Salt Levels or High Blood Pressure

• Avoid salt (sodium chloride). Potassium chloride may be used instead. Use garlic and cayenne pepper with food and lots of parsley, even Parsley Tea as a potassium source which may lower blood pressure.

For Cholesterol or Weight Metabolism Issues

Seed Milk

Put enough distilled water in blender to cover the blades. Add approximately 1 cup seeds from the following list: flax seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds. The seeds need to be raw so they contain the essential fatty acids.

Blend until the mix becomes a smooth creamy consistency. Add 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses and 1 tablespoon honey; then while blending, add distilled water until the blender is full. Fruit may also be added if desired unless diabetes is an issue

Green Drinks:

Freshly made green vegetable juice. This can all be made up at once in the morning if capped tightly and set in the refrigerator. Green Drink can be made from the following:

• Green beans, Carrot tops or roots, Spinach, Lettuce, Romaine,Dandelion leaves, Cucumbers, Clover leaves, Beet tops, Celery, Wheat grass, Broccoli, Parsley, Plantain, Kale, Collards, Mustard, Turnip tops, Sweet peppers, Apple, or any edible leafy green vegetable

Make fresh onion soup by blending 1 pound of green or white onions into 1-1/2 quarts of distilled water. Simmer until the onions are completely clear. Strain out the pulp and use

Potassium foods: blackstrap, kiwi, coconut, hominy, corn tortillas, kelp, dulse, parsley, peppermint, and bananas. (Bananas should be limited, however, because of their high starch content.)

Hot foods: hot peppers, horseradish, onions, garlic, radish, ramp, mustard, leek, and chives.

Digestion-speeding foods: pears, prune juice, olives, oranges, grapefruit, sauerkraut, raw veggies, leafy salads, buttermilk

Digestion-slowing foods: aged cheeses, peanut butter, fresh breads, boiled milk

My Amish Medicine “Instruction Sheet” (can’t copy & paste this easily, so just see the image):

Definitions Matter.

Definitions Matter.  If I called a dog a “cat”, what would you realize about me?  You would quickly understand that I was confused or uninformed, at best.  Words communicate meaning.  Confusion and misunderstanding result when objective reality is denied.  Chaos and danger result when truth is ignored or subverted.

Have you noticed that people sometimes try to redefine words in order to justify their behaviors and beliefs? A “half-truth” is always a whole-lie.  In recent years we have seen popular culture, as well as judges, legislatures, and governmental leaders, try to redefine words in order to shape the world according to their immorality.

Who has the right to define a word? Inventors can name their inventions.  Businesses can copyright their products and brands.  Authors and publishers can title their written works.  The Creator of the universe is the One who designs and defines His creation.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (ESV)

Male and Female.  Western secularism is attempting to differentiate gender from sex by allowing people to select their own “gender identity” and claim their own “pronouns.”  The LGBTQ+ movement demands affirmation and celebration of their deviance by denying the reality that is clearly written by God on their physical anatomy and upon every cell of their body.  Cross-dressing, transgenderism, and non-binary claims do not change the reality of one’s gender and sex.  Attempting to redefine “male” and “female” is significant rebellion against the Creator of the universe.

Hebrews 13:4 “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”

Marriage.  The Creator of humanity purposed marriage to be between one man and one woman, for life. Lust, pornography, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, polygamy, incest and serial monogamy are all examples of rebellion against God’s plan for sex and marriage.  Attempting to legalize or redefine what is morally right does not make it so.  Rebellion against God comes with both earthly and eternal consequences.  God loves us enough to warn us of the dangers of sexual immorality.

Psalm 139:13–14 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Human Life. Calling a child in the womb a “fetus”, does not change the reality of its God-made, human life.  Calling abortion “health care”, does not change the crime of murder committed against an unborn boy or girl.  Legalizing abortion does not make it any less evil in the eyes of God.

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Definitions Matter.  Someone can try to label lust as “love”, but the unchanging reality is that God is love and thus defines love (1 John 4).  Other may try to co-opt the rainbow as a celebration of wickedness, but it doesn’t change God’s purpose in giving the rainbow as a reminder and a promise (Genesis 9:12-17).  How we try to define and use words reveals a lot about our society and our hearts.  May we turn from our evil ways and turn to God’s salvation and truth in Jesus, before it is too late.

Acts 2:40 “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Is the Catholic Catechism Corrupt? Or Trustworthy? ... See for Yourself!

 

WHO WILL GO TO HEAVEN?

INTERNAL INCONSISTENCIES IN 

THE CATECHISM OF 

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:

Exclusivism VS. Inclusivism/Pluralism/Universalism

The Catholic Blog - Helping people find answers to the most common questions about Catholicism with answers from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible. (www.catholic.blog )

Religious Exclusivism - doctrine or belief that only one particular religion or belief system is true

Religious Inclusivism - Jesus’ death also provide salvation for some who do not believe, salvation for people apart from conscious faith in Christ, but still only through Jesus; followers of other religions and even atheists can be saved by responding to God’s general revelation

Religious Pluralism - acceptance of the concept that two or more religions with mutually exclusive truth claims are equally valid

Religious Universalism - a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved

Religious Syncretism - blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system

                                      Is Jesus the           Do you have

                                    only way?        to respond?

Exclusivism - only one way, requires a response                   YES               YES

Inclusivism - general revelation saves, must be sincere         NO               YES

Pluralism - many ways to God                         NO                NO

Universalism – everyone is going to be saved                         NO                                 NO

Some Catholic claims to exclusivism in The Catechism of the Catholic Church:

• ““The sole Church of Christ [is that] which our Savior, after his Resurrection, entrusted to Peter’s pastoral care, commissioning him and the other apostles to extend and rule it. … This Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in (subsistit in) the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.” (CCC 816)
• “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal hope toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (CCC 816)
• “Just as the office which the Lord confided to Peter alone, as first of the apostles, destined to be transmitted to his successors, is a permanent one, so also endures the office…Hence the Church teaches that ‘the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ” (CCC 862)
• “They could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse to enter it or to remain in it” (CCC 846)
• “The second precept ‘You shall confess your sins at least once per year’ ensures preparation for the Eucharist by the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation, which continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness” (CCC 2042)
• “No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother” (CCC 181)
• “Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God” (CCC 1445)
• “For it is through Christ’s Catholic Church alone, which is the universal hope toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained” (CCC 816)
• “It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated  that one of them cannot stand without the others.  Working together each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.” (CCC 95)
• “The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone”(CCC 85)
• “the Father willed to call the whole of humanity together into his Son’s Church.  The Church is where humanity must rediscover its unity and salvation.  The Church is ‘the world reconciled.’” (CCC 845)
• MORAL EXCLUSIVISM vs. MORAL INCLUSIVISM: “to the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs” (CCC 2032)

Some claims to inclusivism and pluralism in The Catechism of the Catholic Church: 

A Concerning Inconsistency within the CCC and with the Scripture…

• PROTESTANTISM: “All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have the right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church” (CCC 818)
• “Many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church…Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as a means of salvation” (CCC 819)
• ISLAM: “The Church’s relationship with the Muslims.  ‘The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (CCC 841)
• OTHER RELIGIONS: “the Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for God who is unknown yet near…the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as a ‘preparation for the Gospel’” (CCC 843)
• EVERYONE OUTSIDE CATHOLIC EXPOSURE: 
• “Those, who through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but nonetheless seek God with a sincere heart, and moved by grace, try in their own actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation” (CCC 847)
• “Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved.  It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known its necessity” (CCC 1260)
• “those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, can be saved even if they haven’t been baptized” (CCC 1280)

“Who will go to Heaven?” - Important Scriptures to Consider:

• 2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (ESV)
• 1 Cor 2:5 “so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Universal Accountability to God:

• Romans 1:18–23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (ESV)
• Romans 3:10–12 “as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (ESV)
• Romans 5:10–11 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (ESV)
• Joshua 23:16 "if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.” (ESV)

God’s Inclusive Invitation to All:

• John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
• 1 Timothy 2:3–5 "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (ESV)
• 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (ESV)
• Romans 2:4–5 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.” (ESV)

Salvation is through faith alone in Jesus (exclusive means & response):

• Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (ESV)
• John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (ESV)
• Romans 10:9–10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV)
• Romans 10:13–15 “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ [14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (ESV)
• 2 John 9 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (ESV)
• 2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” (ESV)
• John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Proverbs 30:5–6 "Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” (ESV)

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