Now that I got your attention. Let me explain this title. To do this we must first define the word “heathen.”
It is defined as “a person who does not belong to a widely held religion (especially one who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim) as regarded by those who do.”
Now what defines belonging to a religion? Here is a big clue of what I mean. In my research to answer this question in a definitive and insightful manner, I only found one source that could answer this question. A person showing how to be accepted in the Religious Society of Friends, otherwise known as Quakers. Here is that example:
1 – What does membership mean to you, personally and as a monthly meeting?
2 – What is the relationship between membership as a form and as an expression of stewardship, commitment, conviction, and service?
3 – How do you welcome individuals fully into your community and recognize their gifts?
4 – What is the essential function, intention, and reason for membership?
5 – Is there a difference between being a Quaker and being a member of a monthly meeting?
6 – How can we re-pattern the way we talk about our spirituality?
7 – Quakerism is in its essence about one’s relationship with the Divine; what role does membership play in that?
8- How can we examine and question the way we talk about membership and not challenge membership’s importance in the life of the meeting?
9- How does the meeting community nurture and meet the needs of its members and attenders at various stages in life?
10 – How can we value, connect with, and support community for young adults and others who do not fit neatly into meeting membership or other established patterns of belonging?
This can be translated over to any religion in actuality, but my point is starting to be made. What can be seen is an actual interaction with the teachings of the Bible. An interaction between God and the person and then extending that to involvement with the others that share your views and ideals that arise from having a true relationship with God.
The mere fact that it is nearly impossible to find anything like this for other religions is that people have made assumptions that this knowledge is passed on from one generation to another. This is the furthest thing from the truth. When God was removed from schools in the 1960s this transfer came nearly to a complete halt.
As most know. Those going to church has diminished greatly. Mainly due to the previous statement. Most would rather shop at the store, watch or play sports than spend time with God. This is hedonism. They may say “I am a Christian!” however in reality they are not. They are heathen for they do not “belong.” What they worship is the leisure, the sport the activity that is more important than God. What they wish to do before God is their god and so they are in reality not Christian, or Jewish or even Muslim. This leaves only one thing, they are heathen as is shown in the definition of the word.
We are given commandments that must be followed. Not out of a requirement to do so, but out of love and a desire to please that being that is at the center of our lives. Per the greatest commandment that is God Himself.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.”