[ButKnillinoi]

Dear Antoni,

Mere mortals like you and me can not know how many will be saved. A Greek priest once told me that according to the "Book of Revelation" one-third will be saved. On the other hand, many theologians even in traditional days interpretted the "one-third of stars falling" in Revelations optimistically, to mean that two-thirds are saved. Others would interpret the "narrow gate" statements and such to mean that few are saved.

So what do you think "Many are called, few are chosen ... (Matthew 22:14)" means?

Having said that, although we can not know how many will be saved we do know that God desires all to be saved (do you agree with that?). So as Christians we have a responsibility to try to save as many of the "lost sheep" as possible so "there's joy in heaven". That's what I mean by saying that "numbers matter". I mean that we shouldn't just sit on our lap congratulate ourselves and say "Naaah, the world doesn't deserve the Church and the Truth anyway". We teach Truth in faith and love, and point out error as best we can, yes? No?

Like the Apostles, with a great sense of urgency, we should try to spread the Truth everywhere because this is what Jesus asked us to do in Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". That's why I care about numbers, not in a sense to say my Religion is the biggest and most popular, but to ask my self is my Religion (who holds the Truth) doing everything possible to convert as many people as possible? Because this is what Jesus asked us to do. In the end how many will be saved only God knows...all we can do is try to help Him save as many as possible.

One final note, I do believe that many Protestant sects are in serious heresy, but I do admire their missionary zeal We don't "help" by simply assuming people teaching wrong doctrine get "saved" as well, nor do we simply accept wrong teachings even though they have "missionary zeal". So do the Moslems for that matter and their numbers are growing like crazy right now, so should we assume what they are doing is God pleasing?

My parish is mostly converts and we are reaching out in faith and love and Truth to save as many around us as possible, even as St. Seraphim of Sarov teaches "Acquire the spirit of God, and around you thousands will be saved." So, in that light, does it really matter what the Catholics or Protestants or Moslems do? Isn't it what I do that matters, to seek first the Kingdom (Luke 12:31) and the Peace of Christ which surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), so that I am ready at all times, when questioned, to defend the hope that is in me (Colossians 4:6), and by my witness sow the seed that another might reap (John 4:37)? And in the end. regardless of what others do or teach, all I can do is answer as Joshua did: "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

Just askin'

Herman the curious Pooh