⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:⁸ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV)

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV)

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 (NIV)

I define Holy Envy as being able to recognize God where ever God is present. I heard the term in an Interfaith program that I participated in and I will not claim to originate it. I believe it was in a podcast by Krista Tippett called “On Being.” I don’t recall if it was her or one of her guests. I also don’t know that the speaker originated it or if they just advocated for it. I do believe in the general concept. As it was presented to me, the concept is that when encountering other faiths we often encounter beliefs or devotional practices which appeals to us because we can recognize something Holy in them. We recognize the Truth when we encounter it.

I am still working out how I feel about other faiths. I don’t necessarily believe at this time that any faith outside that in Christ can truly save of in the end of all things. I believe this because I believe that Christ is the son of God. I believe this because I believe in the Trinity of God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. As such, as long as my beliefs hold true, any faith which claims to know God must also know Christ as He is part of the Godhead. I do question if one must make an audible or even internal utterance which specifically claims the name of Jesus Christ. I do question the belief that this life is the last opportunity to accept our Lord. I do believe that Christianity as it testifies to our incarnate Lord is the Truth and as such I will continue to testify to that truth to the best of my ability. Should we always seek to convert though? Can other faiths prepare one to accept the Truth of Christ without having to teach specifically of Christ? I am torn here. First I will say that I don’t believe that we can force or scare people into authentic faith. I don’t believe as it as sometimes been termed in fire insurance. Declaring Christ is Lord by words alone is not saving. Declaring Christ as Lord in our hearts is.

So I guess what I believe is this: any faith which prepares ones heart for the Truth of Christ is beneficial and should be encouraged. I likewise believe any faith or teaching within the Christian Church or without that does not do so should be discouraged. Someone professing another faith or lack of faith may be more ready to truly accept our Lord than some of those who professes faith in Christ. I believe it is hardly productive to deny or attack when we encounter the same law written on the hearts of all humanity, just because it appears in a faith outside our own tradition. Many faiths express the idea of the golden rule. It is hardly fitting that we should declare any such faith to be completely devoid of truth or God. I look to two scripture passages in particular. The first is that those who seek will find. I find it hard to believe that those who seek God sincerely will be denied based on a context which denies them access to the truth of Christ. Second I believe that passages which state that we can know those in God by the fruit they produce. When those who claim to know God spew only poison and hate, they do not act under the influence of a saving faith. Likewise, when we encounter the God fearing person, regardless of their outward profession, who acts under grace and in obedience to God’s law who are we to deny the possibility that Christ (though perhaps not in name) might live in their heart.