For Christians who think that non-Christians may go to Heaven: what allows you to think/believe this is so?

Question

This is an honest question. I ask it because it seems that there is a split between:

Christians who believe that only Christians go to heaven, and there is a subset of this group who make it a point to constantly point out that non-believers will go to hell (and some even answer questions that have nothing to do with this just so that they can express this view)

and

Christians who believe that non-Christians will be judged by God based on the lives that they have lived and that God will unltimately determine whether or not to allow that soul into heaven (a view that is refuted by the previous group of Christians based on the claim that everyone is a sinner, that good works do not count, and that only accepting Jesus as your Savior will wash away the sin.)

I am just curious to know what allows for such a difference of views.

And please, if you are part of the first group - you needn't tell me for the umpteenth time that only Christians go to Heaven.

Answer 1

Not being God, I don't know for sure, but I believe it's possible. I believe this based on personal logic and Biblical interpretation. Most people follow the religion of their parents. If God is truly loving, I don't see how he could condemn good people to hell just because they were not brought up to believe in Christ. They may still follow Christ's teachings even if they do not recognize him as such. This leads me to Mt 25:31-46, where Jesus describes the people who will get to heaven. He lists all those who do good deeds and says because they were kind to him, they will go to heaven. The people don't understand - they never saw Christ in need and helped him. He explains that whenever they helped others they were helping him. Thus, I feel it's possible to know Christ, to follow him, and to proclaim him Lord without ever realizing it; by loving others, we're loving Christ. Then there's also Jn 10:16, where Jesus says he "has sheep not of this flock." Couldn't that mean non-Christians who still follow his teachings? Finally, 1 John 4:8 states explicitely that "God is love." If God is love, then wherever love resides, there is God. God is present wherever people perform acts of love, and whenever a person helps another out of love, they know the essence of God. Heterosexuals or homosexuals, Catholics or Hindus, no one is excluded from the knowledge and love of God. And I believe that he who abides in God's love will find life.

Answer 2

Good question. In my opinion it's because of the way different people & denominations interpret the Bible.

There are fundamentalists who believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. This is the group that fits in your first category.

Then there are more liberal denominations who believe that the Bible is an allegory and that very little, if any is historically accurate. This would make up part of your second group.

I think the remainder of the second group would be comprised of people who attend Christian churches but have accepted much of the world's philosophy as well, including the idea that belief in any god is a valid path to Heaven.

I took a long time to say that it comes back to personal perspective about God & The Bible, but I wanted to provide my reasoning behind it. And remember that this is just my opinion and worth every penny you paid for it.

Answer 3

I am Christian and I believe that non-Christians go to Heaven. I think it is another type of ignorance to say that only those of your own religion are worthy of eternal paradise.

There are many throughout the world who have no way of hearing the Gospels, so how would it be fair for God to banish them to hell? Also, Jews do not believe Jesus was the Messiah, yet throughout the Bible they are referred to as God's Chosen people, so why would he want to keep them out of Heaven as well?

I think it is a sign of extreme ignorance for a Christian to say that only those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior can go to Heaven because the New Testament is all about acceptance and how every human being is valuable to God. Plus, the Bible makes it very clear that ONLY God can judge who gets into Heaven!

Ignorance in all forms including religious intolerance needs to stop, and Christians according to the basis of their religion especially need to be the first ones to stop the hatred.

Answer 4

The Bible -
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

My personal belief is that the only exception to this would be someone who has never had the opportunity to know Jesus or hear God's word. (For example, someone living in a remote part of the world, who has never been told about God and Jesus through any means whatsoever.) I believe the scripture above applies to those who have heard the Word and have either chosen to accept, or not accept, Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Answer 5

I can't speak for others-

All that are in hell NOW have NOT been judged by God!
Judgment takes place AFTER the 1000 year reign of Christ. During that Reign most if not all in hell will be on earth during that time. Here there is a chance for redemption.
Some will Some will not.
There is no belief at that time Christ is the Christ no doubt possible.
But do you except or reject that fact, accepting and doing works to be redeemed, or Reject and do all you can to disrupt his reign.

So can a non-beleaver get to heaven NO!

Answer 6

God is not bound by the rules that He establishes for humanity. If Gods mercy is infinite, than God through justice can and I believe works beyond our comprehension.

An example in the Bible is when the landlord hires workers for his field throughout the day. At the end of the day he pays all the workers the same. Some get angry and protest, but the landlord states quite honestly that his money is his to give as he wills. No one was cheated or lied too about their just pay.

I believe Jesus uses this parable to teach that God mercy is His alone to give as He deems is just.

Answer 7

What in the world are you talking about? Neither will go to Heaven. "Thy Kingdom Come". The resurrection will take place on Earth. I would suggest you study the beliefs of the Jews before you move on to the Christian faith so that you can have a solid foundation of understanding instead of believing in foolish things. Also Hell is nothing more than a mistranslation of 4 Hebrew and Greek words.

Answer 8

This reality is a testing ground. God has told us how we are to live. We are to love Him above all things and love our neighbours as ourselves. If we pass this test, we move into the new reality, the new creation, where we will have Eternal Life. God can only allow those who are totally loyal to Him to have this, because of the work ahead. We are to represent Him, to rule in His name. He cannot allow anyone to do this who will not be loyal, because of the harm disloyal people would do.

The problem is, since The Fall, humans have been born with a sort of "spiritual parasite" called Sin. We all have it. It is what comes from being born into a world controlled by Satan (as it has been since Adam obeyed Satan rather than God in The Fall). At some time in our lives this sin flowers and we lose our hope of Eternal Life. That is, by our own efforts.

But God wants EVERY SINGLE human being to be with him and share Eternal Life, so He did something about it Himself. As Jesus He was not born with Sin, not having a human father. He rsisted all temptation to sin , and was totally loyal to God even to the point of willingly allowing Himself to be crucified for crimes He had not committed.

This meant that Satan had broken the rules. Jesus could only die if he had sinned. He had not sinned, so Satan broke the rules. In Jesus' death He accepted the punishment for EVERY sin by EVERY person EVER, from the beginning to the end of Time. A "doorway" was created which allowed people to discard their old nature and take on a new one, leaving behind all trace of sin as far as God is concerned.

We are adopted as children of God, each with the rights of a son (women included). We belong to The Kingdom of God. We become ambassadors, representatives of God in this world.

This is being Born Again. Sin no longer has any power over a Christian. If they do sin, it is by choice (which is a worse thing). However, a Christian still has access to God's forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice, provided he gives God total loyalty.

God sends to Christians The Holy Spirit. He (The Holy Spirit is a person) changes us gradually so that our nature is the same as Christ's/ He also gives us some of Christ's abilities, such as healing, miracles and the like. We also have Christ's authority over spiritual powers and authorities (even those that claim to be gods).

Answer 9

I grew up in the Church and left because of what I thought was an intense hostility toward others. How could a God of such love not open to heaven to all who choose it. I believe there will be many who don't choose it, "Better to rule in hell than be ruled in Heaven" kind of a thing.

Answer 10

I am of the mind that there is only one route to God: Jesus. But what I wanted to say is that people DO NOT read the bible for themselves and this is the cause of so much bubble gum doctrine that serves to confuse and disadvantage many millions of people in the world. Ultimately only the LORD knows who really has accepted Him and who has not, thus who will go to heaven or spend eternity somewhere else.