1. All good people of all faiths will be rewarded in this life and in the afterlife.
2. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Compassionate Jews, Buddhists, etc., are destined to go to hell.
Please explain why you feel the way you do.
2007-01-28 01:52:58 · 13 answers · asked by Colin 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Those of you who believe all are rewarded (like I do)...how do you respond to the fact that many parts of The Bible (especially The book of John) clearly say that Jesus is the only way?
2007-01-28 02:06:15 · update #1
Really interesting question -
I'm with Karl Barth who thought that salvation is in Christ not in the human religion.
Though I have to stop short of Barth's theory in that it tends towards universalism (nothing we do gets us to heaven so being a christian is as good as being a buddhist)
Luther had a less extreme version of this that if you respond to whatever you know about Jesus even if it's just the things in creation that point to him (Rom 1-2) then you'll be saved - and there will be people in heaven who have never heard the name "jesus". Though what they were responding to was infact Jesus and had they seen an accurate representation of him they would have said "Ahhh that's what I was responding to"
There aren't any clear cut answers on this one but I think it has to be somewhere around this
Hope that's helpful
2007-01-28 02:22:05 · answer #1 · answered by Grace 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
These two statements do not fit into my interpretation of Christianity. Christians are supposed to forgive each other, and love each other, as God has forgiven and loved us. If all Christians did exacty this, then there would be no poverty for believers. Religion is a way to divide and conquer a population. That is what the Old Testament says many times over......Moses, Issac, etc set up rules, the rules get broken and the sinners get "cast out". The New Testament says, there are no "rules" except that we forgive and love each other; i.e.; Don't kill each other, no matter what the sinner has done.....maybe put them on a secluded island with no boat, but don't kill them. So, watch Ghandi, the movie. Ghandi says "I am a Hindi, I am a JEW, I am a Muslim, I am a Christian and SO ARE YOU.".... If we ALL decided we are ALL EVERY RELIGION, then we don't have any more religious reason to kill each other. To stop the religious wars, we should all say we are OF THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION of Forgive, Love, Truth. So when all the fog is removed, you see that religion is most often used to divide people and incite war...which is the same thing the US Political parties do. Red against Blue, so we can't agree on what is best for ALL OF US. It is the ancient theory of divide and conquer. The Bible says "A house divided against itself, cannot stand".... and so it is 2000 years later, the same. Solution for me: Love and forgive. Give what you can to others less fortunate....however charity begins at home. Family is what matters most in the US... because the Christian Churches don't help pay the bills much. Jesus tells us that we all have the same father, so we are all brothers and sisters.... and to take care of each other......it would all be fine if it stopped there, but then we get into Christian wars, which Jesus would not agree with. Jesus actually speaks of life here on earth, but had to speak about the "afterlife" because he was upsetting the current political and religious establishments. "On earth as it is in heaven".... but Christians want you to believe that the Bible is all about "after death", not right now....that way, they can rob you blind while promising riches in the afterlife.... Conclusion: God is Love. Holy Ghost is "truth". Nobody knows what happens when we die. God doesn't talk to anyone, except through your "internal conscience".... religion and politics are used to control the masses and rob them blind. Sorry, but these are the real "facts of life" that just don't get told to everyone because the dark side constantly fogs the air with arguments and confusion. The dark side can win by just destroying the truth, so the house remains divided against itself.. WWJD????? He would create a union of people to spread truth and love, be sure everyone had some food, shelter and compassion between each other. Well, I guess I will end this Sunday Sermon now. Just remember, the New Testament invalidates the Mosaic laws of the Old Testament via one new law: Forgive and love each other.
2007-01-28 02:19:14 · answer #2 · answered by LuvDylan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2 Jesus is the only way to Heaven.
Not the popular answer I know but Jesus said it himself.
I believe nobody earns the life their given or has the right to anything God has, but that its all given in love. God wants a relationship with His children but we're the ones that walk away or forget him. He is not handing out prizes for 'life best lived' but giving an inheritence to His family. We can choose to be part of that family or stay cynical stand outside the house in the cold while the party is going on.
Though i think there will be a few surprises as not everyone that thinks theyre going to heaven will, including some Christians, and not everyone we think is destined to go to Hell will.
2007-01-28 02:22:27 · answer #3 · answered by The Tinker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we go to Heaven then we go there because of our faith and how we walked in life through our faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ and not by just doing good deeds.
Jesus is the only way,the truth and the light,there is no other way.
2007-01-28 02:01:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that Jesus is the way. I believe that the Bible istrue, and it says :Jesus is the way and the truth and the life and no one will enter to the Father's house except through Him.
You do not have to be a bad person to miss out heaven. I know I need Jesus for my Salvation. I want to be with Him and that is why I accept Him as my Lord and Savior.
2007-01-28 02:00:06 · answer #5 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and His Word is true. So, I will let Him give the answer-
Jesus said: "I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.
A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. John 10:7-10
Jesus is the only way, and His desire is that all would come to know Him and have life, and life to the fullest. God is love, and His desire is that all would go to heaven, but He loves us enough that He lets us choose our own destiny, our own eternity. Either we can accept Jesus and the sacrifice that He made so that our sins can be forgiven, or we can try to pay our own debt of sin- something we could never do in all of eternity.
2007-01-28 02:32:35 · answer #6 · answered by HolyLamb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2.
It is possible to be compassionate and evil at the same time. Jesus says in Matthew 5:22 that if you have doen so little as to say "you fool" you have sinned and are in danger of hell without forgiveness. Paul said in Romans 3:23 that ALL have fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus isnt looking for people that think they are good by their own standards, Jesus is looking to save the people that accept him and do his work.
anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. -Matthew 10:38
2007-01-28 02:21:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which do I believe?
Neither.
First:
What is your definition of "good people?"
Do you think God has the same definition?
Many people are in a religion which is a corrupted form of Christianity.
If they are truly GOOD people, they will follow 2 Corinthians 6:17
“Get out from among them, and separate yourselves, says the Lord, quit touching the unclean thing and I will take YOU in.”
If someone is not willing to do that, God cannot consider them good.
BTW We don't go to heaven. Psalms 37:29
2007-01-28 02:13:32 · answer #8 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All people, even those born before the time of Christ, because some of them had no faith, yet your #1 is better the #2
2007-01-28 02:02:03 · answer #9 · answered by mypalnow2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. All good people of all faiths will be rewarded in this life and in the afterlife.
Jesus said that God is Love.
2007-01-28 01:57:00 · answer #10 · answered by sudonym x 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋