Question for Christians: What about people who've never heard of your god or jesus?

Question

Say, people living deep in the heart of the Amazon jungle? Do they go to hell too? If so, isn't it kind of mean of god to send people to hell simply for living in an isolated area?

Answer 1

Mercy is given to those who haven't heard at all. Children, those who have not heard, and those who are in such a condition that they cannot make the choice or understand it, all get in. Why? God has mercy on those who haven't heard. How can you be faily judged on something you haven't seen/heard? If you hear the gospel *1 time* and reject it, you can go to hell. You are now responsible for what you have heard. The truth speaks to you, you know it when you hear it, some harden up to it, while others soften and accept it.

God is merciful, even those who HAVE heard it will get a 2nd chance...assuming they live long enough for the tribulation to begin....and don't die right away. Once the peace treaty is signed with Israel for 7 years, the tribulation offically begins. Woe to those who do not have the Lord with them at that time. Durin that time many people will die and be killed, it's all in the book of revelations, but out of the tribulation many are saved! In fact, so many that the apostle who was there couldn't count them all. Why wait for things to get bad before calling on Him? Don't wait, today is the day of salvation!

Answer 2

Paul addresses that issue in the book of Romans:
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

To "translate", Paul says that those who do not have "the law" (meaning the knowledge of God as revealed in the Bible) still have it written on their heart. They are able to understand some things are right and what are wrong. They other live according to their understanding, or they don't. Some are "accused" and other are "excused" by their choices. In the end, God will judge them by the secrets (motives and desires) within their heart.

You seem to feel that in order to believe in Jesus you have to have heard of his name. There are multitudes of Old Testament people (including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, etc) who never knew His name nor heard about his sacrifice. But they understood his love, they dedicated themselves to finding and serving him, they believed he could forgive them when they sinned (even if they did not understand all the mechanics of how), that he could help them to live better, holy lives, and gave themselves totally to him. And they were saved by that faith.

That same committment is available to anyone - even in the darkest region of the Amazon - whether they ever hear the name "Jesus" or not. And they are judged on their committment, not their knowledge, in the end.

Answer 3

The bible doesn't say exactly what will happen to people who never heard. I believe that they are a law unto themselves....

Romans 2:14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

In otherwords, they have a conscience, and the proof of God is abundantly clear in nature alone.

One thing I do know, and that is For Sure..there is no one more full of justice or mercy then our God. He will give each person a chance to come to him. Hell is only for those, who refuse all the way to the grave.

Answer 4

Oh, boy! This is the classic "desert island" question. Here's my take:

God already has a plan for them. What it is, He doesn't say in the Bible. He's hidden it from us for a reason. There *may* be other ways to get into Heaven. Jesus said He was "the way," and I believe He really is the only way, but God is just, and He may have contingency plans for those who never heard the Gospel by applying Jesus' atonement for them even thought they didn't ask for it. However, the only way presented in the New Testament is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. All He wants us to know is that, and He wants us to preach that to the ends of the world. He also wants everyone to know that once they hear the Gospel, they are expected to make a choice. Either accept it and have eternal life, or reject it and have eternal death.

So, the real issue is not these people but you. God has a plan for their salvation, and He has a plan for yours. Have you heard the Gospel? If so, the ball is in your court. Are you going to accept it or reject it? The answer to that question has eternal consequences.

It’s your eternity. It’s your choice.
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Answer 5

God reveals Himself through creation as seen here in Romans 1:20-21: "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him."

God has given every person a conscience and everyone has to make the choice to either live up to his conscience or not.

Rom.2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,
15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

When a person truly seeks God, God will bring him the revelation of Jesus as seen in the example of Cornelius in Acts 11:13-14: "He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’"

Answer 6

Considering what the Bible says about the matter, does hell, as many view it really exist? The Bible says God is love.(1John 4:8) He's the very epitome of love. Compare that with the deplorable practice of God's own people, the Israelite, who adopted pagan practices of sacrificing their children by throwing them into the fire to false gods. Jeremiahs chapter 7, verse 31 which says "And they have built the high places of To´pheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hin´nom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, a thing that I had not commanded and that had not come up into my heart.’ Notice, this act was something repulsive to God. God is an excellent judge of hearts and knows who is deserving of death and who will be granted life. Those are the only two options (Life or Death) I am aware of in the Bible. We are aware that when something is consigned to the fire, it is completely and utterly destroyed. So too with the Bibles use of fire generally means something is completely destroyed. There are other scriptures throughout the Bible to show gods fairness in dealing with mankind. If only we would listen. Isaiah 48:17-19.

Answer 7

This question gets asked so much, and the bible states that the gospel is being shared throughout this world, and it is! God calls us as missionaries and as just evangelists to go share His word----BUT even if someone in the amazon jungle never hears about Christ, Romans 1:20 is pretty clear to what God has put ON EACH of our hearts....so that we are without excuse.

Answer 8

...In Romans 1 and 2 we are told that God gives sufficient evidence of Himself to mankind through creation, and everyone is born knowing that there is a God. Everyone also has the law of God written on their hearts. If anyone to know more, God will surely get the message to them via missionaries.
...A question like yours presupposes everyone wants to know and is unfairly left out of hearing - this is not the case - many folks ignore the revelation they have, and go off into all manner of sins.
...The other thing that is significant is many show great concern for those who never heard, just about the time someone asks them if they are saved. It becomes a way of stalling and not facing the issue themselves.
...What about you, friend? Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation?
...Whosoever will, may come.

Answer 9

No, people will not go to hell for living in an isolated area. Everyone will have the opportunity to accept the message. If not in this life, then in death. But they have to accept it before they are resurrected and final judgement. Why did Christ preach to people? To save them. Why did he preach to the dead? To save them. After Christ's death he preached to those who had died, including the disobedient drowned in the flood. Why? To mock them? No, to save them....

1 Peter 3:
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1 Corintians 15:
29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

Why would they have been getting baptized for the dead if there was no hope for them? They were baptized for the dead so the dead would have the same opportunity to be baptized as if they were living and receive all of the same blessings.

Answer 10

you know i've always wondered this same thing. would they be punished simply because they've never heard of him? i'm a christian too ( well at least raised that way) but I find myself now, not partial to any organized religion. I mean, i believe in God and the bible- but when it comes to religion, not so much. I think people should have a faith ( in whatever they choose) But I think religions are formed and created because some people have a similar interpretation of the bible. Look at this way. If any One religion is true-then all religion has to be false. (since they all deem themselves to be the only correct religion)
sorry for the rambling