Christians, do you think it is impossible for an adult to die without hearing about Jesus?

Question

If so, how do you know?

Answer 1

No I do not.

Christians hold that there is one path to eternal righteousness. That path is through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the second person of the Trinitarian God. Christ himself was clear that **no one** could come to God the Father, the first person of the Trinitarian God, except through Christ himself. In this era of religious pluralism, “it is OK to believe what you want as long as you are sincere”, the message from Christ has been severely diluted and corrupted. That said, I believe that there is biblical support for the idea that persons of different faiths outside of orthodox Christianity, may be found righteous before God at the time of their death. For example, consider those that died before Christ walked the earth or those that had never heard the message of Christ in this era that have died. For these, God looks into their hearts and minds, judging them according to their deepest beliefs. If and only if their deepest beliefs held that they could not make themselves righteous through their own mind and efforts, and instead required a representative perfectly sinless advocate (the Word, Logos, or Christ), through whom they could appeal to God’s mercy, then I believe God will accept the person into the community of heaven.

That said, the scriptures are clear that there are none righteous, for they have had the laws of God revealed to them in the world around them. They are to be found without excuse at the judgment throne of God:

Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

So, as I noted above, their must be some deeply held belief in the message of Christ, whether through direct communication, or indirectly via God's revelation in this world. God’s grace makes this possible, but not all will accept God’s call to righteousness and for this they are judged appropriately:

Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

For these reasons God will give us up to our own sinful desires and beliefs. (See Romans 1:24-32).

Answer 2

I don't know for sure, but I think that it would be pretty hard here in the United States to die without hearing anything about Jesus. I think that that would be close to impossible. I don't know in other countries though, I guess it could be possible. How can you pass by a church without knowing it's a place of worship? I think that it is almost impossible to go through your life without having someone from some religion knock on your door to tell you about him! Good question though.

Answer 3

The impossibility for an adult to die without hearing about Jesus is possible when one refuses to believe and listen in everything that life can offer.

Answer 4

So many people must not read the papers. There is one well documented tribe that has manged to fend off outside intrusion and is now protected from any intrusion. They will have had no chance to hear of any Western Religion.

There are also a number of tribes that have only had limited contact with the outside and then it has generally been with anthropologists who will bend over backwards not to introduce religion or any other western concepts.

There are huge areas of the world particularly in Brazil where there may well be tribes that have never had contact with the outside world.

Whilst large areas of China will know of religion it is highly likely that there are areas where Christianity is unknown.

Sadly a few people each year are born deaf dumb and blind. I would be intrigued to know how they could possible hear or learn about anything!

Answer 5

it in not only possible but it happens quite a bit. Most people tend to forget about third world countries or isolated villages in South America. In the United States the only possible way to not hear about Jesus before you die is to be born and live in isolation. However the possibility of not hearing about Jesus beefier you die is less than it was one hundred years ago. As we progress in technology we make the world smaller and more accessible. with that in mind there may people who are hearing about Jesus for the first time as this is being written.

Answer 6

Well, it depends on where one lives.
It is definitely possible to live an entire life without hearing about Jesus. In America, I think it would be fair to assume that most everyone has heard about Jesus.
In other countries, I am not so sure.
Take Tajikistan, for example. People have heard of Jesus, but not about him. There he would be known as the prophet Isa, but they would now know him as Messiah.

Answer 7

i think that is impossible. but only on certain conditions. first, it really depends on the location of the adult. for instance here in America its almost a sure thing they will hear about Jesus because Christianity is one of the top religions in this country. however, if the adult lived somewhere in.....Africa or deep into china somewhere, the chances that they would hear of him are smaller. so it is impossible only on certain conditions

Answer 8

It is completely possible. Probably not in my town though.

The issues that it brings up in my faith are numerous. I have a cop out position, as a believer in Jesus. We are His creation. No one loves His creation more then Him. If there is some possible way for an individual to be 'saved' after death, not hearing how to be 'saved', Jesus will have the answer. There is nothing more that I can do.

Answer 9

Yes

If the person:
1)has not heard of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or Sikhism
2)does not live in a diverse area with at least one of the 4 religions mentioned above
3)is illiterate and cannot afford an education

Answer 10

Well, considering that 21st Century technology still has not reached every crevice of the planet (especially the 3rd-World countries), such is a possibility. That's why the end has not yet come, because the good news must be preached in all the inhabited earth first. (see Matt. 24:14)