Hypothetical Question for Christians. Others are invited to ans. also.?

Question

If two people where in danger of being killed (how doesn't matter) and you could save only one,which would you save?
This is what you know about them: Both are the same age, Both have families that need them, Both are considered "good" people (in the human sense) One is a Christian and one is not. The non-christian could be Jewish, Muslum, Atheist, Or anything else, it doesn't matter. You know which is which. Who would you save and why?
If you're non-christian you're welcome to answer.

Some good answers. I can't pick a best so I'll put it to a vote. A couple of you mentioned the story about the man and two boys in the boat. That's what inspired the question. Sun, I'm sorry you think saving the Non-Christian is the "sarcastic" answer, because it's what a christian should do. Anything else would be wrong.

Answer 1

I'd flip a coin.

Answer 2

I got an email the other day that basically put this question into story form. It was a Christian dad, his son, and his son's friend the atheist. They were on a sail boat, and on their way back a storm hit, toppeling the boat. Only one life preserver on the boat. The dad had to choose, save his son, or the other boy. He saved the other boy. Why? Because he knew when his son died where he'd be going, whereas if the atheist died he knew where he'd be going too, and it wasn't the same place. In the email, the boy who was saved went on to become a preacher, who told this story in church.

What would I do? I'd save the one that was closer to me (in distance). If I had the life preserver spoken of in the email I got, I'd through it to the one furthest away and have him swim to the boat while I swam to the other guy and tried to drag him in.

Answer 3

I would have to save the none christian rather than the christian. The christian would be saved in the after life and live on for ever in the grace of god although his/her family would grieve they would know that their loved one is taken care of in gods kingdom. Where as the none christian would undoubtedly not receive the gift of eternal life and perish in hell. By saving him not only does it save him from the physical life but the eternal damnation as well as give him/her a chance to find God later in life. Think about it C.S. Lewis was not a christian for a long time and now look at him.

Answer 4

If you mean saved by saying Christian then I would save the non-saved person. This is actually a true story about a father, his son, and a friend of his son's. Who were on a boat, it flipped at sea, and the father (a very novice swimmer) could only go for one boy at a time, he went for the friend of the boy got him to the overturned boat and by the time he tried to go for his saved son it was too late. The boy he saved eventually became a very powerfull preacher who is still serving the Lord to this day.

Answer 5

I wouldn't base my decision to save them on what religion they are.

If at all possible I would try to save them both, but if i could only get one I would determine which had the highest probability of being saved. Religion would not be a determining factor in my choice.

Although it would be quite a twist for a christian to have his/her life saved by an Atheist. I wonder if Atheists as a whole would be seen differently if a christian actually saw the good in their hearts. It may make them see that you do not need religion to be a good person.

Answer 6

If that were the only criteria - the religion - I'd have to just flip a coin.



Of course the sarcastic answer is to save the non Christian since the Christian has a whole other life to 'go to'.

Answer 7

If I had to make a choice, it would be the non-Christian. I know this is going to sound horrible, but IF we Christians are right, the Christian who is killed will go straight to heaven. The other will not. I'd prefer for the one who isn't a Christian to have the opportunity to become one.
For the record, I'd simply help them, then tell them I'm a Christian, and if they want to know more, then I'm open. That way it's on them, and I won't be pushing them to become a Christian.

Answer 8

If I could only save one person, being a Christian I would save the non-believer.
The Christian would be safe in heaven. The non-believer would get another chance for heaven.

Answer 9

I would save the atheist. The others all believe in an afterlife given to them by their God for all their good works here on earth. The atheist lives this life to the fullest thinking this is their only one. I am none of the above. I have no label.

Answer 10

Assuming I was stuck within your parameters (meaning, I couldn't come up with some creative, out of the box solution to save them both), I would save the person who I was most likely sure I could save. In other words, the person physically closest to me. I would want to be SURE I was saving someone.

Now, if this was a "point and choose who walks free" senario, argh... I can't say for sure. I would probably be acting on instinct and praying that the Holy Spirit led my actions. I will NOT choose one person over another simply based on their religion (or lack thereof).

Answer 11

If I absolutely had to save only one,the non Christian so s/he'd have a better chance of not burining in Hell forever according to the Christian religion. However, I might have the courage to let myself die and them both live. To be honest, I'm really scared of dying myself.