If societies who have NEVER heard of Jesus do not go to hell, what is the point of missionaries?

Question

This is a follow-up to a question where between 80-90% of Christians said God would not send a non-believer to hell if they had never heard of Jesus (for the record, these Christians disagree with Paul).

Answer 1

Missionaries are out there to persuade them to accept a faith they otherwise couldn't care less about. The missionaries are the ones who inflict their views of heaven and hell upon otherwise perfectly happy people.

Answer 2

Great point!!! I think christians and maybe muslims back in the day are really the only ones who do the whole missionary thing. But in this context, your correct; if people haven't heard of christ, why set them up with a choice to possibly burn. Personally, I can't see ONE GOOD THING brought on by missionaries!! Personally I study medicine and cultural anthropology, to me it seems that going to a different culture that you don't even understand, and preaching a belief of accept or burn is WRONG!!! HOw ethnocentric!! FOr example, there are cases in various indigeneous tribes where the proposal of christianity has actually RUINED and DESTABILIZED entire cultures!!! Take for example parts of south america where natives have adapted to certain enviroments, and habits of other tribes. With insertion of this foreign religion, strife has been brought in tribal wars, where there used to be none. Look at all the cultures MISSIONARIES have DESTROYED, some in conjuction with conquistadors, others destroying cultures all on their own. All I'm sure of is there are many beautiful cultures that no longer exist anymore,(aztec, incan, mayan, yaqui, some northern natives, many aborigines, etc.) that don't believe the same way, and thus don't honor the earth or natural resources, other diversities, or ways of living in harmony with the earth. Missionaries are blind idiots in this. Just like a child trying to bring an invention like fire to the world but instead burning EVERYTHING in their path. But then again I feel that many native traditions were FAR more enlightened than what we have today. AM I the only one who thinks there is ONE road to heaven, when the kingdom of heaven is within each of us? ANd people the only COMMANDMENT Jesus gave was to love others as I have loved you. WHich is what many cultures already did.

Answer 3

I am a missionary and have been one all my adult life. We go because Jesus commanded us. He said to preach the Gospel to the world. Mother Theresa said use words if necessary.

I do not agree that believing that those who have never heard of Jesus cannot be saved not do I believe that St. Paul even mentioned those who would not have the opportunity to hear the Gospel message. The bible does say that the belief in God is evidenced by His creation so that non-belief for having not heard is not an excuse for disbelief.

One must be very careful of taking isolated verses out of the body of Scriptures and use them as proof texts for this is improper hermeneutics and results in eisegesis.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 4

There have been situations where natives in the far reaches of civilization have come to know Jesus WITHOUT missionaries.

Missionaries feel they are doing God's will, but some risk their lives unneccessarily and end up in trouble.

If God wanted his Word preached to remote villages, he wouldn't need money raised, people picked and plane tickets purchased. He would just send someone.

There are just as many confused non-believers as there are confused believers.

Some Christian doctrines say there is a rapture (sorry, no), some say that God tests us (wrong again), some give God the praise for making them sick ( that is so wrong) or putting them in dire situations (still wrong).

Any man who has a heart for God, God will find them, whether they know anything or not. God doesn't need anyone's permission or approval for all he does.

God is God.

Answer 5

Closer to home, what about me?

There was I, blissfully unaware that if I didn't accept Jeezers as my Personal Saviour I'd be cast into the Lake of Fire - but trying to be as nice a little pillock as I could. This would have kept me exempt from the punishment as a Virtuous Pagan.

And then along comes a fellow with a Bible and sets me up for the Pit. What did I ever do to him?

No more Mr. Nice Guys - I'm gonna make 'em PAY.

CD

Answer 6

God Told us to go unto all the world and preach the gospel. Man is without exuse to not accepting Jesus Christ as their lord and savior. Even the animals know who created them. God has given us enough evidence to Know he is real. People that have never exepted jesus are not saved and sadly will go to hell.God tells us The only exeption to this are people that died before they could understand like babies. But please read the Bible for youself

Answer 7

What a expository question.

The point of missionaries is to increase the flock. Once herded, a Christian rarely escapes, AND often indoctrinates all its offspring.

Answer 8

Indeed they do disagree with Paul and Jesus too. The fact is Jesus made the command that all men and women must be born again. Failure to be born again leaves a person where they were born in the flesh, in a ungodly state. If people are not born again they are lost, Jesus said it not me.

Answer 9

All people will go to hell without Jesus. I guess I'm in the 10 percent. That is why Christians must witness and we must send missionaries.

Romans 10:13-15 (NKJV)
For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
[14] How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? [15] And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Answer 10

Jesus overcame Satan and Hell, so it no longer exists. Those who die ignorant, just die with no hope of being in Heaven. Those who do accept Jesus over just hearing him look forward to bring with him.