Who has more of a chance of going to Heaven between the two? (Serious Question)?

Question

A Christian who believes in Christ, but swaggers with an air of self importance, or a Heathen who does not believe in Christ, but is humble and kind?

I've noticed a lot of Christians on this site with a sense of entitlement to pride, but a religion has to be joking when these kind of people are chosen over actually kind and humane people...

btw, I'm an Atheist. An Atheist extremely disturbed by the sense of self entitlement Christians possess...

Answer 1

In the bible the Pharisees were such people. They were people who thought they were great just because they prayed a lot, were the "right people" and looked down on sinners. I can't remember who said that, it might have been Jesus, but anyway, the Pharisees were denounced.

There was a sinner that no-one liked and he prayed to God for forgiveness.

As far as I remember, The sinner had better chance of going to Heaven than the Pharisee.

Yes, I've noticed that swagger of self-importance among a lot of christians on this site. According to the Pharisee story, they will get a rude awakening when they die. Those who don't believe in Christ, or subscribe to a different religion, and are humble and kind, will be viewed in a benevolent light.

So... let the self-important people swagger all they like.

Answer 2

If as Christians believe that Christ was the son of god then I would have to say that it would be the Christian that gets into heaven. In this case it's belief that is all important and just because a person swaggers with an air of self importance it doesn't make them a bad person just a pain in the butt!!! I doubt that the Christian god - if he, she, it - does exist is going to refuse entrance to so called eternal bliss for that reason.

Answer 3

Honest Answer to a serious question: The Christian; Why? because thats the principle, that you believe in Christ you go to heaven ,not behave well and go to heaven.

There is no excuse for some of the behaviour i have seen or read on this site, but the principle stands because God does not go back on his word.

On the seriousness of a religion, humans manage to desecrate the best of almost everything, why not this, stop concentrating on the clearly few lost ones (with lack of a better term) and see the beauty of the God who loves us and them.

Answer 4

Well I'd say the Christian. You don't get to heaven by being good, because being "good" is merely being good compared to other people. Indeed someone may be very good compared to others, but this in no way makes them righteous in God's sight. Every single person needs redemption from sin, and a good deed does not cancel out a bad deed. This does not mean being good is useless, we are called to be good and seek righteousness, but if we could be saved by "being good" then Christ died for no reason whatsoever. We need redemption. Emphasis on the "."

Answer 5

Heard an interesting one. Pulling all of the religious specific references out because i think it applies universally throughout the religions.

so this man is walking by and is on his way for a 1 to 1 with god, on the way he meets a guy waiting for him.

The guy no 2 says - I've lived a good life - gone to the meetings - praised my maker on a number of required occasions, met the right people and given monies to charity.

first guy says OK then, so the second one replies - can u do me a favour - when u do your 1 to 1 can you ask God where he's made me a place in heaven. Guy no1 says OK.

He walks on and theres a fairly wretched looking man waiting for him. he stops guy number 1 and says - i heard you're on your way to meet god - guy no1 says yup

Guy no3 says - look i've lived a bad life - i've drunk too much drink - done too many women & been high most of my waking moments - do me a favour - ask God where he's prepared a place in hell for me.

Guy no1 says - OK.

After a while he's on his way back - he's had his 1 to 1 with his maker & the two guys he spoke to are stood together. Hes turns to the pious 1 & says - you are going to hell coz the deeds u done are through a colossal amount of arrogance & u condescend your fellow man & expect things from ur maker.

To the wretched looking guy he says - you've done bad things - but u sincerely fear your maker & have had the humility to admit your were wrong & are humble enough to not expect anything from ur maker. Your maker knows knows you regret what u do. so u are going to heaven.

Answer 6

The bible tells us that to be a Christian and a follower of Christ,you must be "born again " of the Spirit of God. Those that are"born again" and follow the teachings of Christ will go to heaven. It has nothing to do with "goodness" but everything to do with treating all people with love and respect, no matter their beliefs,race etc.When you become a Christian, you learn to live like one by reading the Word of God.You can"t get to heaven unless you are "born again" to Christ.

Answer 7

Both are sinners to begin with and God hates pride.Romans 3:23 " For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God "...A born again believer in Christ will be in heaven and his sins are paid for by the Blood of Christ .You can be the nicest person in the world , unless you hear the word of God and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and try to live by his words , you will never see heaven . John 3:3 "Verily , verily I say unto thee, unless a man becomes born again he cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven ".

Answer 8

the only Christians going to heaven are the ones that believe and have asked for forgiveness kindness does not give you a way to heaven atheist are kind and humble some of them we all have personality traits that are not becoming a good Christian but we must work to be more Christ like and that's it plain and simple alot of people do kind acts but only to bring attention to themselves not for the right reasons

Answer 9

Since you are talking about Heaven and Christian, you have to consider also Satan, who always try to prevent people from going to Heaven (Atheists are some of the victims!)
Therefore the second party, who do not accept Christ and not even know about the presence of Heaven will be accused by Satan as: not eligible to enter into Heaven!
One must initially get out of Satan's governance, and accept Jesus as the King f Heaven, before being eligible to join the Heavenly Kingdom.
Anyway, actually you are not eligible to talk about heaven or Christian if you stick to your atheistic faith, because you don't believe about the presence of heaven!

Answer 10

I think it would be the heathen. Why? because a true believer would not act self righteous or self important. I true believer would be humble, loving, charitable, kind, etc. I don't believe that just believing is enough to be saved. Because if you truly believe you would also act that way. So believing (faith) and action go hand in hand.

I also believe God is just and merciful. So a heathen that acts humble and kind will have a chance in the after life to hear of Christ and choose if he believes. I don't think God intends for only some of the people to hear of him and not others. But if you choose to reject him then you choose to take the consequences for those actions.