...do they go to hell since they never accepted Jesus?
If so, how is that fair or just behavior from a just God? How can someone accept Jesus ("no one comes to the father except through me") if they've lived their entire life on a deserted island or in the heart of Africa and never once heard of Jesus or saw a Bible?
If not, and if God makes exceptions for people who didn't have a chance to accept Jesus, then wouldn't it be better to NOT have missionaries. If a country has never heard of Jesus, they'll all go to heaven and no one will be sent to hell. But if they HAVE heard of Jesus, then they might reject him, and some of them will go to hell.
2007-05-28 03:55:39 · 17 answers · asked by Aeryn Whitley 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nobody is going to NOT hear about God. If there is somebody who goes their entire life with never hearing his word, then i believe that when that person dies he will get to chose. But its stil up to the person to chose.
2007-05-28 04:00:43 · answer #1 · answered by Jesus_Freak 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It doesn't matter how little or how much spiritual light that a person has. What they will be judged on is " what they do with the spiritual light that they've been given." The book of Romans teaches us that God put it in every man's heart to know Him. The light is there regardless of whether you are in Africa or the U.S. . Now what you do with that light is each individual person's choice. I took God's at His word many years ago when He says, " And ye shall seek me and find me when ye search for me with all your heart" ( Jeremiah 29:13 ). I sought and I keep on seeking and the biblical light of His Word becomes stronger and stronger as I trust, go through the storms, and learn over and over again that He is faithful. God is good, fair, and always full of mercy. Don't worry so much about how He's going to handle lost souls if you are doing your part in spreading His Word to help prevent it..
2007-05-28 04:21:25 · answer #2 · answered by HeVn Bd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I recommend you look up St.Faustina and the Divine Mercy...
If someone never hears about Jesus, or even God for that matter, then they cannot be expected to live their lives in that knowledge. Upon death, they may be presented with the info, and then allowed to choose based on that info, either to accept God's message or not.
If we are given the opportunity to know God's message during this lifetime, we are held more accountable. However, even if we have rejected God's Word all of our lives, again, upon death, we are given a choice: either admit we were wrong to reject Him, and ask for forgiveness, or continue to reject Him. There may be some "time" to do in Purgatory before entry to Heaven is granted, but if we choose God, He will not forsake us...
But I would NOT want to be one who rejects Him...
Still, I think the missionaries do good work, if they truly are spreading the Word of God. It is better to know God during this lifetime than to not know Him.
Peace.
2007-05-28 04:09:16 · answer #3 · answered by rose-dancer 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This question has been asked countless times and generally people do not like the answer and tough as it is to accept the fact is that unless a person accepts Jesus Christ into their lives they will not enter Heaven, Jesus said;`No one can come to the Father accept through Me` and this is very clear indeed.
2007-05-28 04:00:12 · answer #4 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
God is the only one to judge what is in a persons heart and soul. One must realize that Christianity is a personal and loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
2007-05-28 04:07:53 · answer #5 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As children we are taught, "Good people go to heaven when they die and bad people go to hell when they die."
Isn't it time we transcended the childhood fables.
No one has ascended to heaven except the son of man (John 3:13).
And hell?
Hell Is A Lie! is a booklet available free from 8v@8v.com
It's a real eye opener.
The Bible speaks of a resurrection.
"Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" (John 5:28-29).
The King James "damnation" is from the Greek word "krisis" meaning separating and contesting.
The mercy of the Lord endures for ever and he is not willing that any should perish but that all should repent and attain eternal life.
2007-05-28 03:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Its not a game or hair splitting the thing to remember its a joy to know Jesus and everyone will hear the word if not I'm sure God knows their hart and will judge all accordingly
2007-05-28 04:03:45 · answer #7 · answered by az_george_63 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No they do not go to hell. God judges them for the light that they have recieved, not the light that they didn't have. God gives us all a conscience and those that never knew Christ will be judged based on if they lead a good life and tried to spread a message about love.
2007-05-28 04:01:33 · answer #8 · answered by Luke†Gospeltothepoor 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
This is precisely the reason for Christians to spread the word. As far as what happens to these people in the end, no doubt God's judgment will be fair.
2007-05-28 04:19:00 · answer #9 · answered by Eye of Innocence 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you know the word and choose not to live by it, then you go to hell. People worship different Gods but in the end, they all mean the same thing, the jist is all the same, the belief of the afterlife.
2007-05-28 03:59:46 · answer #10 · answered by Stacy R 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋