How about those that never heard. Or like Jesus said,"forgive them for they know not what they do". If some truly know not what they do, even after hearing the Gospel, AND THE GOOD NEWS, then why would God send them to hell? They know not. And if you truly knew then who would turn away, except through not truly knowing? It makes no sense that anyone that knows the truth of what the Bilble means that any one would turn away, UNLESS THEY TRULY DID NOT KNOW! How can anyone judge justly. Even God calls them ignorant. Why send them to hell for not knowing. Or send only some to hell and some to heaven for not knowing. Is that right? To much drama! I can see why people turn away, because Christians do not have an answer for the truth that is in them, just excuses, and the old faithful answer, just have faith brother. No! God gave us a brain and I, like all, have a right to answers. Be like the bereans, study and give a better answer than faith. Please! know your Bible. It sais to have one.
2007-07-30 11:20:07 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What did he say?
2007-07-30 11:26:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ultimately, unless you read the Bible for yourself and develop your own opinions, listening to other people will always confuse you (this is what I've learned). People aren't perfect, so it makes sense that we won't be perfect in relaying the truth of the Bible.... People screw everything up, it's not God or Jesus that does that. I think that if Christianity was the way God would want it to be, everyone would be Christian because they would see it for what it is. Some Christians make up stuff that truly isn't even in the Bible and truly SCARE PEOPLE AWAY. It's a shame.
God's perfect, so I'm sure He'll judge in the perfect manner because He knows our hearts inside and out....There's nothing we can hide from Him and I believe He knows us well enough to know how we would react if we would know the whole truth. And I also agree with one of the other answers that He will judge us according to what we do know. I don't have all the answers, but that's just how I've always looked at it.
All I have to say is check out the Bible in-depth for yourself, and draw your own conclusions from it.... So many crazies have and will scare people away :P (And I'm sure God takes that into account too because He's perfect)
2007-07-30 18:35:04 · answer #2 · answered by anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is not a respecter of persons so that whatever He has to do to reach all mankind He will do. I believe that everyone is given a chance prior to their death to turn to God through His Son. God is 100% perfect and doesn't make mistakes.
As far as what Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" -- that is simple to answer. There is carnal knowing ( understanding that comes from those who are dead in sin and have no true understanding of spiritual concepts ) and spiritual understanding which can only come through a relationship with God provided in Jesus Christ.
The know not what they are doing didn't mean they didn't know that they were crucifying Christ but rather that they did not understand "who He was." That prayer was for that occasion only and doesn't apply to the rest of humanity.
As far as not knowing what we are doing - that is absolute absurdity because God has put a conscience in every man, woman and child who ever lived or will live so that we know right from wrong automatically. Every time we deny our conscience we go deeper and deeper into spiritual blindness until we get to the point of hardening our hearts where there is no remedy. God speaks in His word and says, "My Spirit will not ALWAYS strive with man." There is a cutoff which is spoken of in scripture that says, "It is appointed unto men ONCE to DIE and AFTER THAT the judgment."
I think since you know about the Bereans you should also know that they were commended for studying and comparing scripture with scripture. That is what I do, and what any honest person should do. It is equally wise to study the Bible verses in context to capture the entire meaning of the verse using the verses before and after that and applying them.
To conclude - there is man's "wisdumb" or knowlege apart from God, and there is real "wisdom" which comes from God and God alone.
We are all in the school of life, and some are listening to the teacher but refuse to believe what is being taught, others are too busy to listen, still others listen for a while but then turn away from the truth, and then there are those who will never turn from the truth to lies because they have a very personal and vitally alive relationship with the Author of the scriptures - God Himself! They know that for them to turn from Him would be the greatest foolishness ever. They are the real believers.
2007-07-30 18:42:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, you are assuming there is such a place as Heaven. Once you get beyond that slight hurdle, there's a whole lot of folks who question if Jesus even existed. There's even more who do not think he was even a true son of God. There's people in Africa and probably parts of China and other places who have never even heard of Jesus. If there is a heaven are all these folks excluded from Heaven? Then you have all those people who are Muslims or Buddists. And there's some pretty okay people who are atheists.
This religious stuff gets pretty tricky.
2007-07-30 18:27:22 · answer #4 · answered by Galileo W. Smith, Esq. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God will not hold us accountable for mistakes we did in ignorance and then repented, but it's our duty to look for the truth, we tend to believe what we hear and make no effort from our sides. You rightly said that He gave us brains, we have the capability to question and look for logic.
Jesus himself said "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" that means a sinner will enter hell no matter what he believes....in the next verse he says "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" Ezekiel 18:20-21
if the sinner gives up his sins he will not die and enter heaven. It is clear that we need to leave our sins to enter heaven and with that also keep up the commandments and do that which is lawful and right, just accepting Jesus as your lord and savior is not enough.
Jesus was send to the Jews and his message was meant for that time and those people
Matthew 15:24 (King James Version)
But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
I am a Muslim and the Quran tells us that Jesus was a mighty messenger of God, who did wonders and miracles by God's help. Jesus had prophesiesed the coming of a comforter after him MUHUMMED A "COMFORTER" LIKE JESUS, PEACE BE UPON THEM (c) "And I will pray the father, and he shall give you ANOTHER Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. JOHN 14:16
Jesus (pbuh) was the first Comforter, and ANOTHER would have to be one like him, of the same kind as Jesus, a man and not a Ghost.
"They surely disbelieve who say; Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! Whosoever ascribes partners unto Allah, for him Allah has forbidden Paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evildoers ,there will be no helpers.The Quran 5-72
2007-07-30 18:56:19 · answer #5 · answered by mehrosh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible says the innocent and those who follow Jesus will get in. You do make an excellent point about not turning away if a person truly knows. Maybe everyone would get in after all - assuming for a minute that heaven exists.
2007-07-30 18:26:14 · answer #6 · answered by Dharma Nature 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The word of God is not just in the Bible, it is EVERYWHERE. The Word of God is not just in words, but in feelings of love and in the Beauty all around.
God is a title, just as Mr. President is a title.
But the president has names and so does God.
Jehovah, Allah, and Rama, are names of the same Person, God. God has many children. We are all brother and sister.
We can all love God!
Jesus said, there are so many things which I can not tell you now!
A rose by any other name is still a rose.
2007-07-30 18:39:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can also see your own truth and follow nobody. It is better to listen respectfully to evolved creatures and make it your own way, often difficulties and sorrows are a proper distraction and pointer to meditation, whereas listening to other people´s point of view can lead to interpretation and giving unreal things importance. Remember you don´t have to be important or good. See the simplicity.
2007-07-30 18:27:46 · answer #8 · answered by Manny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can know about god but do you follow him.if you don't follow the laws of god you are guilty of them (sins) when you do all the you are sappost to do and obey the words of the lord then you could be save. don't forget you are a Israelite prince. try The Comforter info .com you will like what you see brother.
2007-07-30 18:40:25 · answer #9 · answered by Sharayah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Judging is not for us to do! Discernment....YES! Judgement? NO!
Listen, no one can send anyone to hell! That is each human beings choice. One that we make NOW, not after death.
Do you really think that Jesus would leave HIS children ignorant of HIM? NO WAY! That would be like saying, Jesus only died for a few! OH NO! He died for all! So, I do beleive that Jesus does reveal Himself to ALL and it is up to them to make that choice.
Drama? You speak of drama....God moves in mysterious ways! I too, see things that make me cringe or, gives me a bad feeling! But, again, it is not for me to judge them.
2007-07-30 18:30:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christ taught forgiveness and we live in the time of grace.
This is the time for all to come to accept the atonement God provided.God is a righteous God who paid the penalty of death with his righteous flesh. It was not in vain.
2007-07-30 18:31:29 · answer #11 · answered by djmantx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋