If a person goes through their whole life without learning about Jesus, do you think that person will go to hell because they never accepted Jesus as their lord and savior? There are many people in remote places of the earth that have never heard of Jesus. Do you think they will go to hell? Also, how about children that die before they can learn about Jesus; do you believe they will go to hell also?
2007-10-19 11:45:04 · 29 answers · asked by straightshooter 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why is it then that many Christians say you will go to hell if you do not accept Jesus as your lord and savior?
2007-10-19 11:55:55 · update #1
"I read about an Eskimo hunter who asked the local missionary priest, 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' 'No,' said the priest, 'not if you did not know.' 'Then why,' asked the Eskimo earnestly, 'did you tell me?' "
~Annie Dillard
cool quote about this subject.
2007-10-19 11:49:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Straight answer.
There is no salvation apart from Jesus.
The root of your question is Justice. How could that be fair?
Yes, there are millions who have never heard the name, let alone any more about him. Sad, but true. What every one does have though is the testimony of creation. Creation openly testifies to there being a creator. I believe that any one who truly seeks this creator will find Jesus.
There are numerous stories of people having visions or dreams when other means were not available. I've heard of one Muslim village where everyone in the village had the same dream the same night about Jesus. They all turned to him. Christians were amazed when they encountered these people. There is a book written by a Chinese man called The Heavenly Man. It tells about the rebirth of the Chinese church under the Communist regime. God basically started it from scratch. It's an amazing story. Funny though it's not even the point of the book. It just part of the story.
Children who die before they are able to comprehend are different. The Bible isn't real clear on this. There are some hints. I believe that God is good and he will not do the children injustice. God has very much a Father's heart. I trust he will do what is right.
2007-10-19 12:03:56 · answer #2 · answered by Diane D. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, nobody is going to hell for failing to live up to a religious formula.
Have you ever read the C. S. Lewis "Narnia" series? At the end of the last book, all kinds of creatures are found in the New Narnia [obviously Heaven]--even those who would not seem to belong. There are a group of dwarves who are just inside the door, believing themselves to be locked in a tiny stable; there is even an "enemy" soldier who worshipped another god, but whose honesty and devotion were accepted anyway: the innocent and the evil alike--all had a chance to look upon the face of Aslan and either flee in self-inflicted terror, or run toward him in a state of unspeakable joy.
Although C.S.Lewis didn't spell this out in his theological books, I think what he wrote in his "childrens" books is exactly right.
Overall, I think the vast majority of people have distinct ideas about how they aught to act, which from a moral standpoint doesn't amount to black-and-white differences. People the world over recognise this, and almost universally agree that for the most part they screw up in some way, and thus have a willingness to learn the truth.
Children in hell? How could that be? Jesus said that a child-like purity and openness would bring a person to Heaven. Many people still fear that children who are unbaptised will be damned. In the Middle Ages, child baptisms took place out of fear--death was always immanent in the time of plagues and high infant mortality.
2007-10-19 12:23:21 · answer #3 · answered by Gryphon Noir 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The children, I believe, belong to Jesus. They probably don't understand the whole meaning of the plan of salvation prior to about eight any way.
Right now, the Lord is waiting on the hundreds of thousands of missionaries going to the little villages. Many millions of people are hearing about the savior with the computer age upon us.
However, in the dark age, yes many died with out the knowledge of the bible. They did not accept Christ. But our God knows this. And since Jesus goes to the Father (God) for all of us, he will be their mediator as well. This is why we have to let God be the judge. He make the decision, thankfully.
2007-10-19 11:53:24 · answer #4 · answered by Nifty Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi Joe. God predestines no person to bypass to hell. Hell is the state of "self exclusion" from communion with God. Mortal sin is the only sin which will deliver a man or woman to hell. that's a grave infraction of the regulation of God that destroys the divine existence interior the soul of the sinner, constituting a turn removed from God. For a sin to be mortal, 3 situations could exist" a million. Grave be counted.(to illustrate, homicide) 2. finished understanding of the evil of the act. 3. finished consent of the want. people who've by no skill heard of Jesus don't be conscious to the above situations. in the event that they stay good lives they'll actual bypass to heaven. on the different hand , many Christians are loosing their salvation.
2016-11-08 23:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by pedrosa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible teaches us that Christ will not return until every person on this earth has had a chance to hear the gospel. This is why it is so important to support missions.
I can't speak for God
I have pondered this question many times in my own mind so to answer your question, no I do not believe that our loving and merciful God would sentence someone to hell for not accepting Jesus if they have not heard about Him.
2007-10-19 12:01:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible says no they won't. Even a person who has heard of Jesus but has not had it explained to them would not go to hell. Many Christian's do not believe the way I do but I believe only the ones who actually take Satan's side and hate the Lord go to hell. That is just my opinion I have nothing to back it up.
2007-10-19 11:50:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, I Really Do Not.
See, the Bible Says that Jesus Said:
You Believe in GOD, then Believe in ME (Jesus).
The Holy Spirit (GOD) has been on the Earth for Who Knows How many Years!
Alot of People have Found and Believed in GOD befor Jesus Ever Died on the Cross!
See?
If you Believe in GOD (Holy Spirit) you WILL find out about Jesus---Later On!
See!
(even the Old Testament Saints had to Accept Jesus as their Saviour! in Paradise! so their Spirits could get Saved (Born-Again).
Hope This Helps!
2007-10-19 11:50:45 · answer #8 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as children go I believe there is an age of accountability...The Bible talks of what happens when children die, those who are not old enough to know better obvioulsy are not held accountable, but I believe it is a parents responsibility to teach their children about Christ.
I don't really know what happens to remote & isolated tribal people...I do know that some Christians go far and wide to spread the Gospel, for that reason...I do know this...
Romans 2:15
They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
That means everyone knows there is a God, deep down..Whether or not they chose to seek the truth is between God and those people...
I really wish I had better answers.
2007-10-19 11:53:18 · answer #9 · answered by Boppysgirl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO! and no where in the Bible does it say so!!!!
Romans
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
Gentiles at that time had not heard the word ....
2007-10-19 11:50:15 · answer #10 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Christ's atonement works for all mankind. God, being the loving, caring, benevolent God that he is, will give everyone the chance to hear about Christ and to accept of deny him. For those that learn about Christ while living upon the earth, that opportunity is obvious. for those that have or will live on the earth and who never have a chance to hear about Christ, they will receive the opportunity to do so in the next life. That is what Christ meant when he told the thief who hung with hom on the cross, that "Today thou wilt be with me in paradise." or in otherwords, today (after death) you will have a change to learn about me in the world to come.
Mormons believe that innocent babies are not damned to hell just because they did not receive baptism. They, like others who never had the chance to learn of Christ, will get the opportunity in the next life.
This also brings up another interesting and important point. Christ taught that we all need baptism. That is why he, himself, received baptism from John. Yet, if we die before getting baptized, it could be assumed that we failed. The LDS church performs baptism (and other holy ordinances) vicariously in behalf of those who have died without doing so while in life. This doctrine is supported in the Bible (see I Corinthians 15:29) In this way, we can become saviors on Mt Zion oursleves by performing those necessary ordinances like baptism for those who never had the chance while living.
So, our eskimo friend can have baptism performed for him and any others who want it.
While this ordinances can be performed for and in behalf of the dead, the dead must still "accept" them in the next life and choose to accept Christ.
2007-10-19 11:58:23 · answer #11 · answered by Kerry 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋