Thursday, June 26, 2008
How Many Ways to Heaven???
There was recently an article on the front page of the OWH that says that 'religious tolerance up'. It says that the majority of people believe there are many ways to get to heaven (just like what Oprah is telling everyone). I know what I believe, that Christ is THE way, and the ONLY way. BUT, I have a question. What happens to folks that are brought up in a foreign land that were never given the gospel? It's hard for me to fathom that our loving God will condemn those that do not know better. My wife argues that if we had been raised as a hindu or some other religion, that that's what we'd believe, not knowing any better. It's hard to argue. Have you ever studied this and can you provide any insight?
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2 comments:
This is a really hard question to answer, and ultimately no matter what we believe, God is the one who makes the decision.
Some arguments against that I can think of: (first two are kind of cold, the third one is more my heart.)
1. Everyone descends from Adam and everyone descends from Noah. They followed God, and knew his ways, and at some point some of their descendants strayed. The Bible says in several places (paraphrasing now) that the sins of the father are visited on the children for generations to come. One could argue that they are being punished for the sins of their ancestors.
2. When God gave Israel the Promised Land he didn't say try to evangelize them for 6 months and if they won't change their ways then kill them. He said kill every one of them man, woman, child, and livestock, leave none alive. God is just, so they received the penalty for their sins.
3. On a more personal note, and more self convicting, Jesus commands us to go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. And he will be with you even until the end of the age. Look at Paul, he went to as many places and told as many people as he could tell about Jesus, trained up leaders, and went to the next town. I have questioned often whether as Christians, given the job of being Ambassadors for Christ, if we should be more evangelical in sharing our faith. Yes work is a mission, but the people at work have heard the gospel before and have either accepted it or rejected it. That doesn't mean we can't share it again as they may accept it yet. But when the disciples went to a town that would not accept the Good News, they wiped the dust from their feet and went to the next town. In a way those that die without having heard the Gospel, do so because people like me won't sacrifice everything to take the message to them. Read Ezekiel 33: 8, 9.
I believe Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. So we need to tell as many people as often as possible about the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ.
In the end, only God knows the fate of those that die without hearing the Good News of Jesus.
I totally agree with HuskerDale. Around the world, different countries have different cultures and different GOD(s). Even Hindu religious books, tell a story about first man on planet earth, they named him 'Manu'. I don't know if he was the same guy, known as Adam.
Hindu, Islam and may be other religions have their religious preachings and 'ways' to heaven. Knowing the existence of different country with interesting and mysterious history/culture about starting point of religions, I think I would be ignorant to say, ONLY way to heaven is Jesus or if a hindu says only way to heaven is 'some hindu God'.
On a related note, what about theory of evolution? Even though with strong faith in god and religion, I find it difficult to convince myself, that one fine day god decided and created 'Human' as we are today. How come all other species adapted in years on earth and we (Humans) get to enter earth in our best(and final?) 'form'?
Just a thought. I am sure, this discussion can go on and on.
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