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I believe there are people (Buddhists, hindu, etc.) in, say, other countries that have heard of christianity, but do not believe it simply because they have grown up to or have been raised to believe the religion of their family, or otherwise. My question is this: though they have heard of christianity, they do not believe in it, not because they know it's untrue or whatever, but because they weren't raised to believe it, If they study their belief and live devoutly by their own religions rules or commandments, are these people condemned to burn in hell for eternity? or is God a merciful god and understanding of the circumstances that prevented them from having faith in something they were not raised to believe?
Again I will note you asked what a Christian beleives and what Christianity teaches.
Your question has some incorrect parts of the question, your idea is that God can not be good or merciful if he does not accept non beleivers,
This is for from the truth, in fact just because he has not destroyed us for our sin shows he is merciful since none of us deserve anything but to be destroyed by our sin. But the bible is very clear, no you do not get into heaven by doing good, Sinners do good all the time. You do not get into heaven by your works, many of the worst sinners do all sorts of good works. You are saved only by accepting Jesus as thier Savior. If they don't accept Christ, then they will not be saved. In the beginning of
Christinity, no one was born into it, and 1000's converted because of the power of the faith. And even today, in all nations, even those where you can be killed for being a christian, people are still converting everyday.
One may agrue that the Jewish people had or still have thier own agreement with God, ( old testement) and since God does not break his word, I have considered the fact God would have to honor that agreement if they were to follow thier requirements. I know of the new agreement of the new testement.
We can also discuss the idea of "burning" in hell, since there is some discussion there but we can leave that for another thread.
This is my opinion and I believe it is not about religion as it is about Christ. Most people think about each sin committed because that is what they are taught. When the more important thing to focus on is knowing we all sin, and there is no way out of it except through The Grace of God who is Christ. We will be accountable to work on earth because God ordained this to be. ( Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ) Also refer: salvation by Grace and not works Ephesians 2:8-9
I trust that God has everyone accounted for because all souls belong to God. Ezekiel 18:4
There will be no one left out of having their own Will to make a decision as to believing or denying Christ. I feel we can understand this by accepting scripture written Ephesians 2:1-10.
2 Corinthains 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
Bedell, I suppose we would have to set up a new topic for information on what good works achieve..
Not sure what you meant by (This also means many good men will be and are in hell..)
My opinion as it is true works will not get you into heaven, they will be written in the Book of Life for judgement. I trust everything is written there and it makes good sense to repent for sins so the sin may be erased or bloted out of the Book of Life.
refer: Revelation 20:12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
God does tell us to live our lives doing good works or labor. 2 Corinthains 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
And in heaven you can be dressed in fine linen credited to your righteousness which is your good standing with God according to your works.
This is a good answer as well, thanks for sharing sndbay! I suppose we should set up a new topic, but what I meant was that if good men who live according to their beliefs throughout their entire lives, and just not 'take Jesus as their personal lord and savior', are sent to hell, there must be alot of good men in hell, and many more to be sent there... You can't argue with that logic, it might be 'unfair', and I believe very strongly that it is, but in the christian belief, it's true. Right?
also, i don't care what kind of clothes (and why would we need clothes in heaven?) God gives me when I get there, as long as he lets me in.
The most important thing to realize is God does not wish anyone to perish (go to hell).
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:17
For God didn't send his Son into the World to Condemn the World but that through Him the World might be saved.
Jesus doesn't condemn us despite our sin and wishes us to be with him. But, if someone is aware of their sin and is aware of how to turn from that sin and accept Christ and chooses to ignore that knowledge then sadly they will be separated from God.
I don't think someone would be held accountable if they had no knowledge of Christ but that is just my opinion. In the end, it's up to Jesus.
There is a rumor/idea that is being tossed around, that the bible is the 'best story ever told by government..' The idea of it is that the bible is simply a moral structure socially acceptable to all authority figures, and therefore God is a Deity used by 'authority figures' as a kind of imaginary father figure, shaking his finger at you from thousands of years ago, saying "Do it and I'll smite you..!" used to make people live a certain way through fear of vengeful retribution.
I don't believe this, it's just an idea, but considering the fact that for eons and eons people have been awaiting the return of Jesus, and he still hasn't come, and that there is no 'proof', at all, God exists or that Jesus was His son, and the fact the Bible was written by man (yeah yeah, with help from His angels..)
(and before you say "that's where faith comes in" or any of the other
common rebuttals, know that I have had this conversation many, many
times with many, many people, both believers and non, and people
unsure, and have heard EVERY possible retort, trust me, I have pastors
in my family.....)
You have to admit this: that there is just as much 'proof' one way, as there is the other way..
If there were, everyone would be Christian...
I won't lie to you and say i've never considered other religions. My parents are pastors...I'm a pastor. I personally believe my faith is stronger because I had a time of figuring out God myself and spent a few years mad at God for things in my life. But what I finally realized was this. You can sit there and provide as much proof for other religions and beliefs that you want but none of them sat quite right. None of them had the power behind it. I've seen people healed multiple times. I've had times where i was praying for someone about something there is no way I could have known what they were going through but the words were there anyway. It was totally God. Only when I gave my life totally to God and said...ok...do with it what you will cause I keep messing it up did everything come together. It's more than things making sense or there being "proof" it's whats behind the proof. Anyone can provide proof to support a theory. There are "religions" (I use that term loosely in this sense) that have some ridiculous beliefs but they have found ways to provide "proof" to people to get them to join. You can believe or doubt whatever religion you believe but I've never seen the power of God behind any other religion like I do.
I believe that with my whole heart, and hope (and pray) you are right. However, who's to say it was 'God' that gave you the words, or healed the sick? Did you see Him? Are you sure it could not have been the same 'force' that has been proven to exist in parents trying to pull their children from under overturned vehicles, when otherwise they would not have had the human capability to lift the car and save their child? Maybe you wanted to lead these people to the Lord so much that your mind (which they say we only use a 5th of) tapped into unknown resources and provided you with the words you already had, and just didn't know were there. As I said, there has never and will never be any evidence either way, and I'll say it, that is why we must have 'Faith'.
that is the evidence. I'm not capable of healing anyone or reading minds. I have had a moment when adrenaline kicked in and I had more strength than i should have but i highly doubt it could be channeled to heal someone or even raise someone from the dead. Only Jesus can grant us that kind of power through the Holy Spirit. I see where you're coming from but man...you have to believe and let faith take it from there. have a nice night. bye.
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