Catholicism

[georgesbluegirl]

What is the general Protestant (Christian, Baptist, whoever wants to answer) belief about non-Christians and the afterlife? We as Catholics believe that it is possible for anyone actively seeking God - in any religion, not just Christianity - to reach Heaven and remain there with the Creator. Which is cool, because it acknowledges the beauty and relevancy of Hinduism, Judaism, etc. So what to the Protestants think? If you HAVE to be saved to go to Heaven, well, what about people born into another religion who never hear of Christ?

[Spiritual Warrior]

James 2:24 is often taken out of context. james is speaking of dead faith as opposed to living, saving faith. James says that if you say that you have faith but no works (James 2:24), that faith cannot save you because it is dead faith (v.17). In other words mere intellectual acknowledgement of Christ is a dead faith that produces no regeneration and no change in a persons life. this faith does not justify. Rather, it is the real and believing faith in Christ that results in justification. SOmeone who is truly justified is saved and regenerated, and the results of true saving faith are manifested in a changed life of the one justified by faith alone. Real faith produces good works. Good works are the effect of salvation not the cause of it.

[ServingHim]

31 "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. 34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' 40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matt 25:31-46

Our Lord Jesus Christ will save ALL those, by His Grace, those who DO the Father's will, regardless of whether they had an 'intellectual' knowledge and 'faith' (that WE define as faith) in Him...for our faith IS a mystery, IMHO. :il:

[mobile21]

You are missing the point:

Before Jesus Christ, Heaven was closed (we already had this discussion I believe) but after Him, Saints are in Heaven.

What?

So I can tear out the Pentateuch from my Bible?

Nope, what you should do is to learn to interpret the Holy Bible in the proper context.........

Or maybe Abraham never knew that Heaven was open before the Son of God fulfilled the salvific promise of Gen 3, 15 and he was just wasting his time!: Lk 16, 19-31.

[Guest sinner2saint]

What is the general Protestant (Christian, Baptist, whoever wants to answer) belief about non-Christians and the afterlife? We as Catholics believe that it is possible for anyone actively seeking God - in any religion, not just Christianity - to reach Heaven and remain there with the Creator. Which is cool, because it acknowledges the beauty and relevancy of Hinduism, Judaism, etc. So what to the Protestants think? If you HAVE to be saved to go to Heaven, well, what about people born into another religion who never hear of Christ?

Hi Georgesbluegirl,

The Bible teaches that when a person dies, he or she either goes to Heaven to be with God or to Hell (place of eternal punishment). Those are the only two choices revealed in Scripture. The only factor that will be used to determine where the person goes is whether or not they have made Jesus the Lord and Savior of their lives. Nothing else is going to matter on the Day of Judgement. It won't matter if call yourself Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish. It won't matter where you were born or what color your skin is or anything else. Unless you have Jesus living in your heart, you will go to Hell. He is the only way.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." (1 Tim 2:5)

"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless be is born again." (John 3:3)

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:12)

Please ask yourself this question. If anyone can go to heaven even though they don't know Jesus, why did Jesus die on the Cross? If there were any other way to heaven, wouldn't his death and resurrection have been in vain?

What about people who haven't heard of Jesus? That is why missionaries are working vigorously in many parts of the world. The gospel is being preached today in places where it has never been preached before. There are people who haven't yet heard the gospel. It is up to the Church to see to it that they hear it.

We don't know all the answers. We can only go by what we do know. We know that God is just and that He will only do what is right with regards to those who haven't yet heard the gospel. We can trust Him to do the right thing.

Edited August 21, 2004 by sinner2saint

[georgesbluegirl]

What about people who haven't heard of Jesus? That is why missionaries are working vigorously in many parts of the world. The gospel is being preached today in places where it has never been preached before. There are people who haven't yet heard the gospel. It is up to the Church to see to it that they hear it.

This is where I have a problem. I believe with all my heart that God is all-loving of every one of His children. I understand the problem when one of His children "turns" from Him, but I don't believe that He would keep a person out of Heaven simply because they never in their lifetime had access to the Word of God. I don't believe he would allow someone to be in a position from which they could never be saved, which is what you seem to be saying about those who never have to opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Edited August 22, 2004 by georgesbluegirl

[Botz]

What is the general Protestant (Christian, Baptist, whoever wants to answer) belief about non-Christians and the afterlife? We as Catholics believe that it is possible for anyone actively seeking God - in any religion, not just Christianity - to reach Heaven and remain there with the Creator. Which is cool, because it acknowledges the beauty and relevancy of Hinduism, Judaism, etc. So what to the Protestants think? If you HAVE to be saved to go to Heaven, well, what about people born into another religion who never hear of Christ?

I suppose by your definition it is possible for a Catholic to pray to Mahatma Gandhi as he did many good works and must hold some kudos in Heaven.

Also by your definition if a Hindu or a Budhist is actively seeking G-d/god through their religion do you encourage them to worship Shiva or Kali...or to seek enlightenment and Nirvana as legitimate paths that will eventually win them a palce in Heaven...conveniently circumnavigating the blood of Christ?

Sinner2Saint made the point that we trust in a righteous G-d and we know that no one will be mistakenly cast from His presence...in the meantime we must get on and preach the good news.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

[irishcowboy]

sorry, but God does noe and will not tolerate mixing some other religion with Him....

God will not share His Glory with anyone else....

you can not serve two masters.... it is virtually impossible.....

anything but following Chirst will not get you to Heaven.... and if you try following two leaders..... one will lead you over the cliff instead of by still waters.....

the only way to the Father is thru Jesus Christ, not seeking any other person or entity, not anyother way but Jesus.....

Jesus is the only way, flat, cut, and dried..... no if's and's or buttttts about it

mike

[Spiritual Warrior]

This is where I have a problem. I believe with all my heart that God is all-loving of every one of His children. I understand the problem when one of His children "turns" from Him, but I don't believe that He would keep a person out of Heaven simply because they never in their lifetime had access to the Word of God. I don't believe he would allow someone to be in a position from which they could never be saved, which is what you seem to be saying about those who never have to opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Georgesbluegirl,

It's not a matter of "They never got a chance to hear the gospel."

but rather, "they haven't received Jesus Christ and believed."

Let's pretend that you are in a court room and you are guilty of many crimes,

The judge says you owe 500,000,000,000 dollars. You obviously say,

"There is no way I can pay it. I don't have that much money!" But I know that you are a "good" and loving Judge, therefore I know you will let me go. The judge replies you are right when you say that I am good and because of that, I am also just.

A judge must give justice, you break the law you have to pay for it or be punished.

Lets also say, you are headed to the jail cell and someone yells your name and says wait. There is someone here, that has paid your fine. YOu are free to go. justice has been satisfied.

The point is: Jesus paid your fine in full on the cross. All you have to do is accept that He and He alone did it, and pick up your cross and follow him.

[Guest sinner2saint]

This is where I have a problem. I believe with all my heart that God is all-loving of every one of His children. I understand the problem when one of His children "turns" from Him, but I don't believe that He would keep a person out of Heaven simply because they never in their lifetime had access to the Word of God. I don't believe he would allow someone to be in a position from which they could never be saved, which is what you seem to be saying about those who never have to opportunity to hear the Gospel.

g-girl,

Please ask yourself this question: Does God owe us salvation?

:il: