Saturday, August 28, 2010

What About the Unevangelized?

Tough Questions for Christians #17—Never Heard of Jesus

Tough Question #17

If people who have never heard of Jesus get into heaven, this means they have a free ticket in, without Jesus. So why ever tell these people about Jesus? Why send missionaries?

First I want to speak to AZ’s assumption that the God who sends people who never heard of Jesus automatically to hell. What is the matter with God taking those whom he had judged as sinners, just like all humanity, and so sending them to their rightful place—hell—just like all humanity? Maybe because God is a God who is supposed to love all people and merciful to all, and if he sends people to hell without a chance, then he is neither merciful nor just? Oh, that may be the reason. In other words, as AZ says, that “God is a monster.”

So what about the other option? That these people are automatically going to heaven? Well, then we have another problem, which AZ clearly speaks about. It would seem that missionary or evangelistic activity would actually damn people, not save them. So this means that somehow Jesus is a benefit to these people. What could it be?

A lot of Christians have an assumption that our entrance in heaven or hell depends on our belief in Jesus. After all, that’s what they were taught from the time they first were introduced to Jesus. “Believe in Jesus, eternal life” right? John 3:16 seems to say that pretty plainly.

But when the Scripture, including John, speaks to the time of actually entering either heaven or hell, they speak about judgment day. That’s the day (or days, depending on your eschatology) when God decides whether one has eternal life or not. And all throughout Scripture, it doesn’t say that this day is based on one’s faith, but rather on one’s actions. John 5:28-29 says, “An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” In other words, “heaven” is obtained by doing good actions and “hell” is deserved by doing bad things.

Many Christians will say, “Yes, but Jesus says, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one whom He sent’” By this they mean that the only work that counts is belief. But clearly that’s not what Scripture says. In fact, the best description of judgment day is Matt. 25:31-46, otherwise known as “the sheep and the goats”.

In this judgment, Jesus describes sheep who help out His “brothers” with practical hospitality, and they are shocked that this is sufficient to get them into the kingdom. On the other hand, the “goats” who refused to practice such hospitality were sent to hell for their heart-heartedness shown by their inaction.

Thus, there will some people who “believe” who will not enter. And others who do not “believe” who will enter. Pretty much everyone is surprised. Because entering heaven or hell isn’t technically about believing in Jesus, but acting in judgment or mercy (Luke 6:36-38). Why do we need to believe in Jesus? Because it is supposed to help us to be merciful, and thus get us into heaven.

Unfortunately, many Christians have equated believing in Jesus with joining a church, with being a part of a segment of society, with signing a doctrinal statement or praying a certain prayer. Thus, “believing in Jesus” isn’t what it was originally intended to be. Originally, it is recognizing Jesus as Lord and thus obeying his commands to love, to forgive, to help one’s enemies, to give to the poor and to assist one’s enemies in need. Since the church is so often the opposite of what Jesus taught, we can say that believing in Jesus, for them, is just the opposite of what Jesus meant.

Because of this, just as Jesus said, many people who think they are in the kingdom will be shut out. Those who have the greatest assurance, will obtain the lowest circle of hell, meant for hypocrites and traitors.

So people who didn’t hear about Jesus? If they live a life of mercy without Jesus, then they’re in. Just as Paul said, “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.” Or, those who do good are good even if they don’t know the right reason to do good. While those who do evil will be treated as the evil they are.

6 comments:

  1. what can I do with this blog? it does not take all verses into account, or verses with solid implications about Jesus being the only name under heaven to save, or those about belief being the same as action. -off the top of my head.

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  2. I guess you can do with the blog as you please.

    However, you should recognize that every verse about judgment day in both testaments say that it is based on what one does, not faith. I am not denying that Jesus is the only way to be saved, nor that faith is essential for salvation. However, there are a number of questions we have to ask between theology and Scripture concerning faith, acts and judgment. 1. What is faith? Does it ever include actions? 2. What is the relationship between faith and deeds of mercy?
    3. Is Jesus just encouraging us to believe, or does He demand a high standard of life?
    4. What is the ultimate goal of judgment day? Why doesn't God just keep things as they are?

    If you want me to answer these questions, I can, but the point of the blogs is not to have a one-way conversation, but for others to give their perspectives as well. Of course, I'll answer with my opinion and the Scriptures I think are most pertinent. :-)

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  3. I think, Leeann, you need to remember that a blog is supposed to give an opinion on one subject. This blog was my answer to one perspective on one subject. If you want an answer to your perspective, perhaps you should ask a question. :-)

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  4. (Hi LeeAnn--this is weird--I've never commented on a blog before. It's like being in a conversation using time lapse photography!--Laura

    Jesus somewhere said something like: "If you believe in me, obey my commandments." James also writes: "faith without works is dead."
    I find it artificial and unrealistic to separate faith and works. They are two sides of one coin or, as CS Lewis writes, two blades of one pair of scissors. You have to have both to cut it.

    That doesn't mean you earn your way into heaven by doing a bunch of pro forma "good deeds" or by donating to the right amount of good causes, but it does mean that just "believing" and going to church, keeping yourself from stealing and murdering, etc, are not enough. I think it's possible say that all you need is faith, but by "faith" you have to mean a faith that manifests itself in works of righteousness. (Or it isn't really faith). So it sort of depends on your definitions.

    As a second comment, I don't see any benefit to us or anyone else in worrying about who will be saved. That's God's business, not ours. We just have to do the best we can, work constantly on our own repentance and obedience (which includes good works, ideally resulting in lives filled with prayer and good works), and leave the rest to God. He tells us to pray for others, to spread the good news, visit the sick, etc. Some times we may not understand why we are supposed to do something or other, but isn't it enough that he tells us to?
    Laura

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  5. Steve,

    The crux:
    "And others who do not “believe” who will enter. Pretty much everyone is surprised. Because entering heaven or hell isn’t technically about believing in Jesus, but acting in judgment or mercy (Luke 6:36-38). Why do we need to believe in Jesus? Because it is supposed to help us to be merciful, and thus get us into heaven."

    I still don't have a question. Ironically, by looking at the gospels alone, Jesus seems like an after thought, or not the one we need for entering heaven. You seem to communicate clearly that this is what you mean or I'd ask...

    This is my real question that is pretty heavy: You've asked about whether unevangelized people can know God in eternity. But there are people who will be separated from Him after death. Why would God create a world like this? -This question bothers me far more. It effects more people. You've likely thought about this quite a bit. I don't have an answer and find many pat answers very arrogant, i.e. that He does not want robots who cannot choose independently whether to know Him or not. The only thing that sort of makes any sense is that Jesus had to love a lot to suffer for us. Hell lasts longer though.

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  6. I would never say that Jesus is "unnecessary" or an "afterthought." Rather, Jesus is the best way of us being the people God wants us to be. And anyone who sees Jesus and refuses Him is not interested in being who God wants them to be. This often confuses people, because most people think that most Christians or Christianities represent Jesus. That is simply not true.

    I really believe that hell will be filled mostly with people who claim to know God but ignored His Word. Who continued to act unmercifully and unfaithfully despite having His Word and, often, His Spirit.

    I don't believe that God created the world like this. The world God created was "good". The issue is that God handed over the world to humanity, and humanity screwed everything up. The current project God is working on is a humanity that will rule the world with justice and mercy and harmony. Jesus is the one who will teach us to do this. Who will listen to him, though?

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