OK - Reaction to Mark's talk...
1- Do you find the exclusivity of Christianity a problem personally?
2- Have you faced this when discussing spiritual issues with others?
3- Do you believe there will be anyone in heaven who has not "accepted Christ"? (Excluding babies, mentally handicapped, etc)
3 comments:
1) Well it's not exactly a personal problem but it is something I struggled w/ when I first became a Christian.
2)Yes
3) Yes, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, etc, etc. (Romans 4 and Hebrews 11). What about the people who died before they heard about Christ...e.g - the people who live in America and died in the year 34 AD?
Good points - I wasn't thinking OT.
Great question at the end of your post. Was it possible for someone thousands of miles away, who had not heard of the God of Israel who died in AD 32 (assuming the date of 33 for "easter")to go to heaven but someone dying in 34 not to? Discounting any special revelation from a dream/vision or angelic visitation.
1- No. Welcome to life. I (We) didn't make the rules, God did. So if you want to play the game you need to follow the rules. In my mind the rules are clear and simple.
The interesting thought to that concept of "game" is that everyone HAS to play. Everyone will be either a winner (heaven) or loser(hell). What do you do if you don't want to play? (The rules are too hard / don't feel like it?) I guess you don't have an option. Is that fair?
If you look at all the major faiths around the world, one will conclude that Christians have the least amount of "rules" and the most freedom. Thoughts?
2- Of course I have and the problem goes back to #1. People want to make their own rules. Again, God owns heaven so if want in we need to talk to him.
3- As Mark said, "How am I to know?" It's God's rules so God makes the call. As human we can't all know motives and actions. Once again, let's not judge.
Sorry for the "sport references" but life is easier for me to understand when I picture it as a "game".
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