Hypothetical situation for those of the Christian faith:
A young man is born in the jungle amongst his tribe. He has never heard of Jesus Christ. He dies when he is thirty years old as an upstanding member and leader of his tribe. He still has never heard of Jesus Christ. According to your beliefs, what is the likely destination for his soul?
Originally posted by darvlay Hypothetical situation for those of the Christian faith:
A young man is born in the jungle amongst his tribe. He has never heard of Jesus Christ. He dies when he is thirty years old as an upstanding member and leader of his tribe. He still has never heard of Jesus Christ. According to your beliefs, what is the likely destination for his soul?
Originally posted by darvlay Hypothetical situation for those of the Christian faith:
A young man is born in the jungle amongst his tribe. He has never heard of Jesus Christ. He dies when he is thirty years old as an upstanding member and leader of his tribe. He still has never heard of Jesus Christ. According to your beliefs, what is the likely destination for his soul?
Originally posted by darvlay Hypothetical situation for those of the Christian faith:
A young man is born in the jungle amongst his tribe. He has never heard of Jesus Christ. He dies when he is thirty years old as an upstanding member and leader of his tribe. He still has never heard of Jesus Christ. According to your beliefs, what is the likely destination for his soul?
Is that because you believe his good works will earn him a spot in heaven or because you don't believe God would harshly judge someone of virtue based on his limited exposure to and/or rejection of the Gospel?
Originally posted by darvlay Is that because you believe his good works will earn him a spot in heaven or because you don't believe God would harshly judge someone of virtue based on his limited exposure to and/or rejection of the Gospel?
because I don't believe that God would judge him harshly because of his limited exposure. Culturally speaking there is zero incentive for him to "change sides". He has been raised and nurtured in his culturaly based faith, to deny that is to deny everything about himself, that may be too much to ask of anyone. I believe that God is merciful.
Originally posted by duecer because I don't believe that God would judge him harshly because of his limited exposure. Culturally speaking there is zero incentive for him to "change sides". He has been raised and nurtured in his culturaly based faith, to deny that is to deny everything about himself, that may be too much to ask of anyone. I believe that God is merciful.
So, in this case, this man would be judged upon his works alone and not upon his salvation or belief in Christ. Furthermore, you believe that concessions will be made during judgement for those who are steeped in their own beliefs/culture to convert. Does this concession also extend to those raised in a culture of atheism or agnosticim? Hindus? Buddhists? Muslims? Etc?
Originally posted by darvlay So, in this case, this man would be judged upon his works alone and not upon his salvation or belief in Christ. Furthermore, you believe that concessions will be made during judgement for those who are steeped in their own beliefs/culture to convert. Does this concession also extend to those raised in a culture of atheism or agnosticim? Hindus? Buddhists? Muslims? Etc?
How do you reconcile your progressive brand of Christianity with Jesus' words that:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:3, 5-6)
What does it mean to you to be "born again" and what does it mean to you when Christ says one must be born of water and the spirit?
Originally posted by FreakyKBH The rewards available for a believer are immense. I certainly don't want to hog all the blessings.
You opined that the man would be sent to heaven if he was blissfully ignorant yet would be sent to hell if he was even the slightest bit aware of Christ. How can sending a man to hell by witnessing to him and failing to convert him be a better choice than allowing him to remain blissfully ignorant and reap the rewards of eternal life? If you don't want to "hog all the blessings", shouldn't your choice be to remain silent?
The reward you would likely give to this man by witnessing to him would be plucking him from heaven and sentencing him to eternal damnation.
Winning Souls for Christ
08 Nov '10 15:33
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