We visited a friend’s church this Sunday. One of the things the pastor said that was intriguing to me was that he did not know what would happen to people who had not heard of Jesus or were born in a part of the world where Christianity was not taught.
The Bible teaches that there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus. So where does that leave those who have not heard or had opportunity to choose Christ? Are they all to be sent to hell (See posts on hell), or will it be as if they never existed as I have heard some suggest? Am I to be so much more favored by God simply because I was born in a country where Christianity is freely taught? Does God love me more because of where I was born? The answer is simply – yes – just kidding.
I happen to believe that there will be many people in heaven who have never knowingly served Christ or even perhaps heard his name. As Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” John 10:16 (King James Version)
Don’t get me wrong I believe there is only one way to heaven. I do not believe that all paths lead to the same place, but I think someone can be on a path and not know the name of it and still end up in the same place. I used to live in St. Petersburg, FL and work in Tampa, FL. Every day I had to cross a bridge to get across the bay. There was only one bridge that could get me where I was going. For the longest time I had the wrong name of the bridge in my head. Amazingly despite me calling it the wrong name, I was able to get to Tampa and back home to St. Petersburg every day. Similarly, Jesus is the bridge between the place He is preparing for us and this world. He is the bridge to the Father. It just doesn’t matter whether or not you have had the opportunity to learn the name of the bridge.
James put it this way:
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17 (KJV) In other words we are only accountable for the things that God has revealed to us. If you don’t know, it’s not sin. But there is something that all of us are accountable for. As Romans 1 points out God has revealed himself in one way or another to everyone: They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Rom 1:19-20 NLT) So how we respond to what is revealed to us is the map to getting us on the right bridge.
I love the way C.S. Lewis describes this concept in the last book of the Chronicles of Narnia. The Old Narnia has passed away and there is a new world. As you probably know Aslan is the Christ figure in the books and Tash represent the ruler of Evil. In this new world there is follower of Tash, Emeth, who is surprised by where he and who is welcoming him. Here is his description:
“’Then I fell at his feet and thought surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honour) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him . . . But the Glorious One bent down his golden head and touched my forehead with his tongue and said, ‘Son, thou art welcome.’ But I said, ‘Alas Lord, I am no son of thine, but the servant of Tash.’ He answered, ‘Child, all the service thou hast done to Tash, I account as service done to me.’ Then by reason of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, ‘Lord, is it then true, as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one?’ The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but the wrath was not against me) and said, ‘It is false. Not because he and I are one, but because we are opposites – I take to me the services which thou hast done to him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore, if any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn. Though he knew it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash whom he serves and by Tash his deed is accepted. Does thou understand child?’ I said, ‘Lord, thou knowest how much I understand.’ But I said also (for the truth constrained me), “Yet I have been seeking Tash all my days.’ ‘Beloved’, said the Glorious One, ‘unless thy desire had been for me thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they truly seek.’ “– C.S. Lewis The Last Battle (The Chronicles of Narnia)
I agree that ultimately all will find what they truly sought.
I thought is was cool you used the excerpt from “The Last Battle” at the end of your post, I was going to use that but since you already did, I’ll just blabber aimlessly.
I have friend who doesn’t go to church anymore and his belief system completely overhauled by his search within the church concerning this. His final conversation was with his pastor. He asked him, “So if people are genuinely seeking truth and endeavoring to be better people filled with love, and say they are buddist, and they don’t know Jesus… Do those people go to Hell?” The pastor in a loving way said something like, “It is clear in the bible that those who don’t know Jesus will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” When I’ve talked to him about God, he believes in god, but understands him now to be partial and in some very real ways spiteful, vengeful, and mean…but God’s god, what are you going to do?
I heard a testimony once at college from a speaker who was born in India. He was very devout in his religous pursuits, but always felt something was missing. He endeavored to serve “god”; one day in his pursuit of truth he fell asleep and had a dream. The dream actually had a physical street address in a city several hundred miles away. He followed the dream and found it to be an undergound Christian church where he got “saved”. His whole sermon was, “If you seek truth, you will find it.
I had a friend who was Jewish and he believed that when you died there was a “moment” in “transition” where you actually made your true choice. The trick was your choice could only be made by your own experience and knowledge (no outside help). In essence it was like the young warrrior from Tash who in that “moment” goes….”Ah, you’re what I was looking for all along”. I can’t find relevance to this, but I always liked the idea and concept.
NOW: I’m going to go ahead and say it, “Just because Christians say that Jesus is the only way to get into Heaven, doesn’t mean it’s the truth!”
I appreciate the comments Drew, but am curious what you mean by your last sentence. I believe that Jesus is the bridge that covers the sin that separated man from God, and that I can be on that bridge even if I don’t know the name Jesus. I believe that Muslims, Buddhist, Mormons, etc. can be on the bridge by living up to the truth that has been revealed to them. I don’t believe there are other bridges. Granted I am speaking from a Christian worldview, but I believe Christ bought back the world by giving Himself. Are you saying something different?
Drew,
Like Kyle, I am a little confused with the last sentence. Just because Christians say that Jesus is the only way to get into Heaven doesn’t mean its NOT true either….it really is irrelevant what Christians say since you can find a Christian that will agree with any point of view you desire.
I would never have become a Christian if I based my decision on the things Christians said and did. I would have to agree with Mahatma Gandhi when he said “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Its Christ I put my hope in, not Christians.
But I also think that now days people often reject what Christians have to say just because it is Christian. Many people I meet are open to all kinds of ideas about what happens when we die…except the Christian idea. In the words of G K Chesterton:
“These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.”
“Tolerance is only a virtue if applied appropriately, not universally” – C.S. Lewis
As a Christian there is overwhelming scripture to back up relevance that The Christ is the only way. Two christians arguing over the validity of The Christ being the “only way” would be a waste of time. If Jesus is the Christ, than he is the only way according to developed Christian doctrine and literal interpretation of the scripture. (Of course after today there may be some argument to me being a Christian although I hope not)
Also, Even logically (yet still based on faith) Christianity is the only religion that bases its premise not on what the follower does, but on what God has done. It is therefore achievable and attainable. Salvation no longer depends on any type of works or action based faith (the follower), but on relational trust with the salvation provider (God). (This logic has enamered and captured me and I can and never will be able to escape it or thing alternately)
I’m sure at this point everyone is nodding there heads gently and thinking “uh huh, yeah, ok, ….get to the point.”
Here we go: I’ll keep my personal opinions on The Christ to myself and narrow this down to a doctrinal issue relating to world view. This view however is not based on an intent to “praise every creed except his own (Christian).”
Point One: “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28)
— First The Christ says “What is written” and then he says “How do YOU read it”? There was the literal and the interpretation of the literal. Regardless Jesus says, “you’re right, do this and you’ll live”. For this person Jesus didn’t say, “Believe in me” or “I am the way…” Why?
Point Two: Reference John 3:1-20
—Jesus response to Nicodemus is “you must be born again”, “you must be born of water and the Spirit”; not “Hey, I’m right here Nicky.” He also states, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” So those born of the Spirit “cannot tell where it comes from?” and the wind blows “wherever it pleases?” Later on The Christ states, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Does this imply that those who follow truth “automatically” come into the light because God did it anyway and it had nothing to do with the person? Was it like the Wind? This statement is also made as “The Verdict” following the most famous of christian evangelism John 3:16 who “loved the WORLD” and by christian foundation point so Christ being the only way.
-ad hoc: John the baptist states a few paragraphs later “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.”
Point Three: “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life; no man come to the father but through me.” Once again this is taken literally by most Christians. Rarely is this interpreted as Jesus simply being an example of how to be. Not only that, but it references a Father not necessarily a God and probably references Jesus’ Father. Jesus is an excellent example of showing that the way to heaven resides within character, that truth must leave ideal and become character, that life itself is embodied within character.
In conclusion I’ll make some brief statements:
1. I’d like to refer back to Bob’s post which describes most of my motivation for the post which came from a Christian perspective not necessarily the Truth (which comes from God alone). His quote from Ghandi is one of my favorite quotes from anyone. I also adore this quote, “it really is irrelevant what Christians say since you can find a Christian that will agree with any point of view you desire.”
2. Jesus has become a rule, word or doctrinal “touche”. I think even the scripture “Speak with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved” is gravely misrepresented. God alone is the Wind that rests where He will. I think that’s why scriptures exist that state, “Many are called, but few are chosen”. We expect God to play by the rules that He established (or at least the interpretation of those rules); I’m not sure it works that way. “Let God be God and every man a Liar!” The point is we have no idea who is going to heaven and who’s not, we simply have faith. And if we have no idea who is going to heaven and if it is based on faith, then over-implification of a doctrine that points to an immeasuable or empirically improvable result is simply silly.
3. God saves who he wants. In essence (quote Kyle) the bridge has already been paved and crosses the chasm. We may know the bridge as Jesus and know this to be true, but much like the sevant of Tash, there’s a bunch of people that the Wind blows over the bridge to the other side because they “lived by the truth and came into the light”….having never heard the name Jesus.
4. “There is more to life Horatio than can be dreamt up in your philosophies…”… or religious interpretation.
*** Disclaimer: I have experienced the Great Wind and have revelled in awe at a true experience of being born again which I’m not sure anyone could explain; but can only be experienced. Even as a write this post, an unexplainable fountain filled with all the pleasures of life bubbles and overflows within me. It is as if my finite being has now been united with infinity; of this I can not explain. It is like looking out over the vast ocean; admiring its beauty and being overwhelmed by its volumn. I am filled. If one day in the future I find a gun pointed to my head and a stern voice says simple, “Deny this Jesus, your Christ!”. With a heart filled with gifted love greater than reality itself and probably with tears in my eyes I would say, “Not going to happen” and might squeeze out a chuckle of joy before the trigger is pulled.
Absolutely love the disclaimer!
Drew,
That was fantastic! I am heading out the door right now but I will have to come back and read your comment again later. I completely agree – especially with your “disclaimer” and hope today is a Windy day for every one that reads your comment! Blessings, BoB
Drew,
Well, I am TOTALLY confused. Maybe I missed something, but that kinda sounded a lot like intellectual garbage to me. Oprah kinda stuff. But, I bet if you had told me in person or I listened to it on tape I would understand better. Due to the fact that I am probably the WORST at comprehending reading material. Pardon if that sounds “unloving” but hey your one of the few people I can say something like that to.
It seems like from what you are saying it’s hard to tell contrast “good” people who are searching for truth with the Bible and Jesus. So did you say that it is very well that someone who is seeking truth may find eternal life apart from the knowledge (knowing) of Jesus? maybe you should call me rather than respond. : )