How to advise newly-Christian friend who thinks that only Christians can go to heaven

[poguemahone]

A friend has recently become a Christian, and is very happy and excited about the whole thing.

She's having a bit of a tough time, however as she's getting into conflicts with people who don't share her beliefs. In particular she holds that only Christians will go to heaven. She's traveling in a non-Christian country so I can only imagine upset for everyone concerned.

We knew each other years ago when she was a lovely sweet girl but a bit wild, and she recently sought me out, probably because I've always been a Christian. She's keen to pick my brains on things like this, and I'm feeling a bit of pressure to get the advice right.

I've told her that:

• I believe people of all religion and none can go to heaven if they're good people.
• Although Christianity makes utter sense to me intellectually and emotionally, not everyone has been exposed to the same (cultural) background as me.
• God's fair if nothing else, so for example to discount millions of people who've never heard of Jesus, would just be unfair. (Likewise for people who've not seen great examples of Christians, who're happy with their own religion etc)

But she's asking for more info and I'm really no expert on this. Any advice?

'Abraid, do you mean that non-Christian people who lead good lives (the sort that Jesus would be proud of) are going to heaven through Jesus? Or is that too simplistic? '

Yes. And no. I believe that they are serving him even though they don't necessarily know it. And Pogue, interesting that the RCs are on the softer side of this one, indeed. But Catholicism has always stressed deeds and actions as well as faith. Faith is not enough, if you're a Catholic.

Well, a Christian heaven would, I suppose, only have Christians in it As a non-Christian I have no interest whatsoever in being there but since I don't believe it exists there is no problem iykwim. If someone said such a thing to me I would probably smile benignly and say something to the effect of "So what?"

Hmm...
Pinkfluffyslippers - your post kind of goes along with what I think. I do believe that the only way to get to heaven is through Christ. However I also believe that God is a God of love and we will all be given the invitation after we die. I believe that hell is the absence of God and is something we choose.

Another point I'd like to make is that it isn't really for us to speculate (or some might say judge) who will and won't go to heaven. As a Christian, I believe I should be concerned with furthering my own relationship with God and not to comment on anyone else's relationship with God (or maybe lack of) unless asked.

OP - I think your friend will learn the impact of what she says and will find the words to use when challenged. Maybe you could advise her to pray on it.

I personally strongly believe that each one of us, regardless of faith or lack of it, on the brink of death, through the grace of God's abundant mercy, has personal revelation and is given the last chance to accept Jesus .

Now, you would say , well, seeing He is for real everyone would surely accept Him. The sad truth is that by the time of death some people's hearts have become so corrupted they can no longer stand the love, the light, the goodness that they are presented with on meeting the Lord . They are unable to choose salvation.

In contrast, anyone who in their lifetime sought the light, longed for the good, would be drawn to Jesus as their hearts will recognize he is what they always looked for, and they will accept salvation.

Of course, following chistian ways and those of other faiths that are of same principle ( love thy neighbour, do not kill, steal etc ) do help to ensure that your heart does not corrupt.And seeking and believing in God's forgiveness as we fail, stops us from starting to hate ourselves which can corrupt as well.

I believe other people's prayers, sacrifices and sufferings do help a soul at death door to accept Jesus.

I also believe in the concept of purgatory as the place ( or state of consciousness ) where you atone for the sins you didn't atone for in this lifetime and you learn to love God.

And yes , HE is the only way.

And yes, I agree your friend behaves like a typical newbie , she will most likely mellow with time.
But aren't they great those first heady days when you're so full of enthusiasm and everything is black and white !

'it isn't really for us to speculate (or some might say judge) who will and won't go to heaven'

Indeed. God is not bound by human interpretation.

Jesus said.

I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE....NO MAN MAY COME UNTO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME.

That statement does not need alot of interpretation, infact its pretty clear.

Amen for your friend, she loves truth, I will pray for her.

Also...you are BLESSED by her sharing the truth with you.

Believe.

I rebuke that comment that she will 'mellow with time'. I pray in the name of Jesus that she will grow stronger in her faith and her knowledge of the truth. And that others would come to know the truth by her witness of the truth. Amen

So those who say it's not just christians. It that 'all christians and those who act in a christian/good way' (as defined by the bible which they may even have heard of) or does everyone get to go?

You have to look at what it clearly says in the Bible about the subject, and more generally what we know about the character of God.

The Biblican teachings are pretty clear - you go tho Heaven through Jesus.

But the character of God as being loving and merciful means that he will do right by those who do not know Christ. For example, we can be fairly sure that faithful people from the Old Testament will be in Heaven. Likewise, those people through history who have never been told about Christ - we don't know if they are in Heaven or not, but we know that God will do the right thing.

We can't be sure about good, but non-Christian people nowadays, living in this country. They all have heard of Christ but have rejected him.

The Christian faith is all about relationships. 'Going to Heaven' means having a permanent relationship with God. God/Jesus makes himself known, but does not force himself on us ('I stand at the door and knock...'). It is up to us to accept him and to make the decision from here on in to follow his ways and not the ways of the world. If someone in their lifetime not accept this invitation, why should God force himself on them at their death?

The reason that evangelism is at the heart of Christianity is because we all have to do our parts to make sure that everyone knows the good news of Jesus Christ and to worry for those who reject him.

"I rebuke that comment that she will 'mellow with time'. I pray in the name of Jesus that she will grow stronger in her faith and her knowledge of the truth. And that others would come to know the truth by her witness of the truth. Amen"

donnymouse - I meant that she will learn the wisdom to judge situations on their individual merits, and not go in all guns blazing to all situations . I agree completely with your senitiment though.

Scienceteacher - You have summed this up totally.

This is a very simple Truth, which is at the heart of the Christian Gospel. It is uncomfortable, and it offends, but it is the Truth.

"Lou, I think you're saying that neither I nor all the other people who disagree with you on this are really Christians. "

That is between you and God, but the scriptures are clear, and your stance is not compatible with the scriptures, so you may need to reassess.

I agree with Lou.

"he will do right by those who do not know Christ"

"We can't be sure about good, but non-Christian people nowadays, living in this country. They all have heard of Christ but have rejected him"

So the worst thing you can do is TELL people about christ since once they have heard the name they have to convert or else. Whereas if you left well alone he would 'do all right' by them.

This thread makes me SO GLAD I'm a humanist. Happy to think of my remains rotting to dust in the ground rather than get caught up in trying to argue about and twist theology to suit whatever I want to believe.

Anyway, OP, I'd advise your friend that Attraction rather than Evangelism will always be the right Way to live; live the Christian ideals for others to see. I would be much interested in Religion X if the practitioners all radiated serenity, friendliness, tolerance, love, generosity : all those good things, rather than issuing me with completely contrived threats about the AfterLife.

What a load of dogmatic arse.

I'm a Christian and I think that it is certainly open to interpretation.

And I don't believe in heaven.

And I CERTAINLY don't need to reassess

I think people who say stuff like that to other Christians (clearly NOT in love) need to reassess.

And the interpretation is more like "you go to heaven because of Jesus, whether you know or acknowledge it or not"

That is the generally acceptd interpretation in LIBERAL Christian LOVING churches.

LaurieFairyCake, it was said in love. Fluffy sentiments might make people feel good, but they aren't going to secure their place in Heaven.

I was answering a direct address, and used words which were clear.

"And the interpretation is more like "you go to heaven because of Jesus, whether you know or acknowledge it or not"

That is the generally acceptd interpretation in LIBERAL Christian LOVING churches. "

That is people-pleasing bull.

I'm with you on this one, Laurie.
I am a practicing catholic and teach Sunday school.
Almost everyone I worship with believes that leading a good life is the main purpose of our (and other) religions. It is not up to us to say who goes to heaven and who doesn't. And there is room for believers and non-believers.
The bibe is open to interpretation from many angles.

people-pleasing bull or accepted Christian doctrine in all the liberal churches of Britain?.

Do you live in America? I think your view is more commonly accepted over there and in the Catholic faith - less so here.

Anyway go in peace and leave me to my fluffy sentiments accepted liberal christian faith

and I'll leave you to your fire and brimstone

sorry Nicki - certainly not trying to be rude about the Catholic faith - I was only querying where lou worships.

Not casting aspersions honestly

Sigh. Pious, "we are right and you're all going to hell" rot like this makes me so glad I turned my back on Christianity.

If god is so completely petty and unjust that the nicest, most selfless, moral-living person in the world is destined for eternal suffering just because they dared to use the brain that god gave them to question Christian dogma and chose not to accept Jesus, then I want no part of that god or his heaven. I wouldn't wish hell on the worst criminal the earth has ever seen - have you ever given though to that... eternal - for ever and ever and ever without end. Yet Christians are quite happy to smugly accept that's the fate of most of the world's population.

I am a liberal christian - attending an evangelical church - we live in mutual toleration . Laurie - even I totally disagree with you on this point. We achieve salvation through faith in Christ alone. It doesn't matter how nice you are because it isn't actions that sort this one out. If it were possible to attain salvation by any other means that why did Christ die on the cross? Why would that have been necessary? The Old Testament lays out for us the necessity of that sacrifice and the New Testament tells us how it was accomplished.

I don't know what heaven will be like and I don't know if I'm getting in or not. I don't know what the 'cut off point' is and I certainly hope for grace for those who die not in faith, for those who die in the womb and in infancy and for those who do not have the opportunity to know Christ BUT the Lord said 'no one comes to the Father except through me' that really does not imply to me that you can wilfully deny that truth and it still all work out fine for you?

Oh,a dn btw, I am a memeber of a small, rural, but very working class, old-fashioned congregation, not a trendy cosmopolitan area.

Now, personally, I will admit to being a woolly-mnded liberal, but I am in the minority by a long shot amongst my fellow parishioners.

I find the 'my way or the highway' attitude very off putting and tbh, no wonder people take the piss out of us christians when that kind of attitude is around.