So do babies and toddlers and young children and those who were never exposed to Christianity or those who aren’t Christian (the majority of the world) not go to heaven?
Discussion
Everything I've read in the Bible says we must repent and believe. I know lots of people believe that kids that haven't reached mental maturity all go to heaven. I honestly don't know for sure.
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1)
There are lots of verses like this explaining that God's creation makes it clear that He exists. Maybe (?) He accepts belief in a holy creator God in those who have never heard a word of the gospel, even though He says we must believe in Jesus. I tend to believe actual faith in Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection is required, but God can save who He wishes. I have heard stories of Jesus appearing directly to Muslims in countries where there are basically no Christians, so He can call a person to Himself even if there are no witnesses available.
Read the Bible.
But what you’re describing is supporting my point. If god gets to decide, what are the criteria? It’s not really spelled out. It’s vague and arbitrary.
And what’s the cutoff for mental maturity?
And what if people would have changed, but died before they got the chance?
I’m with HODL. I think the Bible is great and it has many good messages. But to take it literally is plagued with issues.
And what brand of Christianity is the best? Is it Catholicism or mormanism or jehovas witness?
I personally believe that if there is a heaven, we will all go because we’re all god’s children. Otherwise, why did he create such flawed individuals?
God is specific about repenting and having faith.
It is sad that the Christian church has gotten so divided. Unfortunately, when you have any human organization, those who seek power seek positions of leadership. Those who care about the mission stay workers. Whether you are talking a church or something like the AARP, this happens. Most of the old church denominations, including the Catholic church, have totally corrupted leadership. I don't believe the current Pope is even a Christian (God knows). Mormanism and Jehovas Witness are both severely corrupted cults that I would not call Christian. Catholicism has some good points and bad. I know a good number of good Christians, but the leadership is a mess. I believe the Protestant church is closest to Jesus, the Bible, and right understanding, but even among the Protestants, there are some really messed up churches that are churches in name only. They have become more cultural organizations than followers of Jesus, which is sad.
I wish I could answer your question on salvation. When you have it, it isn't arbitrary. It is obvious, but it is harder to explain. It is kind of like explaining how you know something is true love. You know it when you find the real thing.
Since I am doing such a poor job of explaining, let me leave you with some Bible verses. It is always best to go to the source -- the God breathed truth of Scripture.
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)
We don't get to pick how we go to heaven. God had defined it as only through Jesus.
"They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”" (Acts 16:31)
This is what most people use to justify the salvation of children. (If they use the Bible as the foundation of their belief. Most just say, "I don't believe God would ...")
"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;" (Acts 3:19)
"Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”" (John 3:3)
"16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”" (John 3:16-21)
This passage addresses one of your concerns:
"13for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
16However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
18But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have;
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world.”" (Romans 10:13-18)
"I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
I hope this is helpful.
"...what are the criteria?", "...why did he create such flawed individuals?", "...what brand of Christianity is the best?"
"it's vague and arbitrary"
"...It is sad that the Christian church has gotten so divided. "
The church has always been divided. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about divisions, that people were saying I belong to Cephus, or I to Paul, or I to Appolos, or I to Christ. Christ exists divided. -
1 Corinthians 1:12
Trying to make sense of twisted doctrine and tradition will only serve to confuse. I think that is why Paul said:
"...and so I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come with an extravagance of speech or of wisdom declaring the sacred secret of God to you. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and him impaled. - 1 Corinthians 2:2-3
The bible is the preserved word of God. It's not a bunch of stories as some in this thread assert. It is full of prophesy for the future, not just historical record of the past. It contains the answers you seek. It is true and is no lie, and for those truly seeking, it is the annointing from God that is teaching you. - John 2:26-27
However, the truth found in the bible is examined spiritually:
"...physical men don’t recognize the Spirit of The God, because these are just foolishness to them and they can’t understand them, since such things can only be understood spiritually." 1 Corinthians 2:14
Keep on seeking friends.
“...ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" - Luke 11:9