by Mike Edwards
Understandings and mental views of God shape your belief in God and your relationship with God. God surely delights more in one seeking to know God than the ninety-nine, offended by one’s interpretation of the Bible, who already know their Creator (Lk. 15:3-7). Biblical interpretations must be plausible based on what a loving God should be like.
If you read my Post weekly, you will probably notice I have beat this subject to death. This post is longer than most my Posts, so please hang in there. I want to touch on many themes related to answering this question. I want to combine three last Posts into one here. I want to address who gets into heaven, contrary to claims made by Christians. Do agnostics, atheists, and non-Christians get into heaven? Polls suggest many believe there is an afterlife after death, or at least they hope so. Christians open suggest we can know all there is about the afterlife by reading the Bible. That is suspect because biblical writers were only speculating – God didn’t speak to them directly. Besides, we have to interpret their views since there isn’t universal agreement what the Bible says about heaven and hell.
Who is a believer in God’s eyes? Jesus’ disciples likely believed in a God or what Jesus taught but Jesus only encouraged his disciples and others to follow Him. He didn’t require certain beliefs. I follow what I believe are Jesus’ teachings. Church people often evangelize by focusing on how one can get in heaven/inherit eternal life. Is that really the best approach to those interested to discuss spiritual matters.
Hell No!
Does God really demand we bow the knee or burn in Hell?
There are good reasons to not agree a literal Hell is a reality in the Bible. It seems odd Jesus or Paul who wrote much of the NT didn’t mention Hell at all. See here. Words translated into the English word Hell are likely a metaphor to discourage a loveless life. Terrorists demand belief in their God or they don’t even wait to kill you in the afterlife. Is the God of the Bible really similar, only waiting to kill in the afterlife. The God I believe in isn’t a terroristic God here on earth or in the afterlife. A belief in a literal Hell is likely only to come out of one’s interpretation of a Book they believe is inspired by God accurately proclaiming what God is like, and not one’s imagination of a loving God. My God gave me a brain to imagine what a loving God does to those who don’t believe while living a short time here on earth. See: Hell No! Hell Is a Myth
The Main Biblical Message May Not Be What You Think
Most who read this blog want to know what the Bible says about salvation and entering heaven which we will discuss briefly below. I suspect many reject Christian claims because of the beliefs said to be true of God. Hell is likely a message Christians get wrong. I am convinced a literal Hell is a biblical myth. See here. Also, we get wrong that God condemns gays according to the Bible. Another myth. See here. See God Loves Gays
But the biggest myth may be that God’s main message according to the Bible is that salvation is about going to Heaven or Hell rather than how to live life here on earth. Hard to believe Hell is the main message if Hell is a myth. See here: What Really Is The Gospel According To The Bible?
Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). Did Jesus really mean God only saves those who accept Jesus? Keep in mind the majority of people born into this world have never heard of Jesus or had a Bible. Jesus wasn’t born until the first century. The Bible as we know it today didn’t exist until the fourth century. John 14:6 could easily be interpreted to mean Jesus’ way of life is the best path toward God. The path to God is through love. (See God After Deconstruction, Oord/Fuller Chapter 9). We Christians need to be less condemning and more open to God’s love and message to people of all religions. Your religion doesn’t matter to God. Your religion likely depends on the nation or family born into. See What religion goes to heaven
Jesus was asked by a religious leader how to have eternal life. (Lk.10:25-37). I doubt the leader had in mind how to get into Heaven away from this Earth. Jesus elsewhere defined eternal life as beginning in the here and now (Jn 17:3), not what awaited in the afterlife. Jesus in this passage simply said to the leader to love God and your neighbor. “Eternal” appears to be on the quality not quantity in life. Jesus spoke of a life worth living here on earth by living a loving life empowered by God. Whether one chooses belief in God and possible empowerment is an individual faith choice. Jesus’ salvation was about living a meaningful life here on earth with God’s help. The Bible/Jesus/God’s message isn’t dropping to your knees to avoid Hell to go to Heaven after death, but start loving now – a path toward great relationships. See: What Is Main Message About Bible/Jesus That Christians Get Wrong?
Besides, the Bible may claim all can enter heaven anyway regardless of beliefs?
The main message can’t be about God saving us from Hell. There is some biblical evidence, that God is inclusive in the afterlife. In fact, God may welcome all and will attempt to convince them and live with God forever. It is doubtful the main message is one has to believe in Jesus or the Bible. As mentioned, the majority of people born in this world didn’t have access to a Bible or know of Jesus. See: All Will End Up In Heaven According To The Bible
Being a universalist can be biblical: I am a hopeful universalist because God respects one’s freedom to choose their destiny. It is just hard for me to believe anyone would reject God seeing and knowing what God is really like and not wanting to live forever with loved ones. I guess there are the Hitlers out there!
There are rational reasons for our friends to not believe in God?
Let’s be honest. We can’t prove God exist. Why condemn those who struggle to accept if there is a God (agnostic or atheist). Another fair argument about whether God really exist is why then is God so hidden. The idea that if an all-loving God truly exists and wants to have a personal relationship with those open to such a relationship – why doesn’t God make their presence obvious. Such signs could convince many, removing distress and uncertainty. On the other hand, there may be reasonable reasons God is hidden here on earth. See: If God Is Real, Why Then Is God So Hidden?
What the world needs more is love, not more people professing right beliefs or that God is real if not so inclined. God may pursue them in a relationship if one interested. Don’t know! Many have rational reasons to not believe in God. This doesn’t mean God rejects them. The path of love is open to all even atheists and agonists and non-Christians. See: What Does God Think About Believers Trying To Convert Others?
There is one main belief that matters according to all religions
People reject God based on claims about hell, gays and other supposed God-endorsed beliefs. Who blames them? It is important to know what God is really like and that God cares about you in the here and now and not about just the afterlife. Most religions share common ground unless a terrorist including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism—the Golden rule. Jesus said when asked what the greatest commandment was: “Love God and love your neighbor.” [Matthew 22:36-40] Loving God is following God’s ways, surely meaning loving your neighbor as you wish to be loved. If you believe loving others like you want to be love is central in living, you are good with God. See you in Heaven! None of us act on this belief perfectly.
There are reasonable reasons to not believe in God or at least be skeptical. God gets you! If you don’t believe in the Golden Rule, good luck on your death bed regarding relationships. Want to die with few regrets? Want your relationships to suck, don’t follow the golden rule. Few will show up at your funeral.
Why it Matters
It matters the comfort or lack of comfort you offer others when a loved one dies. No one really knows so why not offer hope. What happens to our loved ones beyond the grave if God was not a part of their life, but they didn’t live like the devil and lived a more moral life than many who claim to trust God? I have summarized reasons why we can hope and give others hope in difficult times that God isn’t a God of chances, depending on where live or family born into: See:
There Is Hope For God’s Grace After Death For our Loves Ones?
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the Done with Religion site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
