So, since only God knows the heart of a man, why can’t we just say “we don’t know” about the whole topic? Basically is what you’re saying is that salvation is based on sincerity. This is complicated to me because many folks have their sincerity rooted in selfishness. I find it hard to trust sincerity. If I assist people committing suicide because I was an invalid for 6 years and understand why someone would want to die - if I do that sincerly out of love for them… is that a problem?
This “doctrine” is a real problem for me because I believe most people are sincerly (in their eyes) trying to do the right thing. I mean the folks who ordered the fire bombings in Tokyo sincerly thought they were doing the right thing. Burning millions of people to death may be a sincere way of looking out for your own country, but I don’t think that makes it a possitive point in the way of salvation.
I also wonder how sincere one must be and how long one must be sincere.
I know that there have been Catholics and Protestants who have been extremists. That’s one of the reasons I think sincerity isn’t the key.
-Rhonda
This is a very good question. I would like to point out that there is a difference between the way that people are judged based on what they know, and how they responded. About pagans, Paul writes that everyone has evidence of the divine through His creation:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles. Rom 1:18-23
This seems to indicate that every person, whether they have been exposed to “religion” or not, has a built in ability to perceive and respond to the Divine, and that, if they fail to honor that, they will be found guilty.
People who have been baptized or given themselves to Christ are judged by that:
4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt. 7 For land which has drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed; its end is to be burned. Heb 6:3-8
I think we can say" it is up to God, only He sees the heart" but I don’t think we can say we don’t know. In fact, since we DO know (ourselves being enlightened and having tasted of the heavenly gift) we have a responsibility to go into all the world, and preach that gospel. Read the first two chapters of Romans, and that might help.
14 When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
Rom 2:13-16
God has placed a conscience within each of us, and the function of it is to help that person remain within the revelation of the Divine that they have. Is what you mean by sincerity?
