CT Querner
wrote:
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Hi, guys—
- Why do most Catholics believe everyone who is good goes
to Heaven?
They say all other non-Christian faiths are ignorant
and therefore go to Heaven. I would say with so much
available (among the web, books, T.V., and radio), ignorance
is not an excuse. Sure for some tribal guy in South America there may be ignorance, but not
in Iran, Iraq, etc.
I believe Jesus said God would let Him make the decision on
who went to Heaven, and he said:
"You must believe in Me."
- Why does the Church waste its time sending missionaries to other countries, if these people are
going to Heaven anyway?
In fact, if a person was going to Heaven
because of their ignorance, and someone then tells them about Jesus but they did not believe, they would go to Hell.
- Therefore,
why would Jesus tell His Apostles and disciples to go and tell others about Him,
(Matthew 28:18-20) if this would damn them, instead of allowing them to use a plea of ignorance which would get them to Heaven?
I believe Catholics do not go out and talk about Christ except
to other Catholics, because they do not feel it is necessary.
Thanks!
CT
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{
If ignorance or the goodness of people is enough, why waste time
sending out missionaries? }
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John replied:
Dear CT —
Close But no cigar!
The Church does not teach that all who are good
will go to Heaven. The Church says that Christ can save whom
He wishes to save. The Church is limited to preaching the Gospel
of faith in Christ and Baptism. However, God is not limited to anything!!
God gives grace to whomever seeks it. Furthermore, St. Paul
in the book of Romans spoke of those not having the Law, but doing
the Law, being a Law unto themselves. (Romans 2:17-24)
The Bible says that God desires all men to be saved, therefore in
the case of everyone's salvation, the Church puts that in the hands
of God, relying on His Grace and Mercy. Finally, if a non-believer is saved, then it because of Christ's shed Blood, not because of
their own righteousness or their own religion.
Having said that, it is sad that more Catholics don't share Christ.
That does not mean the Church's doctrines are incorrect. It means
we have lukewarm Catholics.
I hope this clears things up.
Under His Mercy,
John DiMascio
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Mike replied:
Dear CT —
I wanted reply to the second part of your comment.
You
said:
- Why does the Church waste its time sending missionaries to other countries, if these people are
going to Heaven anyway?
In fact, if a person was going to Heaven
because of their ignorance, and someone then tells them about Jesus but they did not believe, they would go to Hell.
- Therefore,
why would Jesus tell His Apostles and disciples to go and tell others about Him,
(Matthew 28:18-20) if this would damn them, instead of allowing them to use a plea of ignorance which would get them to Heaven?
I believe Catholics do not go out and talk about Christ except
to other Catholics, because they do not feel it is necessary.
Each of us has a personal culpability or responsibility
for what we know, and all mankind, men and women, are
culpable for developing their faith in a fuller measure
than is it now.
- For the Catholic, this means studying more about the
Church, knowing Her teachings, and living a complete, prayerful,
and sacramental Christian life.
- For the Protestant, this means studying the Word of
God more, and being open to the history:
- of their own denomination
- of the Scriptures from within the Catholic Church; where it was written and canonized by Catholic bishops, guided by the Holy Spirit, and
- of the Early Church Fathers, the very first Catholic Christians, and
- the history of the Church Herself, going back to Matthew 16:13-19 and Pentecost Acts 2:1-13.
- For the Jewish believer, this means:
- studying the Old
Testament and its teachings
- being open to reading the New Testament of Messiah ben David and Messiah ben Joseph; this is who Jesus is! and
- being open to faith-sharing
conversations with Christians, especially Catholic Christians who have so much in common with their divinely, chosen heritage.
- For those of other faiths or no faith, this means being open to the natural
law that is written on their hearts. The natural law are those impulses that tell us inside,
This is right. or This is wrong., without being told something is right or wrong by some other external organization or person.
In each situation, we cannot rationalize from what
we should do!
Your asking such a question shows that
your salvation will not depend on your ignorance but
on how much you develop your love for the Truth (and the Church) and follow the guidance of the
Holy Spirit
in your life.
Your brother in prayer, your brother in Christ,
Mike Humphrey
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