Kareem is technically closer than a dwarf but using that metaphor NONE of us will go to Heaven.The standards are way too elevated.
Dreams,lets agree to disagree on this one,OK?Religion is not like politics.Its not like we are arguing the merits of communism versus capitalism.That has-or should have-been resolved long ago in favor of Free Enterprise.
Not so cut and dried with God,religion and one's spiritual belief system.Example-I could never join a religion like Islam but I do know several Muslims-Black Americans,by the way-who seem to be doing quite well in that they are law abiding,hard working and VERY capitalistic in their economic views.Just because they don't believe in Jesus means they are"bad"people?
Sorry,I just can't go for that.
Well, now you understand the first part of the gospel, at least. See, the first part of the GOOD NEWS is BAD NEWS. God doesn't grade on the curve. Again, your problem is a basic misunderstanding of the biblical teaching on the standards. The standard for heaven, according to the bible IS perfection. Not "trying hard" not "being better than so and so" not "basic human decency" but absolute hard edged cold unyeilding PERFECTION and no room for error. This is what makes the gospel such good news. It is an offer of a righteousness that is not your own, given as a free gift, on the basis of nothing but empty hands and faith that He has, in fact, promised to give it. That is GOOD NEWS because you can't do it and you quit trying silly measuring standards like Jabbar vs the Dwarf, because NONE of us can hit the mark. You receive, in fact, the very righteous record of Christ, imputed to your account. That, simply put, is biblical teaching. That is what makes Christianity different than any other religion. Muslims, Hindus, Jewish, or whoever say "try harder, live good, do your best....." Jesus says (my paraphrase) "it don't work that way, and if you persist in thinking that way, it will ruin you for eternity." In fact, if righteousness sufficient to know God could be attained that way, then the cross is not a marvel of love, but some cosmic dumbass spectacle of some poor idiot who died and didn't really need to..., cause we can do it ourselves if we just try hard enough. Don't mean to be harsh, but there it is.