You are probably correct, yet, when told of the Gospel, many people will refuse it. There is no ignorance there, but willful refusal.
Missionary work is important for that reason, spreading the Gospel. Radio, TV, the interwebz are important. It is my own humble belief that, at the core you are right, BUT, when all present on the planet have had the opportunity to hear of Jesus and decide, He will come again.
Oh, that all would realize their need for a Saviour when presented with the Gospel for the first time. Would that that had been true of me. It was not.
We are not priviledged to see the Lord, as the 12 Disciples did (not yet anyway). But we are to believe, try to live and behave as He would, so others may perhaps catch just a poor glimpse of Him through us. We should, to all extent and purpose BE that ‘First Hand Experience’, telling of His Love and our need for Salvation.
You need have no enigma if you understand that without Jesus, there is no Salvation, we are ALL sinners, bound for Hell. The Law given to live by offers Condemnation for any lapse. Break one, just once, you have broken them all. Knowingly tell a lie as a young person, you’ve sinned. And you could offer sacrifice, whereby the death of a ‘perfect’, ‘innocent’ lamb or goat-kid could be killed to cover your sin. Not erase it, but cover.
God knew we would need to have a way to Salvation, and sent His Son. Jesus came to earth, took on fleash, lived as a man, endured temptations, hunger, pain, ridicule, offenses to his person, and ultimately was crucified and died on the cross at Calvary. Through it all, He never sinned, He was the Perfect Sacrifice God demanded to erase our sins and allow us to come to Him.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth would not perish but have everlasting life.
Imagine loving people that have no love for you at all, and loving them so much that you allow your own son to die at their hands so that they may live. Astonishing!! Perhaps that explains that, should you choose to turn awy from Jesus and His sacrifice, that Heaven will not be part of your eternal itinerary.
I am sorry to fall back on the “faith” thing again, but I could tell you how chocolate tastes or the thrill of riding a roller coaster, and I am pretty sure you would still be fully ignorant of the true taste of chocolate or the true thrill of riding a roller coaster.
The bible says what it says and you believe or you don’t. Hell, as laid out by the bible, is pretty clear. I just don’t believe it. Bad Catholic, I guess. I don’t believe that God would give up on stupid ignorant people any sooner than loving parents would.
I realize everyone here is saying that you are consiously, freely CHOOSING to neglet God, and it is fundamentally agreed that we have the free will to do so. What I question is that people have the capacity to truly understand what it is they are rejecting. And if they don’t, are they really responsible? And if not, how can God hold them responsible for making an ignorant decision they were not capable of making.
Suffice to say, my viewpoint is uniquely mine and not many people share it. I can’t say there isn’t a hell. I can’t say we don’t choose it. I can only wonder if God, in his infinite love, can really hold man responsible for rejecting him, in his ignorance.
I’m not saying we aren’t inherently selfish and bad and capable of rejecting God so we can play and have fun and indulge in temptation. I am just asking a question.
Is man REALLY so informed of the nature of God that he is capable of rejecting such a wonderful person? I am given to wonder, if people really, really knew and understood Gods love and nature, if it would even be possible to reject him? That is my point.
I mean, who on earth ever rejected Mother Theresa? You see the love she had and sacrifice she made for others, and you would have to be crazy not to love and respect her and desire to be in her presence. God is Mother Theresa to an infinite power. How can a rational, informed, sane person reject him outright?
Because I can’t conceive of the answer, I can only imagine that it is profound ignorance alone about the love, character and nature of God that would allow someone to truly reject him and say “I don’t want you, I don’t want to be with you, I don’t want your love”.
You see, I can’t imagine that.