[ArGee]

I understand salvation through Christ. But what of those who did not know Christ?

When I meet someone who fits that description, I will discuss the matter with him.

Most of the people who offer the "what of those" point are hiding behind someone else so they will not have to face their own choices.

G-d is not interested in what we think of how He deals with someone else. The issue is how He deals with us. My issue is how He deals with me. Your issue is how He deals with you.

And, of course, if I love someone, I will tell them of the goodness of the feast, the excellence of the wine, and the divinity of the fellowship.

Shalom.

[discostu]

But again this is one of the important questions for the atheist. You want me to believe that God is loving and kind and wonderful. But you also say that accepting his Son's sacrifice into your heart is the only way to true happiness on the mortal coil and eternal salvation after. At this point I wonder how many million people lived and died in North America before Christianity made the trek across the Atlantic. None of these people ever heard of Christ so they couldn't possibly have accepted Him in their hearts. Now, according to the fire and brimstone guys (not sure whre you sit on this issue) they're all burning in ever lasting hell. I can't accept that God is a loving kind and wonderful if people burn in hell for the sin of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Show me a passage in the Bible that says there's a different measurement system for those who were never fortunate enough to hear The Word and I'm ziggy; but from everything I've seen (and as you point out in your story) there's one way only, it's through Christ and if you haven't ever heard of Christ that's your problem.

Pete Townsend put it rather succinctly:
And Tommy doesn't know what day it is.
He doesn't know who Jesus was
Or wat Praying is.
How can he be saved
From the eternal grave?

While you might be comfortable in your faith without that answer others aren't. If Tommy can't be saved, I don't want in.

[wai-ming]

And, of course, if I love someone, I will tell them of the goodness of the feast, the excellence of the wine, and the divinity of the fellowship.

And what about people who were unlucky enough to live at a time when there were no invitations sent out?

I'm talking about my ancestors who never heard a word about Christ or the "good news" of the gospel. According to some Christians, my ancestors will be consigned to hell, because they didn't "profess a belief in Christ." They weren't even given a chance to accept or reject. Why are they being excluded?

I'm sorry, but isn't that kinda unfair? Even if I make it to the feast, I cannot celebrate the "divinity of the fellowship" with those I love, because they won't be there.