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I got a text from a friend of mine today who was strugglin, and wanted to hear my thoughts. This is what he wrote…
Hey bro. I am struggling with something. Could u email me your thoughts on: does the person who never hears the gospel go 2 heaven?email me
I typed up a quick yet lengthy response on google documents. Check it out here if your interested, be sure to get back and freestyle with me.
Rev. Dr. Drew G. I. Hart is an associate professor of theology at Messiah University and has 10 years of pastoral experience prior to teaching. He currently directs Messiah University's "Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice" program and co-hosts Inverse Podcast with Jarrod McKenna, an award-winning peace activist from Australia. Hart is the author of Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism (2016) and Who Will Be A Witness?: Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance (2020). And he is also a co-editor and contributor to the recently published book entitled Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Nov. 2023). Hart received bcmPEACE’s 2017 Peacemaker Award, the 2019 W.E.B. Du Bois Award in Harrisburg, PA, and most recently in December 2023 Life Esteem Ministries recognized him in Harrisburg with the Harambee Award for the Nguzo Saba Principle of Umoja—Unity for his faith-based activism and public scholarship in the community. Drew and his family live in Harrisburg, PA. View more posts
Drew G. I. Hart
Hate to break it to you, kiddo, but you got it right the first time: “the answer ultimately would be no they do not”.
That’s the good news. The bad news is worse.
While I am glad that as an atheist you feel welcome to join the dialogue (which you are), I must suggest that your perspective might possibly be biased… I know it’s a stretch. Anyways, I think that the large commercialized american and western church has made the issue seem clear, it is not the historic nor comprehensive practice or understanding of the church. There are many nuances in understanding. Take a look at James Cone in “God of the Oppressed” and you will see that the christian theology is extremely diverse in this particular area.
Wow, I’ll bet your friend was surprised to get that answer back as a text message! I love how thoughtfully you present both sides of the issues and how you take the time to explain man’s place in respect to God.
I for one am voting that what is in our hearts is what counts with God, for not everyone in our world will be exposed to Christ’s teaching during their lifetimes. But, like Gandhi, they may already ‘know’ on some level. And, look at all those who are exposed to His teachings, but can’t or don’t apply the ‘peaceful way’ to themselves. Christ’s path is a like walking on the edge of a razor blade, from which we fall many times in our lifetimes. Yet, we pick ourselves back up and keep on keeping on, because we are called to do so.
You always make me think, Drew.