You have to wonder what Bible is being taught (or not taught) if the majority of evangelical Christians think just being a “good” person is enough to save you.
My own anecdotel evidence proves this to be true. I cannot COUNT the number of times I’ve heard professing Christians imply that someone was a “really good” person so they must be saved. What they are really saying is “I’m not going to take the unpopular stance of saying ‘they aren’t saved because they don’t profess Christ'”. It invokes no wrath from the world to simply nod and say “they are such a good person” implying God will overlook about 80% of the Bible and what He wrote about sin, salvation and the truth about “good” people.
In fact, I’d like to believe that this is mostly a lack of courage and convenience. People just saying what is easier wanting to avoid criticism for being “narrow” and “judgmental”. However, I believe more and more that these statements come from pure Biblical ignorance after a couple of generations of watered down, therapeutic sermonettes.
I’m actually writing a novel about this whole topic of “I’m a good persons”. Yes, a novel. Stay tuned.
In the mean time, if the following article doesn’t bother you, perhaps you need to refresh your backbone about Biblical salvation, sin and man’s “goodness”.
Author: Most Evangelicals Believe Good People are Heaven-Bound
Fri, Dec. 17, 2010 Posted: 07:00 AM EDT
The majority of Protestants and evangelicals believe that good people and people of other religions can go to heaven, according to author David Campbell.
Campbell, who co-wrote American Grace, How Religion Divides and Unites Us, contends that surveys of 3,000 Americans, used to write the book, show that American people of faith, though devout, are very tolerant. So much so that most believers also believe that good people, despite their religious affiliation, can go to heaven.
Among the faiths, 83 percent of evangelical Protestants agreed that good people of other religions can go to heaven. Ninety percent of black Protestants also believe good people can go to heaven.
When prodded further, more than half – 54 percent – of evangelical Protestants said yes, people of religions other than Christianity can go to heaven. Sixty-two percent of black Protestants agreed with the statement.
Universalism is the theological doctrine that all people will eventually be saved despite a relationship with Christ.
He said this is especially true of youths because the messages from the pulpit have changed.
“I think the doctrine ‘In Christ alone’ … was emphasized more 25 years ago than it is today so young [people] are hearing about it less,” he revealed.
Stephanie Samuel
Christian Post Reporter