mike T.W.

Green wrote:

This sounds very similar to this: " If you are the son of God, make this stone into bread ".

But this seems quite silly. Christ said "all the world". Are you guys claiming that we haven't discovered the whole world yet? The fact is he said preach throughout the world, end of story. If he sees fit to die on a cross, without giving them maps, then I guess he knew what he was doing.

Sven

[emphasis mine]
Thanks! That was exactly the answer I was waiting for all along - the usual "we can not understand God's ways, but he knows what he is doing".
Thanks for making my point that you really can not answer some problems in the bible, but take them to be right simply on faith.

And also thanks a lot to Corvidae72 for elaborating on my OP and making it much more clear. :notworthy

Zeda

A very good question Sven and indeed a necessary one for Christians to ponder. Corvidae72 wrote an excellent post to further enhance your OP.

The Question remains for Christians, If Jesus was God, and all-knowing-- thus knowing of North America, South America and Australia, and if he if a God of Love why didnt he care enough about the millions of people that would exisit there between his death (roughly 30A.D. til about 18 or even 19 hundreds) when they would be discovered and reached by Christian missionarys?

And according to most Christians, just living a good life would NOT be enough for salvation.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME."

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other:for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

See also Romans 3 and in fact most of Romans when it comes to salvation through good works. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous,no,not one.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

According to the Bible all have sinned, and NONE can be saved except through Jesus. See also Eph. 2:8-9.

The Great Commission is in fact a terrible thing and makes no sense, if men can be saved with out Jesus, since if they never hear they have no chance to reject him. Therefore, it would be better to tell no one, and that way not send them to hell.

Sven

Yes, there is indeed great confusion among Christians what exactly is necessary to be saved. Also see the article I linked above.
Some denominations clearly say that without knowing Jesus, it's impossible to be saved. My question thus should be a great problem for adherents of these.

mike T.W.

Quite clearly Sven you make a very important point. You say:

Yes. And this whole topic is based on doubt. What you must realize, is that problems only come through doubt. If I pray in doubt, then I will recieve nothing. It is a vicous circle. "I doubt Christ thought a country would be within the world " --> Indeed!

I suppose he thought Australia was not included in "world". Maybe he thought it was attached to a meteor in circling Pluto.

Sven

No. It's progress which comes from doubt. From faith, we only get stagnation.

Where did I say this?

Maybe he didn't exist. Maybe he existed, but was a man, a preacher, not the son of god, and thus didn't know about Australia. Please explain how to determine if this simple explanation (the latter) is wrong or right. Through faith?

Dr_Paine

The chronological/geographical propagation of the "gospel" is like an inverted pyramid.

While time was passing, as the knowledge and capacity to deliver the "good news" increased, people were dying. :boohoo:

It is doubtful that "all the world" has heard the "news" even in our technologically advanced world; but certainly previous generations were left in "darkness." Would you not agree?

Dr_Paine

Really? It seems that throughout history every advancement in the fields of science, philosophy, and even religion, have been largely based upon doubt. Thank Heaven for the doubters! :notworthy

In order to usher in a new paradigm, one must challenge the old. The Reformation, Copernicus, Newton ...