Pre-1492 Americans

Mormon Jesus visited the Americas during this period and spread the good news.

Húrin wrote: »

Hey, I am a Christian, but I wonder what others think about the topic of salvation for people who lived in the Americas between 33AD and 1492 AD? With no Eurasian contact the Americans could have no way of hearing the good news. This seems to undermine Christ's claim that only through him would we reach God.

What are your opinions? Could you point me towards any theologians who have addressed this issue?

The first thing I'd say is that all salvation comes through Christ's death on the cross. Only Christ could pay the price of our sins because of His infinite dignity.

God takes into account people's ignorance of the Gospel and I imagine He would judge them according to their own beliefs and conscience. But their sins will only be forgiven due to the shedding of Christ's blood.

God bless,
Noel.

Wicknight wrote: »

Didn't Jesus say the only way to be saved was to have belief in him? How could they have belief in him if they didn't know he existed.

Fair point. Nobody actually knows who will be saved. For all we know maybe only Christians will be saved but I believe God's mercy will extend further.

Wicknight wrote: »

And why say that in the first place if being unaware of Jesus meant you were judged simply on your good deeds, rather than belief in him, which surely would be better for most people?

God doesn't want us living in ignorance. "The truth shall set you free". The way I look at it, a good Christian has a better chance of being saved that someone of another faith. Jesus commanded that the Gospel be preached to all nations. Ignorance only diminishes your chances of being saved.

Bduffman wrote: »

Well thats not very fair on everyone else is it? I mean those who have heard the gospel have to live by it - but those who didn't don't have to? Sounds like they had it easier yeah?

And living according to the Gospel is some kind of burden is it? I know it doesn't look that way to most of us but it is in fact true freedom. It's a consequence of original sin that sin is appealing and that it appears to give us freedom.

Also those who live according to the gospel will be rewarded for doing so. The more we practice self-denial for love of God and neighbour, the greater the merit we gain and the "higher" our place in Heaven will be. When we perform good works, we grow in grace and this makes us capable of receiving more from God.

Húrin wrote: »

Hey, I am a Christian, but I wonder what others think about the topic of salvation for people who lived in the Americas between 33AD and 1492 AD? With no Eurasian contact the Americans could have no way of hearing the good news. This seems to undermine Christ's claim that only through him would we reach God.

What are your opinions? Could you point me towards any theologians who have addressed this issue?

You should read Hebrews 11. That will give you a full list of people who were saved without knowing Jesus and who lived centuries before He arrived on the scene.

Also Paul to the Romans says:

"All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares." Romans 2:12-16

My opinion is that Jesus provided the sacrifice needed for God to able to take any people on the basis of their faith no matter what revelation God provided for them outside of the knowledge of Jesus. Without Jesus nobody could have been saved. He paid the price for all the sins of everybody past present and future including your future sins. In Romans 1:18-23 below God’s wrath is poured out on certain ones who simply do not give Him glory for His handiwork which was just the basic revelation of the creation itself not the revelation of the Law or Jesus just the creation itself.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things."

And because of this non-recognition of His hand in the creation God turns them over to this:

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
Romans 1:24-28

But in case you are of a mind to use the above verse of scripture to beat up someone because of their sexual orientation like the Christian fundamentalist perfectionist preachers are prone to do then consider that he didn't just turn these people over to the aforementioned activities but also to the following ones that none of us are guiltless of, especially the debate one which we are doing now although the word is εριδος (Eris) it literally means contention.

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:28-32

So you see despite what we think the reason that God pours out His wrath is, it wasn't because these people did these horrible things, it was because they did not glorify Him for the creation itself. The horrible things they do are a result of God turning them over to them not the cause of His wrath. If God got mad at people that did this in relation to the general revelation in the creation itself then how much more will His wrath burn if we reject the only possible salvation from it once we have been told about it? God honours faith no matter where it shines forth be it in the Americas in AD33 or anywhere else for that matter and whether you've heard about Jesus or not. But He is the only door back to salvation and like it or lump it you will come through it whether you know it’s Him or not.

2Scoops wrote: »

Mormon Jesus visited the Americas during this period and spread the good news.

I thought that was sometime in the 19th century, at which time christianity was well established there.

CerebralCortex wrote: »

Give me a break what a weak argument for the arrival of Europeans as though we were saviours. The natives survived pretty well thats why they were there I imagine because they knew how to survive.

Ever been through a Prairie winter?

I dont see any natives giving up their warm homes to move back into a teepee.