Are those of the Muslim faith going heaven, too?

Sincerely,
Not Mohammed

Dear Not Mohammed,

Muslims can go to heaven if they renounce their Islamic beliefs and convert to Christianity.  Jesus is the only way to God.  Jesus proclaimed, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jhn 14:6)  Rom 1:16-17 says that the gospel is the tool God uses to bring us salvation.  Muslims follow the Q’uran, not the Bible, and they trust in Mohammed, not Jesus.  Islam is in direct contradiction to the Bible.

(This question is in response to “Love The Sinner”)

     I noticed in one of your posts, you were asked if God hates sinners.  No offense, but you seemed a little broad with your answer by just saying He loves people.  If you are basically saying God doesn’t hate people, then what does Proverbs 6:19 mean when it says God hates one who sows discord or bears false witness?

Sincerely,
Clarification Please

Dear Clarification Please,

Perhaps we were a bit broad-stroked with that answer.  Let’s see if we can clarify.  Jhn 3:16 clearly says that God loves the whole world.  In fact, God teaches that we should love our enemies, just like He does (Matt 5:43-45).  However, that doesn’t mean that God isn’t angry when people sin.  As you said, Pr 6:16-19 says that there are some things God hates, and they are all things that involve wicked living.  God walks that perfect line between always showing a love for humans, regardless of what they’ve done, and having a kindled anger against all those that rebel and destroy with sin.  God loves all man, but He also hates all sin.  His love is a patient love that hopes they will return to Him (2 Pet 3:9).

     Did the Bible come after Adam and Eve, or did they have a Bible?

Sincerely,
Early Reader

Dear Early Reader,

The Bible took roughly sixteen hundred years to write, and the first five books were written around 1425 BC by Moses.  Moses lived thousands of years after Adam and Eve, and that means that Adam and Eve didn’t have a copy of the Bible.  The reason for this is simple – the Old Testament is a law for Jewish people (Deu 5:1-3), and the New Testament is a law for christians (1 Cor 9:21)… Adam and Eve weren’t Jews or christians.  Adam and Eve had a law from God, and it can be found in Gen 2:15-17.  Adam and Eve’s law was to care for the Garden of Eden and to never eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  God has always had laws for people to live by, but Adam and Eve’s laws were different than ours.

     When a person hears the Word, accepts Christ, repents, confesses Christ, is baptized, I understand they are put in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Now, this is followed by a life of obeying God’s commandments, enduring temptation, loving one another, and living for God.  But are God’s commandments just to believe in Christ and love one another?  What are the commandments we have to obey?

Sincerely,
I’d Like A Checklist

Dear I’d Like A Checklist,

After you are baptized, you become a christian (Acts 2:38).  As you said, after that, you spend the rest of your life growing and following God’s commandments (1 Pet 2:2).  All of the specific commandments are too numerous to list here because the whole Bible is full of God’s commands (Ps 119:160).  All of God’s teachings can be summed up in “love God” and “love your neighbor”… that is what Jesus said on the matter (Matt 22:36-40).  All the rest of the Bible is full of specific rules and principles that help us to properly love God and our fellow man.  A life dedicated to God is built upon the Bible’s teachings (Rom 10:17), and His Word, in its entirety, should be the guide for our lives (Ps 119:105).

     Does God give us advice on how to correct our children, such as spanking?  Today, society tells us to use time-outs instead… but that doesn’t seem to always work.

Sincerely,
Tired Parent

Dear Tired Parent,

The Bible is very clear that spanking is an acceptable and effective method of training children.  Pr 29:15 says that “the rod” and reproof give wisdom to a child.  Pr 23:13 says that spanking a child will not kill them, so don’t withhold correction.  Pr 22:15-16 says that all children need the rod of correction to drive foolishness from their hearts and that spanking them will help protect their soul.

The Bible never teaches that parents should abuse, torture, or hit their children out of anger or frustration, but it does teach that corporal punishment is part of a healthy parenting method.  Part of nurturing our children up in the chastening and admonition of the Lord does involve punishment, and that includes spanking (Eph 6:4).

     Is it wrong to pray for someone who is dead?  I was told the Bible says it is wrong, and I don’t remember reading that.  Thank you.

Sincerely,
Morbid Curiosity

Dear Morbid Curiosity,

1 Jn 5:16 is probably the verse you are thinking of, but that doesn’t really deal with dead people; it pertains to people who are purposefully turning their backs on the Lord.  We are told not to request that God forgive people who aren’t seeking to live faithfully.

Having said that, your question deals with people that are already dead, and that is an entirely different issue.  Heb 9:27 says that people die and then face the judgment.  There is no room for someone’s fate to be changed once they die.  If your goal through prayer is to make it so someone who already died can go to heaven instead of hell, that won’t work.