A Sikh and an Atheist are sitting in a coffee shop. Sounds like the start of some lame, probably racist joke right? But it's not. So, yesterday I was working at Tim Horton's on the UFV campus, and while I was on my break, I'm listening to these two people talk about evolution/science vs. religion. (This shocked me, as in my naivity I only thought that Christians had these discussions with people in an effort to convert someone. These people were having an honest discussion, with no attempt to really sway one another. It was actually really humbling, and I had to evaluate how Christians often get into discussions like that, and then through their arrogance, they turn people completely off.) I have to be honest, I'm not sure if the Atheist was actually and atheist...I'm just guessing, but he definately was at least an agnostic. If there was a God, it doesn't really matter...it's all about how we live. At first I thought the sikh may actually been a Christian, as he talked about how he didn't believe evolution and stuff. How evolution makes life seem pointless and everything. It was a very interesting conversation to listen to. Then the sikh talked about how, he appreciates all religions, but the one he has the biggest problem with (surprise, surprise) is Christianity. I'd heard that numerous times before, no shocker. He said it was because Christians believe in the "only one way to God" idea, which he thought was exclusive (also something I've heard argued numerous times). But then, later on, he said something that did shock me. He came up with an argument that I'd never heard before. Another reason he didn't believe Christianity was, in a sense, forgiveness. Ok, what he actually said was "one question Christians can never answer well is, 'If a murderer prays to God, will he go to heaven'?". Now, the question seemed pretty easy to answer from a Christian perspective...yes, of course he would right? But the point he was getting at was more along the lines of justice. He didn't want a muderer to be able to be forgiven. Why is it fair that someone can be a killer, pray and get into a heaven, while someone else tries really hard to be a good person, never does anything too bad, and ends up in hell?
I have to say, it took a lot for me to resist joining in on the discussion; but 1) I was a stranger, and didn't need to interfere, and 2) I was on coffee break, and the discussion (with my inclusion), would likely have gone LONG past my 15 minutes. Anyway, I went back to work, and couldn't stop thinking about the idea that, other people have an issue with forgiveness. I can't generalize and say, everyone does...as this is the first person I'd ever really heard voice that concern, but the thought is out there. As Christians, forgiveness is the one thing that calms us, soothes us and comforts us. To some extent, the forgiveness is the reason we are Christians in the first place. But other people want justice. They don't want to know that a psychotic killer, a serial rapist, a child molester, a warmonger, can simply pray-get forgiveness and enter heaven. I think it is this notion that is making the karma religions more popular. The whole "you get what you give" idea is something that makes people feel better. Even though the notion is false on many levels (although there is some element of truth to it), it's attractive to people who don't want to believe that a simply prayer can get someone into heaven, after a life of brutality.
In my opinion, the main reason people have a problem with this, at least partly, has to do with the fact that Christians have this false idea about forgiveness. Anytime you see a televangelist, or missionary, or whenever a Christian tries to talk about their faith they always, in some way at least, refer to "the Sinners Prayer". Even if we don't fully believe it ourselves, we always preach the "if you just pray to God and ask him into your heart, you will be forgiven and are a Christian". That's it. That's what we preach. It's THAT simple? really? We fail to mention that there is much more to it than just a prayer. In fact, I believe that you can be a Christian and never actually utter "the sinners prayer". Christians often quote the story about the man on the cross next to Jesus, and how he just asked to be remembered, and he got into heaven. They say that, "even the worst person and be forgiven with a simple prayer"...and yet they miss the point of the story. The man wasn't uttering a last ditch attempt at being saved. First, he just asked to be remembered...didn't even ask to be included in the kingdom (humility), and secondly, he whole heartedly, without a doubt knew that Jesus was the Son of God. He knew who he was, and he believed it. He was in awe, in reverence. I honsetly belive that, if some way he got down off the cross and was released from prison, I think he would have been a better man. His encounter with Jesus would have changed him. That's what it comes down to isn't it? How many of us initially uttered the sinners prayer as a way to avoid hell? We were scared, didn't want to be punished and so we prayed to go to heaven. It wasn't until later, that we started to get to know God, saw his character, felt his presence and really formed a relationship with him. So at what point did we become a christian? Was it the prayer that saved us? Or was it the relationship, the learning about God, speaking with him, serving him, praising him?
Salvation is more than just a prayer to get out of hell. We need to stop preaching this sinners prayer propeganda (to some extent anyway), and actually preach about the life-changing attitude, the character of God, the relationship with Him. So...to answer the question, can a murderer pray a prayer, ask for forgiveness and get into heaven? If his sole purpose is to get out of hell, then no. I honestly doubt the validity of those "fear of hell" prayers. But if he truly sees the error in his ways (repentance is a HUGE part of forgiveness), and he truly sees Jesus as the Son of God, and wants to worship God with his life, then yes. It all comes down to the heart. Let's start sending out that message, and not just the simple "one prayer and your done" message.
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