Are good people doomed without 'true belief', 'absolute faith', and what exactly constitutes finding God?
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn* the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:16-21)
Those speaking modern English read “eternal” as “infinite” and “condemned” as “doomed to hell.” In early Jewish, Aramaic, and even Greek, these words take on different connotations. Eternal life isn’t merely a reference to a future life in heaven. It references a better quality of life in the present. “Condemned” also had a slightly different connotation. For example, if someone stole something they were sent to be “condemned” or as we might phrase it today, sent before a judge for a judgement on his punishment.
Paul writes that those who follow Christ are no longer under condemnation (i.e. judgement) because they have broken no law as they were released from that Law. Christians (those who are following Christ’s way of living) are no longer under judgement. They are forgiven. This does not mean there will not be consequences in this life and perhaps even the next for not living in the Ways of Christ. It doesn’t mean there won’t be a purification process which might well be painful.
In Paul’s mind, Jews will be judged because they chose to continue to live under the Law. Christians will not be judged as they should be truly following in Christ’s ways and footsteps. Paul also mentions those who have no belief. He says they will be judged by their own hearts.
Let’s return to what John was saying. He begins by talking about how much God loves the world. He sent His son into the world to bring light and show by example how to choose obedience rather than disobedience. Those who turn from light are condemned to live in darkness; those who turn from obedience are condemned to live in disobedience. An analogy: Those who choose to leave the house without a coat when it is freezing outside, have already condemned themselves to being cold--even before they take that first step out the door.
If I had chosen not to seek God and to follow Christ, I may not have been a bad person. On the other hand, nor would I have had the eternal life available to us here in the present. I would have missed out on many experiences. You say your dad, though agnostic, was a good man. My grandfather, an atheist, was also a good man. I won’t tell the story of how I know, but I did have an incredible experience after my grandfather’s death where I know he is not burning in hell.
God so loves the world. God is just. God is merciful. This does not mean He tolerates evil or those who choose darkness to do evil deeds. But those who chose light, who chose obedience, even though they couldn’t seem to believe in Christ (or did not seek him) I believe will be okay. They may have missed out on a better quality of (spiritual) life; they may have missed out on opportunities to know God in this life—but there is no reason to believe they will be enduring the flames of hell for an infinite eternity.
Just so you (and others) know, I have not made any of this up out of whole cloth. It is based on years of Bible study, studying languages of Biblical times, studying Biblical histories and cultures. It is based on an experience of God’s love. He truly loves us, and He cares.
