Perhaps another question might be: how merciful and mighty do you think that God is?
Let me say up front that the insights I will share regarding this question come from my Catholic Christian faith tradition. Catholics believe that, while the truths of our Christian faith are unchanging, our insights into what they mean can and do evolve from generation to generation. An example of this would be how American Christians struggled over a hundred years ago with slavery: did the Bible allow it as a moral practice, or not? Clergy of different faith traditions, some slave-holders themselves, used various phrases from Scripture to support their opposing positions, until finally, after many arguments and much animosity, there was a general consensus that slavery is an immoral practice that destroys the dignity of human beings.
The question of who can be saved is another issue which is currently being discussed by many Christian faith traditions. In the 1960's, Catholics held an international Council, Vatican Council II, during which clerical hierarchy and various theologians discussed this issue, among many. Pope Paul VI issued the document, "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church," ("Lumen Gentium,") on November 21, 1964 - and theologians are still mining the depths and the riches of that document today.
Just think about the fact that for hundreds of years, in England, Ireland, and many countries in Europe, Catholics and Protestants of various denominations hated each other, fought each other, tortured each other, and killed each other with the approval and encouragement of their church leadership. Why? Each side believed that the other side was in such grave error about the faith that those who believed those errors were condemned to hell. Because of this, these errors needed to be wiped out - by wiping those people out.
"Lumen Gentium," in a tremendous spiritual evolutionary step forward, states "The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not...preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. They are consecrated by Baptism, in which they are united with Christ....They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives his gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His saving power."
And so, for Catholics, other Christians are also part of the Church of God, the Body of Christ. We believe that all Christians receive God's graces, and if they follow God's will, we will all meet in Heaven.
All Christians believe that no-one can come to God the Father except through Jesus Christ, His Son; that Jesus is our Savior and our Intercessor.
But what about non-Christians? Think of how during the Middle Ages, Christians persecuted Jews, calling them "Christ killers." Think of how Christians marched against Muslims in the Holy Land in the Crusades. Think of the genocide, and the slaughter of Jews in the 1940's; think of the tendency to identify all Muslims with unholy terrorists today. Why did - and does - this happen? Because many Christians have believed and believe that Jews and Muslims could not possibly be loved by God because they do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God - and therefore they cannot be saved.
What many Christians don't realize is that Christians, Jews, and Muslims all do believe in the same One God, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, and they all believe that Abraham is their father in faith, and that Moses gave us the Ten Commandments. Jews and Muslims don't believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but Muslims do believe that Jesus is a great prophet.
Here's a simplified story to explain how all three religions believe in the same God. John (God) works in an office (The Old Testament) and is known by Peter (Christians), David (Jews), and Mohammad (Muslims.) They all know John's activity in the office; they all have formed bonds of loyalty and friendship with John; they all have deep, good, conversations with him. But only Peter knows John's activity at home (the New Testament) and his other roles as a husband and father. And so Peter has a wider and deeper understanding of who John is, and how widespread his roles and activity are. David and Mohammad know John; they are faithful to him and believe in his activity, and his is faithful to his friendship with them; they just are not aware of all the facets of who John is. The important message is that Peter, David, and Mohammad ALL KNOW THE SAME PERSON: JOHN!!!
Christians and Muslims and Jews all know the same person, the one God, the Creator. Christians know so many more facets of God, but it's the same God. And this God, in His tender mercy, remains faithful to the people who worship Him as the Creator, recognizing their faithfulness.
"Lumen Gentium" reflects this deep appreciation of Muslims and Jews:
"Finally those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God. In the first place we must recall the people (the Jews) to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh. On account of their fathers, this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues. But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Mohamedans (Muslims), who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind."
In other words, Christians, Muslims, and Jews are bound by God in a relationship with each other and with God - and all are dear to God, and can be saved - all are part of the plan of salvation. All are saved through Jesus the Christ, the One Who intercedes for any who are faithful to His Father.
Just this past month, one of the Catholic Church buildings in our Buffalo Diocese was sold to the Muslim community, who will convert it into a Mosque. Both the Church's former Pastor and our Bishop spoke of the wonderful relationship between Catholics and Muslims in our area - and reiterated this same message from "Lumen Gentium": we worship the same God.
But our God's mercy extends even further. "Lumen Gentium" continues
"Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He Who gives to all men life and breath and all things, and as Savior wills that all men be saved. Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as is known to them by the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God, and with His grace strive to live a good life."
God gives His graces to everyone, regardless of whether they're Christian or not, or even whether they believe in God or not. All that is necessary is that they are spiritual searchers: they seek the truth with a sincere heart and follow the dictates of their conscience - and that they lead good, loving lives. This is the criterion for salvation for all of us: to do the will of God as we understand God to be; to follow our consciences; and to lead good lives. Pope Francis summarized all this very forcefully in these words:
"To be a Christian means to do the will of God - and on the last day - because all of us we will have one - that day, what shall the Lord ask us? Will He say 'What have you said of me?' No. He shall ask us about the things we did..."
And he continues "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone. Everyone! (Some might ask) 'Father, the atheists?' (The Pope replies) 'Even the atheists. Everyone. We must meet one another doing good. (An atheist asks) 'But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist!' (The Pope replies) 'But do good: we will meet one another there.'"
God's grace is free to all, even atheists. Some Christians may be upset by this idea. After all, they think, what good is it being a Christian if anyone - ANYONE! - can be saved. This is where we must concentrate on the great good gift we've been given - the great Good News that God is so merciful that He came to earth, humbly became one of us just to BE with us. That is the gift of being a Christian - knowing, deeply knowing, the depth of the riches of God's saving activity and love!
If we pray, if we live in intimate union with God, the question of "Am I being saved?" just floats away - because we love God so much that we cannot conceive of ever leaving His side, ever living apart from Him. And our hearts expand, yearning with God for ALL people to discover the joy of living with God. We rejoice at the idea of His wide-ranging mercy!
Be very careful. For some Christians, being a Christian is belonging to an elite group, a superior tribe. They use their salvation as the justification to subtly look down on non-Christians. To consider them inferior. For, if you consider someone as not being worthy of being saved, you are automatically considering him as inferior spiritually to yourself. In the past, that led to the "pagan hordes" of Indians being either exterminated or forcibly baptized against their will. Belief in one's spiritual superiority can lead to the same kinds of anger, hostility, and abuses today.
Our God is both merciful and mighty! All people are His children, created in His Image and Likeness, and He desires for all of them to be saved, no matter where they are on their faith journey. All He asks for is a willing, loving heart, and deeds of justice and mercy.