Ask the Pastors, Episode 5: Isn’t God Being Unfair or Even Selfish for Punishing People for Not Believing?

Pastors Paul, Jacob, Siyoung, and Andrew respond to a question that one of our members received from an unbelieving friend. “I believe in God, and maybe He did send Jesus to die on the cross and rise again in 3 days. I get it and it’s a ‘nice gesture.’ But why did He do it? It’s not that we (unbelievers) asked for it. Even if I were to believe in an after-life, it seems unfair that some people don’t go to heaven just because they don’t believe or that they weren’t ‘chosen.’ Can we call Jesus selfish?” How should a Christian respond to this question with wisdom?