Pope Francis raised a lot of eyebrows when he said that all people who do good works, including atheists, will go to heaven.

"The Lord has redeemed all of us; all of us with the Blood of Christ. All, not just Catholics, everyone! Even the atheists. Everyone! And this blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created in the likeness of God and the blood of Christ has redeemed us all,” said the pontiff.

Even though this was an off-the-cuff remark and not a sermon from the pulpit, this statement drew mixed reaction from Christians and non-Christians.

Some Christians don’t agree, saying that the Bible is clear on who will and who will not be raised to glory.

One of critics observed: "Pope Francis is wrong…not all are children of God-only believers in Jesus are children of God,” citing the book of John 1:12 to reinforce his views. Another one said that it can be ironical to enter into heaven when you don’t believe in it in the first place.

However, the Pope’s statement must have been music to the ears of many atheists who have long held the belief that people should be judged according to their deeds while on earth.

Jesus was quite categorical on who will not enter into heaven, as written in Matthew 7:21-24. "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”

Therefore, Christians shouldn’t believe that merely confessing that they are followers and believers will guarantee them an express way to heaven. Believing should be peppered with good deeds, which even some of the so-called staunch believers are unable to do.

Many of the world’s worst atrocities have been organised by those who confess faith to God.

In Rwanda, it’s been reported that there had been a growing number of atheists immediately following the aftermath of the Genocide since many people couldn’t comprehend what happened in the precincts of the churches like in Nyange and Nyamata.

On the other hand, there were a number of non-believers whose human conscience led them to hide, at their own risks, those who were targets. Thus the question remains of whom between the two; the church leaders culpable of mass killings and non-believers who protected human life should find God’s favour?. The sixth commandment says: "Though shall not kill.”

"I believe that good deeds alone like helping the needy, the sick and a kind heart should be among qualities that should take you to heaven, and not just professing you are a Christian while your actions show otherwise,” says Habil Masengesho who says that he’s a believer and a member of Christian Life Assembly, Nyarutarama.