I've been asked this question more than once, and I felt like I never really could touch my heart and answer this question with confidence. But over the course of reading the bible, I think I discovered something that Paul was trying to tell the christians in Rome.
Here are the quotes:
ESV Romans 2:14-16
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
NIV Romans 2:14-16
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The Message 2:14-16
When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.
Paul seems to say three things here.
- God's laws are so innate and natural that people (even before they heard the gospel) know what is "right" and "wrong".
- God sees what is done in secret.
- Judgement is done through Jesus Christ.
I think there is no doubt that there is a united conscience for maybe 95% of what is right and wrong. Practically every individual innately knows that prostitution, drug abuse, child sexual abuse, robbery, theft, corruption of authority are "wrong" (clearly this is not an exhaustive list). Just as every individual innately knows that love, joy, kindness, forgiveness, loyalty, and peacefulness are "right". Of course, no-one ever thinks that its necessary to argue upon the clear-cut cases, but most of any debate of what is right and wrong is devoted to the grey-zones of ambiguity. But don't let that fool you into thinking that we are in disagreement of what is right and wrong. It is a fact that our knowledge of right and wrong would largely be the same.
I don't think it's necessary to elaborate on God's omni-presence, and who does the judging (points 2 and 3). If you are Christian, you already know. If you reject the gospel, you need to examine the legitimacy of the bible, and the authority of Jesus, which is quite a separate topic from what I'm writing about now.
Back to the original topic, I think the appropriate Christian answer to the original question is "No, they are not going straight to hell. But they will be judged according to their own actions."
