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God does not send people to hell thats just centuries of oppressive Christian propaganda. Christians don't even know where the origin of their so called hell came from
Why would God® send anyone to hell at all? An infinite punishment for any finite crime is insurmountably just.
God® = Abrahamic deity
Im going to get straight to the point.
I am no Athiest. I believe there IS a higher power but I do not believe he is as wrathful as most Church's make him/her out to be.
What gets me angry about alot of Church's is that unless you follow their particular way of worship you will go to hell. What kind of rubbish is this? I thought Jesus taught people to love thy neighbor not judgeing them on Race or Religion? Or am I wrong here?
Nearly all people who participate in Church are very Judgemental, I have been told numerous times by Christians I will go to Hell if I dont change my ways..
I Don't Smoke
I Don't Gamble
I Do Partake in Alcohol but I Don't get drunk or drink to get drunk
I am a Virgin so no Sex either
I do not commit crimes
I guess they judge me wicked because I don't go to Church?
But why should I go to Church? How does going to Church make me more good?
I think God doe's Exist but I dont believe he will send people to Hell (If that place even exists) simply for " not believing in him " or not following a specific Church's practice.
Heres a Scenario.
(None of this is real it is made up as an example)
Jeff is a 43 year old man with 3 Kids aged 3,9 and 16 and a 39 year old Wife named Brenda.
Jeff is driveing home from work on a rainy night and a Truck who is driveing too fast lose's control and Smashes into Jeff's car. Killing him Instantly.
The Driver of the Truck is Arrested, Trialed and Sent to Prison for Manslaughter.
Jeff was a loveing Husband and Father and a great Friend to many.
Jeff was involved in many Charitys and raised lots of money to help Kids with disabilitys.
Jeff was an Athiest and did not believe in any god.
Uh Oh! Jeff did not believe God existed! Any Church Zealot would condemn him to Hell for this ungodly Sin...
My point is I cannot imagine God saying this.
Jeff. " But im not a Bad Person! ive made mistakes in life like a normal Human being but ive given most of my life to help people! "
God. " To bad you didn't believe in me so now you will burn in Hell for all Eternity "
God would not Punish anyone for being a Good Person. Never.
Shame on you for believing he would.
And for anyone who is too lazy to read this the Question is pretty much.
Why would God send people to Hell for being Good Careing Decent people?
God does not send people to hell thats just centuries of oppressive Christian propaganda. Christians don't even know where the origin of their so called hell came from
God does not send people to hell thats just centuries of oppressive Christian propaganda. Christians don't even know where the origin of their so called hell came from
Why would God send people to Hell for being Good Careing Decent people?
By who's standards of "goodness" are you talking about? Yours, your neighbors, friends, or God's? Most of us are "good" by our own standards or the worlds standards. But are we good by God's standards. Let's take a look at God's standards of goodness:
#1 - no other God but the One who is true
#2 - Don't worship any other.
#3 - use the name of God only with respect
#4 - on Sunday take a rest
#5 - Listen to your mom and dad 'cause what they say you gotta do
#6 - don't ever take somebody's life
#7 - feels like heaven but only with your husband or wife
#8 - don't steal from others
#9 - don't ever lie
#10 - if your friend has something that you think is cool don't ever wish that it was yours
(these are the lyrics to the 10 Commandment Boogie one of my favorite kids songs by Go Fish Guys)
Is God first in your life? Do you love God above all else? Have you loved God with all your heart? Have you loved humanity as much as you love yourself?
Have you ever made something in your life more important than God?
Have you ever taken Gods name in vaininstead of using a four-letter word to express disgust, youve used His name?
Do you stop to enjoy the day of rest?
Have you always honored your parents in a way thats pleasing in the sight of God?
While I am sure most of us have never physically killed someone, Scripture says if we think it, it's just as bad as doing it. We can violate Gods Law by attitude and intent.
Who of us can say that we are pure of heart? Same as above. Thinking it, just as bad as doing it - attitude and intent count.
Have you ever taken something that belonged to someone else (irrespective of its value)?
Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. How many lies do you have to tell to be a liar? Just one.
Have you ever wanted something that belonged to someone else?
I honestly do not want to know the answers to any of these questions. I know the answers for myself for them. God tells us in the Bible that if we break even ONE of these commandments, we're guilty and not "good" by His standards. We are unrighteous in his sight. "Suppose you keep the whole law but trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10)
So it doesn't matter how good you are in your eyes, my eyes or society's eyes. It only matters how you line up next to God's goodness, and it you have failed at any of the above, you simply do not line up. In the bible we are told we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23, Romans 5:12), and that the penalty must be paid (Hebrews 9:27, John 12:48). We have to be willing to turn from our sin (Acts 17:30). And "confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9-10) before we can be seen as "good" in the eyes of God. When we confess and believe, we are then covered by the payment Jesus made and we are viewed as "good". If we refuse to do this, then we can never be seen as good by God b/c we are still covered with sin. So God does not send anyone to hell. John 3:16 tells us that God does not want anyone to go to hell, but he gives every man and woman a choice. If we end up in hell it is by our own choice of rejecting Christ's payment for our penalty, and desiring to pay the price ourselves. Romans 10:13 "For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
I hope that answers your question.
By who's standards of "goodness" are you talking about? Yours, your neighbors, friends, or God's? Most of us are "good" by our own standards or the worlds standards. But are we good by God's standards. Let's take a look at God's standards of goodness:
#1 - no other God but the One who is true
#2 - Don't worship any other.
#3 - use the name of God only with respect
#4 - on Sunday take a rest
#5 - Listen to your mom and dad 'cause what they say you gotta do
#6 - don't ever take somebody's life
#7 - feels like heaven but only with your husband or wife
#8 - don't steal from others
#9 - don't ever lie
#10 - if your friend has something that you think is cool don't ever wish that it was yours
What?! I thought the only commandment for Born Again Christians was believe in Christ and nothing else matters?
so if 1 thru 4 isn't followed then that invalidates 5 thru 10
however if 5 thru 10 are ignored and one follows 1 thru 4 then god is ok with it. really?
I have no idea how you got that out of anything I said
"Suppose you keep the whole law but trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10)
This says, if you break even just ONE of God's laws, you are guilty of breaking all of them. Not #1, but any one of them And we have ALL broken at least one of God's commands.
and what is the most important commandment?
and what does john 3:16 say...
you realize that if hitler, hypothetically speaking, were to dedicate his life to jesus after what he had done, you guys could potentially be sharing the same cloud... how does that make you feel. personally, i'd be confused.
Yes, and it doesn't make me feel anything. Sin is sin in the eyes of God. The spiritual results are the same - separation from God - it doesn't matter if you've told a little white lie or murdered 1000s of people - you are both separated from God b/c you have both sinned. I no more deserve God's grace, mercy and gift of salvation than Hitler does b/c I have sinned against God many times. I am a sinner.
Jesus said the most important commandment was,"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.' This is the first and most important commandment. And the second is like it. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments." [Matt22:37-40]
As an atheist I don't believe there is a heaven or a hell. Also, logically, there are many problems wth these concepts, such as if one goes to a supposed heaven, and some of their loved ones are not there(they are in hell), could they truly be happy?
You missed my point Before Christ the only way was to follow all of God's laws 100%. Obviously nobody can do that, hence the sacrifices they had to do, to appease for sins. Christ was the final, ultimate sacrifice. So yes, all one needs to do is "confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9-10) to be saved. My point above was about what is "good". Nobody is truly "good enough" when we compare ourselves to God's goodness, and because none of us is "good" we need Christ's sacrifice to be able to stand in God's presence.
So if that was so, then I can go kill someone today, Confess Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead, be saved and then go kill someone tomorrow, but it wouldn't matter because I am still saved?
i'm confused. if i am a cold blooded killer and then i asked jesus into my heart, then my culpability of that crime is removed. sin is sin only when we don't ask jesus into our heart.
edit:
is the sin not asking jesus into our heart?
So if that was so, then I can go kill someone today, Confess Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead, be saved and then go kill someone tomorrow, but it wouldn't matter because I am still saved?