Why is everything an ultimatum when dealing with some Christians?

Question

Believe in him or else...Follow the scripture or else.Go to church or else.Get baptized or else.Be born again or else.

The "or else" is always hell.

I remember a story about a monster that lived in the forest."Don't go into the forest or else the monster will get you", was the moral of the story to scare children from going into unknown places.I see a lot in common with the "or else you're going to hell" and the "or else the monster will get you".Why is that?

And then there is the "read the Bible and follow it or else" ultimatum.

Answer 1

I think it's funny how then Christians are answering this with basically, "follow Christ or else!" and completely ignore the whole point of this. I personally agree with you and think it's stupid how when push comes to shove, their whole "defense" for Christianity is either "believe it or else" or "well what harm is it in playing it safe and being a Christian to avoid being in Hell"

Answer 2

Because the most vocal Christians seem to also be the stupid ones. Yes, there is an 'or else' with Christianity. Hell in itself might be a mistranslation though... Personally, I think once we die we're all just asleep until Jesus comes back, then you get an up or down vote and you get toasted. I don't think we suffer for all eternity though- I don't think we get to *see* eternity. The reason it's always an ultimatum is because it's drilled into our heads (and rightly so) that the alternative to being a Christian is complete and utter death... death beyond physical death itself. Nobody wants to see that happen to anybody else, but some of us get a little too forceful with our persuasion of other people.

But if you'd like to take a chance and step into the unknown place, it's possible we're all wrong... but not very likely. If we're wrong, you've lost nothing, but if we're right... good luck getting out of that one, buddy.

And hey, cut the 'or else' guys some slack... their intentions are good. They just don't want to see anything bad happen to you. They may not know the best way to tell you that, but it's true. ^_^

Answer 3

Because Dogma starts with the end result, and induces a cause. If you understand that the world is going to end someday, inductive reasoning will bring you back to the cause. In the case of the Bible, the cause is sin.

Modern thinkers use deductive reasoning, which starts with a cause, and attempts to predict an effect. This is the reason why fundamentalists don't understand what scientists are talking about, and vice versa.

But you're really asking about warning people about danger. When my father convinced me that I should drive a taxi, he explained to me that he couldn't tell me a thing about how to be a cab driver. All he could do, was give me several thousand things not to do, as they would get me hurt, or killed. Imagine that, a professional driver, who knew everything about his business, and he couldn't do anything but give me scary stories.

Answer 4

I guess it comes from Scriptures like these.

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:8-12

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Answer 5

It's because we as Christians really don't want to go to a place with fire and suffering and torture and gnashing of teeth. Does that sound very fun to you? Following God may not seem like a clear path when you struggle with things here on earth, but there are some things that need to be understood. Grace is a beautiful thing.

Answer 6

You have to understand that GOD makes the rules. He give us a choice. Read the bible to find out about GOD.
But keep in mind, that God loves you. In the bible it says that it has not entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love him. I listened to a few testemonies of people who have been to heavin. One guy said, 'I saw a river and it looked like liquid diamonds'. Heaven is increadible beautiful.
But if you want to go to the lake of fire and live in fire for eternity, that is your choice. There are only two places to go, that is what God says in the bible.

Answer 7

what is truth pilate asked

jesus said i am the truth and the way and life

then he died and rose in front of all of history
in addtion predicted in history were
his birth, birth place where he would be from and what he would be called a nazarene, a gallilean, from egypt, and bethelehem

this is provable when looking at the hebrew bible
the bible also predicts that the jews would not recognize him when he came and help to conspire to kill him before they would lose the political influence

Answer 8

because you have to take a stand. Nothing stinks more then those gray areas in life does it? Take a side, be prepared to take what ever it is you get for the decision you choose, just choose. In life you have to choose, well true in faith as well. we may say if you don't you go to hell, we only want you to know what it is you really are choosing.
Bless you

Answer 9

Well hon, those are your choices. In life even, you usually get an either/or scenario. Have kids, or don't. Get married, or don't. I think as a society we are so used to having a multiple choice question, we think all of life should be like a Starbuck's menu.

Answer 10

Well, most of it is because it's in Scripture and that's what Christians are supposed to live by. I guess that's why they say it. But, saying it constanly and preaching constantly is more likely to turn people off, not turn them to God.