I have found that most Christians say that either they love Jesus or they don't want to go to hell as a reason for thier continued Christianity. Do you think that fear is a valid reason to be a Christian? Should we all be scared to go to Hell? And would that be the reason I should become a Christain?
2006-06-30 06:08:45 · 26 answers · asked by vampirejasper 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Fear of hell is not a reason to follow Christ. It would be like saying to your wife, "honey I just married you because I was scared of being lonely". The reason to follow Jesus and be a Christian is out of awe and acceptance of His sacrificial death and resurrection. It is out of your love for Him. The same as why you would choose to marry your spouse, because you love her and cannot live life without her by your side. You choose to follow Jesus because you know life is not truly life without Him.
2006-06-30 06:15:23 · answer #1 · answered by mtoddgragg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe a few, but we have to own up to what we have done. Fear may be at the beginning, but then the fear is supposed to pass. But fear of consequences is not the reason for me.
As for fear of going to hell, yeah. Going to hell means separation from God. God comprises love, peace, joy. That is the main reasons people should want to be a Christian.
As for the last question let give you an example: Say you killed someone. As you know this has a heavy penalty. As you were in waiting to go to trial, a guard comes and says you are free to go. Then he tells you someone else has taken your place and paid your penalty for you.
That is why a person should become a Christian. Because someone has paid for the things that we do that we should not. Someone has taken our place. It was done out of love. Love is the reason, not fear.
2006-06-30 06:37:18 · answer #2 · answered by caedmonscall99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a Christian because I fear Hell. I think that because I acknowledge the life of Jesus and believe that he actually existed, that this is why my faith is based on him. I just want to conduct my life morally and at the same time experience a constant sense of purpose and unconditional love, so I chose the same faith as my parents. If I were to suddenly decide that scientific evidence thoroughly proved that he was solely human or perhaps never existed, then I might change my faith to anything else. Not only Christians are going to make it to Heaven. I'm not to judge, but I would assume that God loves everyone no matter what their religion is.
2006-06-30 06:11:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should become a Christian because you are so unworthy to exisist that GOD sent His only SON to earth to die for you!! Just for you!! If you had been the only person on the earth Jesus still would have come and died a horrible death on cross, just for YOU!! Because he loves you and created you in His own image. Yes, you should be VERY afraid to go to Hell. Hell is a real place, any you very surely will go there if you do not believe that Jesus loves you and died for you. Romans 3:23 For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God
2006-06-30 06:16:31 · answer #4 · answered by Mick C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! I don't think that it's good to become a christian out of fear at all! To be a christian is suppose to be a pleasure and delight.
There are people who think they are a christian just because they feed the hungry, visit the sick and base their salvation on "Works" instead of having fellowship with God. Works without faith is worthless.
Even the bible says that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the Kingdom of heaven. This is because they didn't take the time to get to know the Lord and love Him, which makes them a complete stranger. He doesn't know them so He's not going to let them into His kingdom.
It makes sense because I wouldn't let a stranger into my house if I didn't know them. Would you?
2006-06-30 06:22:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main reason people are christians...real christians...is because they have accepted and experienced the Gift that God offers, Hell is not even in the picture since they are no longer separated from God, even in this lifetime. Sounds like something an atheist would come up with.
2006-06-30 06:16:13 · answer #6 · answered by novalee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can only speak for myself as a Christian and addict in recovery for four years now. I spent 20 years in active addiction and that is as close to hell as I care to go. I can only say that were it not for Christ there would have been no way I could or would have turned my life around. So fear of staying the same is what brought me to Christianity and the forgiveness through Christ Jesus is what has helped me to turn my life around. For more answers I started with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John. I will keep you in my prayers that you would come to have a personal relationship with Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2006-06-30 06:31:23 · answer #7 · answered by jesusjedi2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Christians are not afraid of Hell, but rather are afraid that their religion is false.
I think most Christians are Christians because they were raised to be that way from early childhood. Once they've been brainwashed it becomes difficult for them to objectively see that facts contradict all of their beliefs.
The same fanatics who fly planes into buildings would have attended Oral Roberts University instead of flight school had they been born into Christian homes. Fanaticism is the same type of mental illness regardless of religious tradition.
2006-06-30 06:18:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Re: Fear - one should fear separation from God, but fear should not control you, plus why fear if you are living as he as asked you to?
Re: Fear of going to hell - yes, you should fear going to hell if you're not living according to His word. There's nothing wrong with that, but again, if it's a fear based relationship, it won't get far and will keep you from really opening up and loving Him.
Re: Because the most beautiful and amazing thing is to feel His love, His forgiveness and in the end to have everlasting life through Him.
Christianity is not based on fear, but love. It's amazing when you build your personal relationship with Jesus how much you will be rewarded with peace, joy and, of course, LOVE. :)
2006-06-30 06:15:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most christians I know seem to try to forget about hell. When I was a believer I didn't think much about hell because I did not plan to go there. If a non-believer I knew died, I just tried not to think about it.
What hell really meant didn't really register with me until I was well on my way to giving up christianity.
2006-06-30 06:14:08 · answer #10 · answered by mikayla_starstuff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋