I’m open to an adult conversation, if any of you think you are mature enough.?

Question

How can you (not all of you, but those that are quick to judge others beliefs) speak of an all loving God then condemn others because they don’t believe?
God said to spread the word, not judge or condemn. Let the “lost” find their own way.
If he loves me (& any one who has tried to convert me, or has had the common courtesy to have an Adult conversation about their beliefs with me, says he does) I’m sure he wouldn’t think it’s ok for people that claim to follow him & his word to hurt or say mean full things in his name.
Open up your eyes people, it not ok to “warn” people they’re going to Hell. Most of you don't “warn” anyone about it, you shove it down their throat.
How am I, or anyone else, supposed to be receptive to that? It’s rude & obnoxious.
I don’t tell you you’re going to spend eternity in the most miserable place imaginable. How dare any of you that tell people they’re going to Hell claim to be his servants.
I don’t think that’s what he’d want.

I’m not an atheist, I’m Pagan.
I’m sorry if some of you can’t read threw an entire few paragraphs the 1st time threw. I did not generalize, I specifically said that not every one that follow your faith (what ever your faith is) put others down, what I did say though is that you should all take a look at the people that make up your religion (all religions) & see if that’s how you want your beliefs to be perceived by others.

Answer 1

Well now love you see the response you get for maturity. This is not a platform for such things when you come on here let it all loose cuz no one cares and no one is listening truly.

Answer 2

I agree with you, I think that the type of person your talking about does need to spend more time thinking about a more tactful way of spreading the word. I think that they just get a bit carried away because the way their looking at it, it's like watching a house burning with people in it, what would you do if this happened? You try yelling and screaming Fire! get out! There is an urgency on spreading the good news, but ultimately it's when God touches a person's heart they will receive the message, so you really don't have to shout it out. The message could be received in a whisper.

Answer 3

I see this will take a lot of work, but I will try to put the Christian message without a lot of quotes.

Let me start with the first: 1 Cor 10:23-24 with emphasis on verse 24.

Next let's define some terms regarding belief/believe/believer and nonbeliever. Just take a look at Gospel of John.

As for the nature of God, God is spirit (wind). And we worship him/her in spirit and in truth.

Now for some quick terms: Heaven is where God is and hell is where he isn't.

God determines (judges) not man, and in fact, man can't.

You face many issues; however, is it an issue? or does someone not understand the text?

The next time someone says something that you don't find Christ-like, ask for a reference and look it up later. [Hint: Most people have no ideal what they are talking about.]

The Christian message is about God: God keeping his promise in Jesus, God raising Jesus (our hope for eternal life) and finally Jesus' return. If you can stay on message, understand what you believe, and be gentle with the foolish, then you can too live a Christlike life.

One quick response to your original issue: Please have the foolish tell you where Jesus condemn anyone to Hell?

Answer 4

I find that people who have this attitude tend to want more control over their lives than is possible. They want a simple answer to most things, since what they're telling you is pretty simple. There is heaven and hell, and that's about it. Pretty simplistic that.

I don't get into arguments with those folks because it's a battle of absolutes. They have a perspective that is not open to debate and my position is that they are too dogmatic for my taste.

In my younger days, I used to spend hours in such debates. Now, I simply don't have the time. Besides, with them, it has nothing to do with god, It has to do with their own stuff.

Answer 5

People have forgotten the most important lesson to be learned from Jesus Christ, That is do unto others as you would have them do to you. As humans we judge others every single day of our lives, based on how they dress, what body type they may have, how they smell, what they eat, how they speak. We all seem to fear what we do not understand. I have no answers for world problems, how to improve society. I am just trying to live the life I was given and rejoice in the beautiful things I see every single day, Sunlight, trees, flowers, birds, children,,,,, It goes on and on. Whatever bad mood, or anger I accumulate from frustration of living I try to disapate in some constructive manner. Granted, I do not always manage to do that, but I try.

If people who claim to be devotely christian could only see and respect other views then perhaps just perhaps this world would be a better place.

Answer 6

Don't engage yourself with Christians, then. Engage yourself with God.
You may have chosen to stay and drown in Louisiana because you didn't like the way you were being warned to evacuate. "Who are you to say I'm in danger???" Such people ultimately must engage the hurricane.
I'm certain from my Bible reading that there are many who claim to be christians who are not going to heaven (Jesus said so himself) but forget about christians for a minute- it all comes down to you and Jesus. Do you accept Him or reject Him. Not 2,000 some odd years of christian history, not the hypocrite evangelist on TV, not the head up his kiester bible thumper you encountered on a street corner- just Jesus. He is real, He does love you, and He's waiting for you to turn to Him- even just a little. It has nothing to do with me or anyone else.
There is a Hell. Heaven is for the friends of Jesus. Hell is for all the other very surprised people. (or in the case of some who claim to be christian- very VERY surprised people.)
Don't say I didn't warn you, now...

Answer 7

Hey,

It's not that we (and I can only speak about myself -- so: I) condemn people to hell, or say that they are going to hell. I make sure of that because I myself am warned by scripture and conviction not to do that. I know not to try to find he lost sheep, but that the Shepherd will be the one to find it and bring it to the rest of the flock.

But something that I don't think you understand, but there is a Hell. It's a real place and it's the worse place imaginable. And when people say, "I'm going to hell and I'm fine with that" you really have no idea what hell is, if you did, you would be terrified. Imagine all of your worse fears coming to life. Being in a dark room and the only source of light are the flames that are surrounding you. Constantly you grind your teeth and try to alleviate the pain.

Or to put it this way, think of you be dream. Think of, miles and miles of green grass, mountain peaks and beautiful clouds. Think of a cool stream running down the hill and a cool breeze blowing. Think of the people you love the most and them being with you and someone that loves you more than life itself to be there with you, holding you. Think of everything good in this world, times it by ten, and that would not be close to heaven. Look up in the sky one day and think about heaven. Now take its equal opposite and that will be hell.

Hell is so real that we as Christians have a duty to warn people and tell of the consequence of living in sin. We are not to tell an individual they are going to hell; we have no authority to do so. We can say though, what the Bible says, and it says that if anyone does not believe and trust, and place their faith in Jesus Christ, and take him at his word and his promise, and die to themselves, and life to him, then they will face this Hell.

I think Hell is so bad that it should be a priority on everyone's list to tell the unsaved about the way out. God has given every Christian the key to life - the Word of God. We have no power to save, we are only His instruments. Also, we are not perfect and people are harsh with what they say, but it doesn't make what they say any less true.

Life isn't fair, but you can be sure that your afterlife will be. So someone that lives in sin, what should they reap? And one that lives not for themselves, but for the Lord, what is it that their reward should be. I want to tell people about a reward that could be theirs, not what punishment waits for them in the dark.

Curtis

Answer 8

Dear s_an_dubois,

I apologize for the words and behaviors of others that have been childish, unloving, discourteous, hurtful, mean-spirited, rude, or obnoxious. I am often grieved when I have seen such posts here. However, I am not sorry that people have tried to "warn" you by telling you about what they believe, or to express the Christian message of good news of the gift of eternal life, if that is what you have taken offense against.

Answer 9

I agree with your statement, but you are asking people to go against their nature. Yes, I know that's what Christ is all about, but what they don't realize is that they are using pieces of Christ's word to persecute everyone else. The real reason for those passages being exploited is simple basic greed. The more people you can get into the congregation, the more people there are to put money on the offering plate. It's sad. I am agnostic.

Answer 10

You make a good point. wasted, but a good point. I agree, that if the Christians really want to show me the benefit of subjugating my thought process to a guy who lives off donations of people who can't afford to give, in the name of an undead diety, they need to do better than try to terrorize me into belief. Give me something I can work with. I say. But I never get any response. I will watch you question to see if anyone got the point.

Answer 11

How would you know what he wants you don't even know him! I'm not saying this to be rude, but Jesus put his word on earth and asked us to read it and go out and tell people of his goodness. Yes, God is good and he loves and adores his children, he wants us to spend eternity with him and would nothing love more than for us to walk in his will, but there is another reality and that is hell. If you dont' accept him that is where you go. Not trying to be mean and I apologize if any of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ have offended you, but it's the truth. I know that sometimes it is all in how you say it. I'm not screaming at you telling you that YOUR GOING TO HELL...that's not the love of Christ, but I am telling you the reality, the truth. If you'd like to talk more or yell at me, that's fine you can email me. I would be happy to talk to you. :)