Why do christians think that the empty threat of being sent to hell is going to convert people?

Question

For example:

"Jesus is your choice you decide wether (sic) you go to heaven or hell you can either choose to accept Jesus and your personal savior and if you dont you will go to hell!!!"

If your god is so forgiving, why wouldn't he forgive everyone and not just the christians? I think every atheist I know would admit that they were wrong if they died and god was standing there. At least then there would be proof and not just the conjecture from other humans. If god is so nice and forgiving wouldn't he cut us a break? Would a loving god send you to hell for not having any proof of his existence?

gethsemenerose - Considering NJ IS hell, I think you've just proven my point.

Answer 1

Well it worked on them.....

Answer 2

Why do you assume God isn't standing there in that last moment before Death? Maybe all those near death experiences aren't chemical reactions and lack of oxygen, but God giving you one last chance to not be consumed by your own anger. Cut yourself a break and stop blaming GOD for what men have done.

By the way, if you ever lighten up and actually read the Bible, Hell is pretty much reserved for the leaders and priests that have mislead their people. The rest of us are just "left outside" looking in if we went through life having hope only in ourselves. But, if we forgive others, God forgives us. You don't have to read the Bible to know that, it's in the Lord's prayer. Christians are supposed to convert people by being kind and LOVING. It's understandable why you're fed up with Christians that tell you you're going to hell, but why are you so mad at GOD?

Faith starts with hoping there is a God.

Answer 3

Clealry you get it...The emptiness of the threat of Hell that is. You can ask forgiveness from Jesus and do penance (give a hunk of money to the Chruch) than be absolved of what ever it is you did and avert going to Hell--be forgiven. Therein lies one of the key hypocracies of the of the Christian belief system. So far as God (if there is one--I am Agnostic not Atheist) goes he/she/it doesn't need an intermediary aka Jesus to judge you or I. Additionally, Heaven and Hell are in the here and now and are only metaphores for living life. You can live a life of love, compassion/empahty, respect for others and the environment, and be in HEAVEN ON EARTH; or you can live a life of hate, predjuice, crime and be in HELL ON EARTH. PEACE!

Answer 4

God doesn't choose to send people to hell. Heaven is too perfect for any sin to be let in. God desires a passionate love from us, and that is why he gives us a choice. If you don't have proof, and you still believe, it's called faith. God gives you the chance on earth, and when you die, it is either you were a christian, or you weren't. The wrath of God is hell. When God gets angry, God gets really angry. But, he is so much more than that. He created the whole world for you. And if you were the only person that was in the universe, he would still have created the whole world for you, just for you to enjoy it. Jesus died on the cross for everyone because he loved us so much. But if you were the only one on the universe, he would've still died for you, just becuase he loves you so much. Please, you say that we are judgemental of you? I think not. It's your choice; spend eternity in hell, or be with your loving heavenly father. Choose wisely, and insight of your future.

Answer 5

UH...not all of us Christians believe in an eternal torture pit. Getting to know Jesus is not the same thing as buying a fire insurance policy. (Of course, it isn't about what we as Christians believe, anyhow. God knows.)
But, no...I'm afraid that atheists will find that it is too late once they are facing God at the judgment. If God wanted people to love Him because they had proof, why then, He'd provide you with that proof. But the only proof you will ever have of God in this world will be in your heart. If you haven't found it there, it could be because you haven't really looked, or looking, denied what you found.

Answer 6

It is not about Threats. It is about giving good information. If I told you that in order to get to Boston from New York you need to go north on I95 and then mentioned that if you Went south you would not end up in Boston but instead be going to New Jersey. Would you think I was threatening you or just being thorough in our Descriptions of how to get there. I and many others are just concerned that you might get lost and want to ensure you get to this great place. Along the way are a few distractions that could lead to a REAL bad experience (like Jersey ... Just kidding)

Answer 7

I think God understands that it's difficult for humans to believe He exists.
He knows we can't see Him. But look at the universe He created.
To me, that's some bit of proof.
Christians who judge others are just wrong. No human can judge.
God does forgive those who ask in earnest.
God is a fair judge and knows our heart.

Answer 8

The God I serve does not condemn people for other people's misunderstanding of him. He does forgive everyone. Not just Christians. I don't know who told you that, but I apologize on the behalf of Christians everywhere. It is NOT OK for people to judge others and the Bible says as much.

I am sorry that someone has given you this impression of God. It doesn't make sense to threaten someone with everlasting fire (which I don't believe in) and it makes even less sense if they don't believe in it.

Please do not judge all Christians on these people who think that they can whip the whole world into shape by yelling at them and not living the life the Bible asks people to lead.

Once again. I apologize on behalf of Christianity for the impression you were given.

Answer 9

I don't understand why people like you continue to live a life of misery. Just give it up and fall to your knees and pray to the Man for goodness sakes. You're at that point anyways, or so you sound like it. Do you really think that you posting something like this is going to change Christian views? All it does is remind people what kind of state this world is in. So do us all a favor and stop analyzing God. That's the 2nd biggest mistake you will ever make in your life. And the 1st one is having the nerve to think about it.

Answer 10

God doesn't send anyone to hell. Anyone who goes there, goes there essentially by choice.

While we're on this earth, we can choose "for" God, or we can choose "against" Him.

And if we're not for Him, we're against Him. There's no neutrality to be had here.

This "game" is serious, and the stakes are high -- eternity. We can spend it upstairs, or we can spend it downstairs. It's our choice.

Hell is no "empty threat." It's mentioned at least 30 times in the Bible, and often in vivid detail. Christ Himself mentioned hell many of those 30 times, so ... there it is.

Some people with loving parents still manage to wreck their lives -- through drugs, alcohol abuse, crime, whatever. If they end up dead or in jail, it's not a case of their parents sending them there. It's a case of them sending themselves there.

It works the same way with God, and with hell.

Answer 11

Well to those atheist they better get it right before they die. Cause you aint going to waltz up to God and say No would could prove to me you was real. I have seen in this forum many times how God is real. Faith, All of creation speaks of Him, and God's word speaks of God. No I cannot pull God out of heaven and say here see for your self. History books even show there was a flood years ago. History shows that Christ was here. If they will only look for Him He will be found. He isnt hidden.