Whats the deal? I am a Christian but the idea of eternal damnation?

Question

If we aren't perfect, or we screwed up, doesn't the idea of not entering heaven and burning forever seem a little punitive ? I don't mean God talking to you or showing you a miracle and you decide to be a satanist or something like that. I mean if you sin and aren't perfect, fall a lot - whatever, but still believe and try to be good. Even commit a mortal sin in a moment of weakness.

I'm not arminian

Answer 1

Hmm, it seems like you are still worried about operating from the motivation of fear. What if the Atonement of Jesus Christ doesn't work? But wait a minute. It does work. God in His infinite wisdom knew 99.99% of us were going to make mistakes, even sins that we were going to regret for a long time. That's the reason the Jews were so carefully prepared for centuries, with the ancestors of Jesus given prophecies about the Messiah - before Jesus Christ was even born on the earth. The Atonement of Jesus Christ went right on schedule. Our job is to learn to give all our sins away, to offer up a contrite heart and spirit, to believe that the Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the spiritual power necessary to cleanse our hearts and spirits - as often as we sincerely repent. We might mess up again, but this life is the time we have to prepare to meet God. We are judged on what we know, and there is more to those "moments of weakness" than what we can see. Have faith that God wants you to come back into His presence, and that He will give you the time you need to repent and progress spiritually. It's all about relying on the Lord and not on your own strength.

Answer 2

God knows that we are not perfect. The only perfect man was Jesus Christ who was put to death even though he didnt commit any sins. If you have accepted Christ as your Lord then you must ask forgiveness for your sins, because no man is without sin. God knows this. However if you repent and do not repeat the same type of behaviour, and keep away from the vices of the world then you will find Gods favor. It is a constant struggle, if it were easy then everyone would go to heaven. Thats what separates Gods children from the rest. Strengthen your faith and resolve to do what God wants you to do. Whether you believe in it or not will not change the fact that hell/eternal damnation is a real consequence of living an unholy life.

Answer 3

The beauty of it all is that every sin can be forgiven, with the exception of never believing in the first place. The fact that man is born into sin is a little punitive, in addition to the fact that pretty much everything the secular world deems "cool" is (on some level) sinful. Even though the threat of burning in a fiery lake (I'll admit, it doesn't sound great) is there, all that's required to get into Heaven is a relationship with Christ. There's no magic formula for adding up brownie points while on earth. That, of course, doesn't mean sin all you want and repent later. But don't get too down on yourself for screwing up. That's our nature as humans :)

Answer 4

None of us are perfect or ever will be. Jesus Christ, the son of God is the only one. That is why the gift of the atonement is so important. None of us deserve our sins taken upon him, but he did it for us. We get a chance to try again when we make mistakes. I don't believe in eternal damnation. If that were true, the atonement would be a waste. If it were true, there would be no purpose here in mortal life. If it were true, I would have to live my life parinoid every day. If it were true, we'd all go there. I don't believe our Father in Heaven is a punisher. We have to be accountable, but he is the only judge. We can't be perfect.

Answer 5

I'm not sure I quite get what you are asking, but the only reason you are turned away from heaven is if you truly don't believe that Jesus came to save you. You can still sin. God knows we are not perfect and that we all sin. You just need to repent, and admit to God that you can't do it alone. Seriously.

Answer 6

sorry RO35 but if ya wanna stay being a Christian ya gotta continue believing that your god will send to eternal damnation any one who is not Christian. that's the whole point of being Christian. right? to avoid eternal damnation by accepting Jesus as a human blood sacrifice offered on your sinning behalf to appease a wrathful Father God.

i guess it depends on just how truthful you are with yourself. can you truly love and praise a monstrous superbeing that tortures billions of souls for an eternity simply for not being a member of the right religion?

PS. since this god your worshiping is apparently all knowing and there is nothing that can happen other than what your god knows will happen He knows in advance of creating a soul what it's destiny will be. He knows when He creates a soul that it will not be a Christian soul and that He will be sending it to hell to writhe in unspeakable teeth gnashing agony forever and ever. so, in essence, your god creates most souls for the express purpose of torturing them. amen?

Answer 7

Buddhism teaches different levels of heavens and hells. So where you find yourself now reflects your actions of the past. Not a state of mind. You actually are there. Burning feels just like it would now but you don't die!!! Burn yourself a little with a match or something. Check your tolerance for a blazing inferno that doesn't ever stop!!!

They call this realm we live in now "Samsara" it is considered a hell realm too. Next one up is "Asura". A heaven realm. Then "Dawa" above that.
Below us is the "Hungry ghost" realm. You just starve but don't die.
Below them is "Animal realm". Dull & ignorant. Below animals is the ones that would give you nightmares.

I didn't make this stuff up - I'm just readin' it to ya'
NOT PREACHING.

Answer 8

you seem to be speaking from the standpoint of having to earn your salvation some kind of way- there is no mortal or venial sin- show me that in the Bible
If you are truly a Christian , then start reading your own Bible and praying and asking for discernmen regarding what it says. Yes- we ALL sin and anyone who is guilty of breaking any ONE of the commandments has broken them all- we all fall short of the glory of God and none of us is righteous- even the best that we can do is as filthy rags.
That is where Jesus comes in- His sacrifice made the way for us to have fellowship with God. ANYTHING or ANYONE that says that we can attain righteousness or passage into heaven ANY other way besides through the grace and mercy of God through Christ Jesus is a liar with deception straight from the pit of hell.
Asking saints to intercede for you is not going to do it- they are dead
Asking Mary is futile, she is dead
Saying your prescribed prayers so many times is just not going to do it how many times is enough and says who
You will find none of those things in the Bible
You will find that Christs death atoned for our sins and we need to do nothing more than accept the gift He freely gave-
Then because we love God and trust Him- and have accepted Jesus as Lord of our life, He changes the desires in us, fills us with the Holy Spirit and makes it possible for us to obey his perfect instruction for our lives
(not for salvation but BECAUSE we are saved and BECAUSE we trust God ) so that we might have blessing and abundance in this life.
Eternal damnation was never meant for humans, but some will choose it, not because they are sinners but because they have rebelled against God, chosen to reject Jesus and place their thrones above God's .
God knows we will all fall- but those who perservere to the end, keep repenting, keep getting up and moving forward, keep trusting in God and believing His word, keep worshipping Him in good and bad. If you are a Christian and you have accepted Christ then eternal damnation is not an issue for you

Answer 9

I'm not sure I really understand your question, but I will try to answer. Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. Yes we fall, we sin and make mistakes, but if you ask forgiveness and are truly repentant then God forgives you. If you place God first in your life and try to live in a way to make Him proud of you then you will find that you sin less and when you do slip you will know it immediately, then you pray for forgiveness and try not to make the same mistake again. Hell is a place for those who do not make God their #1 priority, it wasn't designed to be a place for God to punish His followers.

Answer 10

I don't believe in eternal damnation. I believe in forgiveness and more opportunities to screw up again or fly away birdie. I don't think that God sends any of his children to Eternal Damnation. George Bush might be the exception that makes the rule.