And shouldnt I be more concerned with how people around me here are affected by my actions than with how some invisible, all powerful being in space thinks of me?
2006-08-02 17:07:48 · 28 answers · asked by Chaoboy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It seems its necessary for entry into heaven, yet I see no evidence it actually exists....
2006-08-02 17:42:13 · update #1
you dont need to believe in god to be a good person, you just need to believe in god to get into heaven
2006-08-02 17:12:45 · answer #1 · answered by me 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What is a good or moral person? That is the first question to answer. Is someone that is good and moral someone who does not mess up? There is none that is good, no not one. That is what Romans says. See, you can live or attempt to live a godo Godly life that is pleasing in the sight of the world or you can please God...The choice is yours should you choose to accept it. It is a big decision. NO, you should not be concerned with people are around you and what they think. Care more about God and what He thinks than people. People will pass away, but God and His word will NEVER pass away. That is something that you can take to the bank...Go dis all around whether you know it or not. He is actively doing work alla round the world, omnipresent, omnipotent, and ever more powerful than anything on this planet...Thanx--
2006-08-03 00:27:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I think it would have to do with the question of what constitutes a good an decent person. There has to be a standard by which people are measured. This is what we call the law of human nature. Everyone on the planet, barring those who are mentally ill has a concept of right and wrong. Interestingly enough, while they are not identical, all of us have similar values. The idea that murder, or rape, or theft is wrong is universal to every culture (though some have different definitions of what constitutes it).
At what point does a person's actions make them a good person? Is there a scale like weights that determines if we are good or bad? I attest that God is the one who determines what is right and wrong. He has planted such values in us, which not only accounts for what is good, but for the fact that while we all have this concept of right and wrong, no one fully follows it. All of us do things that we believe are wrong. Is it just a construct of society? It's an awfully repeating set of values if so for such randomness. Is it perhaps because it is what is best for society? Then we would have no guilt for things we don't do right because we would find our excuses for evil practical enough.
If we look at God's definition of what is good and decent, it's perfection. All of us fail that. By human standards, many people would consider me a good person. I know better, because I know myself better than they do. I know that I am not a good person. God doesn't think I'm a good person more than anyone else either.
In the end, whose opinion will matter? Will it be the people around you? If there is heaven, and there is hell, the people around you have no ability to determine your final destination. Only God has that power. So his is the opinion that counts.
How then shall we escape judgment? If God sees no one as good or decent, then we are doomed. His love for us was so great that he sent Christ to be the payment for our evil deeds. Our good deeds can't outweigh them, because our good deeds are a requirement to begin with, they aren't bargaining chips. If one accepts Christ as their savior, that is what brings God to look at us as good and decent.
Now, in response to such a great gift of forgiveness, other people are the ones that those who follow Christ are called to be good toward. We are not saved by our good deeds, but we are saved unto them, so that we might do good things for others. Yes, we should be concerned with how our actions affect others, and that is what God is concerned with. So both end up as the same end.
2006-08-03 00:26:23 · answer #3 · answered by GodsKnite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are by nature a rotten person the fear of punishment in the afterlife might keep you from committing some pretty reprehensible acts. That is the main reason why most people would prefer that you believe. It makes them more secure if they think that you are afraid of behaving badly because you fear you are being watched by and invisible being. On the other hand if you let them know that you do not believe they are afraid that you might do things that are harmful to them while nobody is watching. It always boils down to self-preservation. If you are by nature a moral person you do not need religion to scare you into being "good".
You might want to read "The origins of Virtue" by Matt Ridley -available at Amazon.com
2006-08-03 00:25:29 · answer #4 · answered by scarlettt_ohara 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't. Nothing in the Bible says anything about being good enough to go to Heaven. In fact, it says just the opposite.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
There are a LOT of "good, descent" people not going to Heaven.
2006-08-03 00:14:31 · answer #5 · answered by David T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is appointed for men once to die and then the judgment. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . Is it more important how and where we spend 100 years or how and where we spend eternity.
This invisible all powerful being is the one that will judge you, not they people who are around you. In the eyes of God in the words of Jesus, No man is good, your best works are as filthy rags. What he thinks of you is all that matters.
2006-08-03 00:21:44 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you need to believe in God to be a good/decent person. Where did you get that idea? I don't think that not believing in God means you are automatically devoid of morals and a conscience. I wish that you did believe in God, and maybe you do, because God can and will help you be the person you want to be. He's for you, not against you.
2006-08-03 00:16:24 · answer #7 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't need God to be a good person, and of course you need to think about the consequences of your actions, but if you're at all concerned about going to Heaven, neither of these actions are good enough to get you there.
2006-08-03 00:12:59 · answer #8 · answered by Crys H. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of us multi-task.. so why not be concerned about both in same time?
And no, you do not have to believe in GOD to be decent person.. I saw people call them selves religious.. and they did horrible things..
but the bottom line : If you are kind with others and considerable enough.. you got the job done up there.. God will be happy with that..
2006-08-03 00:17:10 · answer #9 · answered by guy_from_there 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We dont need God to be good decent people, however, being good and decent doesnt get us to heaven since we have all done something wrong at some point. Thats why we need God through Jesus.
2006-08-03 00:13:55 · answer #10 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who created the Earth and the universe? A higher power had to do this. You can't be decent without morals and without God. They go hand and hand. Why would you allow people who has many flaws dictate to instead of a perfect sinless God?
Think about it.
(Wanna HUG)
DBD
2006-08-03 00:17:21 · answer #11 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋