Reward VS Punishment?

Question

A moment ago our resident Satanist asked a great quest. Are all people hypocrites? Think about it. All that MOST of the Christians talk about is heaven and hell. They are so focused on what they want to achieve that they are faking their way through life. HA-HA, look at me...I can fool God. They don’t care about anything other than doing the required deeds to get there little reward. My dog does tricks, not because it wants to, but because it wants a treat...is my dog a religious fanatic??? So tell me what you think!!!

Answer 1

If all people are hypocrites, that includes you as well...so why are you singling out the Christians? Don't forget that it is because of Christian values that you have the freedom to rant about anything without any consequences. Whether people do good deeds because they're good or because they want to please God that's none of your business. Just be glad that someone out there is willing to do things that others wouldn't. And please don't generalize because you don't know MOST Christians to know what their intentions, goals and what not are. It is easy to point the finger...Instead of trying to figure out why people do the things they do, educate yourself and live your life the best way possible... We all have our own reasons for our behaviours.

Answer 2

It has been a long question of what causes people to do the right thing, fear of hell or desire of heaven? Which is greater? The truth is that both of these draws for salvation are not really what causes people to change.

Rewards, well, if you don't follow it, you haven't lost anything, so people often don't worry about rewards and decide that doing what they want is a better reward. This isn't just to imply on spiritual matters, but the world at large.

Likewise, punishment is only a real deterrent if the punishment is immediate and obvious. Even a child will disobey if the punishment is not getting to do something in a few hours. The future punishment isn't enough. If you tell them not to touch the knives because you will give them a whipping, you can be assured that they will not touch the knives as you are standing there. However, once that immediate threat is no longer present, they will be right at those knives. People are still this way when they get older. After all, many people believe in hell and still do things wrong.

Now let's say that you find out that your child is having a parent day at school. You go to that parent day. There wasn't any reward (other than perhaps personal enjoyment if you enjoy it). There wasn't any real punishment for not doing it either. The reason you go is because you love your child and you want them to be happy, and this is a means by which you can make them happy.

Love is the only motivation that endures. While fear of punishment or hope for a reward may bring us to God initially, it is not the thing that keeps us from sin. Our salvation is a gift, and gives us new desires to love God. As such, it is our love for God that is our only successful drive to keep us from sin. It's a little ironic I think. It's the opposite of what people often think, because that love stems from God's mercy, and since when is mercy regarding a transgression a motivation not to commit a transgression? God does indeed work in curious ways.

Those that would believe that they have God fooled are only fooling themselves. I'm pretty sure God isn't up in heaven going "Doh! Why didn't somebody tell me there was a loophole?" He's God. Those that focus their lives on just whether they are going to heaven or hell have very little or no relationship with their Creator.

As for are all people hypocrites? I'm fairly certain, and I think anyone who had only that vice would be counted blessed. We are also liars, covetous, hateful, and many other things.

I would recommend Thomas Brooks for a more in depth study on the topic, the book "Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices". He does a much more thorough job at explaining the matter than I will go into.

P.S. What comment were you referring to by the atheist?

Answer 3

You wrongly claim that MOST of what Christians talk about is Heaven and Hell. I chose to follow God because He offered a solution to my sin problem. Part of the result was freedom from the ultimate penalty--Hell, but part was having a personal relationship with God. The latter continues to be my main focus. We sing more songs in church about God than about Heaven or Hell. The focus is on God, not as much where He lives.

You incorrectly claim that all Christians are faking their way through life as if they're trying to fool God. This sounds like rhetoric more than a statement based on any fact. We strive to be honest. Do you? We believe God is omniscient, so He can't be fooled. What would be the logic in trying?

You incorrectly claim that all Christians care about is doing required deeds to get their little reward. First, if Heaven, a place of ultimate bliss in the presence of God, is a "little" reward, then what's a "big" reward? Second, there's so much central to Christian faith and practice that doesn't directly relate to rewards. Spreading the good news of salvation, loving one's neighbor, providing for the poor, preparing one another to serve God, etc. There's so much besides Heaven and Hell, that only someone ignorant of Christianity could sincerely make such a claim.

You wrongly claim that your dog is a religious fanatic. Dogs, like all other non-human beings do not possess a will, a necessary component for one to espouse relgious beliefs. Animals were designed with instincts that respond automatically to God's plan, whereas people have the choice how to respond.

Maybe it helps you emtionally to overgeneralize about things you don't understand, but it doesn't increase your understanding of them.

Answer 4

I dont do anything for God to get a reward. I cant win anymore of His love than He has already given me. I help people out because I want too. As for achievements with God-He knows our hearts and whether or not we did it for show or did it with love. I cant fool him-I know that.And yes all people are hypocrites at some point or another. Who said Christians were perfect??BTW doing good deeds does not get anyone into heaven it takes asking God into their heart.

Answer 5

Of course there are hypocrites in the church! But I am not sure that the word hypocrite is exactly the best for what you are trying to say. I can not speak for most Christians...and neither can you, really. I can speak for myself. Jesus is God's Son, he volunteered to leave Heaven, to be born as a human baby, to live as a man (durring a hard time in the history of the world), be rejected by those he came to save, only to be tortured and killed...all for what? all for who? me and you. He never sinned, and he didn't have to do it. But because He loves us so much He did it. Because He loves YOU so much. And who are we? We are these wretched little sinners. We do not love God the way he loves us. Well yeah we are hypocrites, adulteres, fornicators, liars, murderers, coveters, the list goes on and on! But because we fail and our deeds are not always what God would have them to be, and as you are complaining about...our motives are not always pure...should we then just abandon trying to live for the Lord alltogether?! No! God forgives us, we repent, we try harder the next time. My life is a constant battle against sin and my own stinking flesh, that I for one will be so glad to one day not fave to fight anymore. But my failures, and my sin should not be used as an accusation against God or Christianity. Instead see how it makes me all the more glad and thankful that even though God can see right into my heart...he still loves and forgives me. Like He is waiting to forgive everyone if the people that do not know Jesus as their personal savior!

Yes, we Christians do need to strive to be closer to God on the inside...for we want to be found a clean vessel on the inside, who would want to drink out of a shining gold cup that has mold stuck to the inside?!

Answer 6

You got that right. Most religious people are waiting for the ultimate treat... an eternal life in paradise. They do good things, not because they wholeheartedly wants to, but because they thought that there's something for them when they die. They want to be good, because they think the more behaved they are, the bigger the reward God will give them. But what they don't know, is that when they die, everyone will get the same treatment.. it's maggots for everyone. Thousands of maggots.

Answer 7

I will just say that it is probably a good thing that most hypocrites are found in churches. I'm sure there are some who don't go to church but the majority is in those buildings.
My dog doesn't do tricks, she just looks at you with those beautiful eyes and gets a treat every time!!!!

Answer 8

There was only one perfect sin free man ..and he is the son of God named Jesus Christ.. Jesus Died for our sins so that we may be forgiven by God. but some like you say tend to abuse there christianly to buke others.. dont be fooled by the onslot of false teachings of wannabe christians.. because there is no perfect person on the planet.

Answer 9

some christians fake. some don't. some don't.
a super good feeling is worth a trick..reward
no man can fool God..truth
and real faith is better than a trick/faking it..lies
thats what i think...if you can fathom

Answer 10

I disagree. I think most believers are genuine and not just faking it for the eternal doggie biscuit.