God's happy to be worshipped by people who are in heaven solely to avoid Hell?
(wait for it...)
2006-08-19 03:46:40 · 35 answers · asked by bobkgin 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hell exists to scare people into Heaven?
2006-08-19 03:47:25 · update #1
No. You should believe in God because you want to go to heaven. Not because you don't want to go to hell.
2006-08-19 03:55:35 · answer #1 · answered by Nep-Tunes 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No.
Hell is nothing but the grave. Death and Hell are both scheduled to be destroyed in the lake of fire, read it in Revelation 20:13-14. This is the "second death", there is no coming back from this one. If being dead doesn't frighten you, no problems.
If you are "accepting Jesus into your heart" with some idea that you are buying fire insurance, the bad news is, it won't work at all. He doesn't recognize those posers at all.
Here's a radical notion...why not get to know Jesus for yourself? He's a pretty cool Guy, you might decide you actually like...no love...Him.
And THAT, my friend, is really the "bottom line".
2006-08-19 04:25:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In grade school, the bullies were often the most insecure kids, but you did what they said if you didn't want to get hurt.
According to the all-powerful God and his followers, unless you fall in line and live the way they want you to, then you'll be sent to hell for all eternity. They can prove it by repeating what they read over and over until you give in.
Christian dogma sounds more like that schoolyard bully making threats, doesn't it?
Live well, learn all you can, and just be a decent person. You can do that WITHOUT being forced into it.
2006-08-19 04:11:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believing in the existence of God is not what saves your bacon. It's loving Him and accepting the sacrifices He's made on our behalf. Many preachers use Hell to scare people into obedience to God. This is wrong. The reason Hell is mentioned in scripture is more to inform us of what lies ahead for the rebellious souls, not so much as a threat tactic.
God sees into the hearts of men. There won't be any souls in Heaven who are only worshipping Him to avoid Hell. You are either right in your heart, true to our Father, or you're not there. Period.
Interesting question, though. Thanks for asking it!
2006-08-19 04:00:03 · answer #4 · answered by newhebrew1964 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This question is bound evoke both controversy and strife amongst all who read it. I am a Christian I believe in GOD. But I also know that the LORD gave us free will to choose whether to accept the temptations of this earth or not. Essentially though I think that GOD's motives purposes and idealisms are far beyond our comprehension or fathoming our religion and spirituality is still a matter of our interpretation...
Admittedly everything that I believe is subject to how I perceive it how I was taught and the way my teachers and the people who raised me interpreted it. I believe you have posed the ultimate query with no true right or wrong answer...
2006-08-19 04:11:40 · answer #5 · answered by Rick R 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should believe in God because you *want* to. It's your choice whether you do or not.
Personally, I think Hell is on earth (with all the **** going on already it makes one wonder).
There are other paths to follow, but not every one of them will be "right" for *you*. Each strives towards the same goal ultimately, so perhaps you might like to study which one suits *you* before giving in to those fears engendered by such "fire and brimstone" statements, which are designed to "control". That inhibits the "free will" to choose!
2006-08-19 03:55:41 · answer #6 · answered by Companion Wulf 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hell exists to punish the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). But you can go there too, if you choose. If Hell is a great enough motivator, great. If the wonderful descriptions of heaven are enough, great. Whatever works for you, as long as you choose to obey (Matthew 7:21).
2006-08-19 03:57:32 · answer #7 · answered by flyersbiblepreacher 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Darling, believing in God, will NOT keep you from getting a one way ticket to hell. Only YOU can keep that from happening. Believing in God alone is NOT enough. Faith without works is dead! ;o)
2006-08-19 03:53:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That won't happen - God knows your heart so there won't be anyone in heaven who doesn't truly love the Lord. It would be a challenge b/c it's not an easy read, but you may appreciate Lee Strobel's A Case for Christ. An atheist, he set out to prove his wife nuts for believing in Christ and being a Christian. He learned some pretty incredible things going around the country interviewing experts and intellectuals. God bless you as you seek the truth. ~Nisa
2006-08-19 03:53:44 · answer #9 · answered by newfsdrool 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Actually you should also want to serve God, because He created you. He gave you free will to chose between right and wrong. He also gave you a conscience to know the difference between right and wrong. Also, Heaven is a wonderful place. There is no more pain, no more confusion, no more sin,and no more hunger or thirst. Heaven is paradice.
2006-08-19 03:52:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋