When you hear others speak about Jesus....?

Question

When others speak of Jesus and that He died on the cross for your sins and that if you believe and except Him as your Savior and Lord and get baptized AND live life according to His word you will go to heaven....and if not you will go to Hell....what is your reaction?

Answer 1

I have respect for them because they are sharing the Word, just like you are. I am a Christian, but I don't feel close to God at this stage in my life. But I admire people that have the strength and courage to talk about our Savior in an age where it's becoming socially "unacceptable". God Bless you.

Answer 2

First of all, I wonder how that person comes by that information. Have they spoken with God directly? And if so, whose God? And what kind of God thinks that only 33% of the people alive today (assuming they are properly compliant with Christian teachings) will go to heaven and the other 66% will go to hell.

Secondly, after I get done wondering those things, I think back to first eighteen years of my life spent at parochial schools, Sunday school, church and watching my father get his Masters in Divinity and although I feel very grateful I had that education, I also feel fortunate to have all the education, information and experiences I've gathered since then. The other 66% of the world is just as interesting as the chosen 33%, I really enjoy hearing others persectives and what is important to them.

I respect the evangelical Christians right to believe what s/he wants, but it's never enough for them, they must "witness" to others as well (I suppose it's a requirement for the truly devout) and sometimes in a very unpleasant manner. However, if you think about it, it's a little insulting to assume people just need to hear the information to accept what you are saying. Maybe we've already heard it?

Answer 3

I prefer going to church and Bible studies regularly because the above statement is rather simplistic and misleading. Getting baptized is not necessary to be saved. Even living life according to His Word is not necessary to be saved. They are both good to do; it's just that they are doing something. Works. As James says, faith without works is dead, but there's nothing we can do to be saved. Jesus paid it all. We are all flawed human beings that fall short. That is why we are only required to accept Him as our Saviour. And I'm not really looking for a place in the clouds when I die so I can strum a harp. I believe the Kingdom of God is in the here and now - whenever a good friend helps me when I'm in need, or approaches me with a problem, when my kitty forces me to kiss her on the forehead, when I spend my lunch break reading "The Brothers Karamazov," when I hear my favorite Chopin Waltz, or Beethoven, or the Beatles. When I do art.

Answer 4

My reaction is that I believe what I WANT to believe and I feel that I do not have to listen to someone else's words in order to be a good person and go to heaven. I feel that if I do good in life as per my perspective that alone should be enough to allow me to die happily. I feel I do not NEED to believe in something in order to be considered a good person.... Whether it be in the eyes of the church or god I feel I can be a good person by my standards alone.

Answer 5

Complete apathy. Since I don't believe in Jesus, the statement that I'm going to hell if I don't believe in him really doesn't affect me or change my behavior.

On days when I'm already annoyed with someone, or am generally stressed out, I get angry. Not at that particular statement-but at the overwhelming history of Christianity that demonizes sections of the population, holds back truth, and is upheld by corrupt leaders-which is epitomized by the statement ; "If you don't believe in Jesus and repent, you are going to hell."

Answer 6

I don't think reliance on solely a literal interpretation of the Bible applies to this multidimensional, complex world. I'm more of an individual and feel like there are important moral and values in the Bible that everyone is influenced by, but, in general, I feel as though a literal interpretation of the Bible is a little short-sighted.

Answer 7

It's a nice story. Fiction. Not to be taken seriously, because we are all sinners. It's a fable and I don't give it any more credence than Alice and Wonderland. That story does not replace seeking a good life. It is better for many people to avoid reliance on other men's beliefs and to sort moral code independent of religious propaganda.

Answer 8

Anymore, I ignore them. Seems as the "bible thumpers' are the ones that will lie, cheat and steal from you whenever they can. recent plumber who's such a Christain swiped $180 (and destroyed a new $50 rechargable flashlight/spotlight).. A so-called deacon of the church that painted cars SO well, stole money and car turned out to look worse AFTER the new paint job than before it went in... could name incident after incident and always seems to be the outspoken christians.

Answer 9

I usually just walk by and ignore because they are not representing me and my religion. If I want to know about Jesus I can just read the bible instead of listening to false Christians telling everybody the wrong message.

Answer 10

All you have to do is believe (John 3:16). Baptism has nothing to do with going to heaven. That would be my reaction.