Why am I going to Hell?

Question

This is a question for Christians.
I am not a Christian. I am also gay. In the past many Christians have tried to convince me to 'repent'
I don't claim to be better than anyone else and like all people, I have many faults, but:

- I love and resect my family and friends.
- I try hard not to lie.
- I am a care assistant for the seriously mentally ill, a job to which
I am dedicated to despite low NHS pay.
- I try to treat others as I would be treated myself.
- I always try to be there for my friends.
- I never set out to maliciously hurt other people.

So please tell me, in your own words, how you can justfy the idea that I will probably go to Hell when I die just because I feel that being a good person in this life is more important than becoming involved in religion.
Please, no quoting scriptures or copying out bits of the bible, I want to know what YOU think. How does your heart and soul justify this.

Respect, sorry, not resect!

Just to answer some questions raised, I don't at this time believe in heaven or hell, but I accept that just because I don't believe something, it doesn't mean it's not a possibility. I am open minded.
And TWAMBO, I'm a gay woman, I have no interest in the smell of dung as you put it, my name is Pretty Tough GIRL!

Sorry, I meant LEVI B, not TWAMBO! Many apologies TWAMBO.

Answer 1

I feel for you. Coming from a very religious background, I'd have to say that you're correct. You're going to hell. By the way, I am too. The Bible says that hell is eternal death with no hope of resurrection. I can live with that.
I get really angry at the way christians are protrayed on this site. However, when I see some of the responses, I can quite understand. I'd rather not be in Heaven with them. All htat pontificating, judgemental attitudes just don't feel right to me. Sorry, but that's the way I feel. It's not Christ or his words, it's the more aggressive people who give him a bad name.
I'm a middle of the road kind of person, a lot like you. (Not a lesbian though). Done a lot of "bad" things, but try to be a good person. I'm happy. That's enough for now. I Live my life following the christian principles, but I ignore religion. That's not for me.

Answer 2

The short answer is it's not up to me or anybody else. And, christianity teaches that we aren't saved by works, but by grace because nobody can be good enough to earn their way into heaven. In other words, you have to be transformed inside by letting Jesus live inside you.
The gay thing is another deal. Paul in the Bible does say the homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. This is probably why people tell you that your going to hell. Christians tend to harp on the homosexual thing (probably because it's an area they aren't tempted in) while not giving the same weight to the fact that it also says fornicators will not inherit the kingdom of God.
There's also a couple different beliefs about hell. The one your probably thinking of has fire and eternal pain and suffering. It's pretty hard to imagine people deserving that no matter how terrible they are on earth. The other version is called annihilation (which I probably misspelled) in which a person's soul just ceases to exist when they die. I like this hell a lot better.

Another thing is we tend to think of God being against sin because "Dammit, that My rule and you better follow it." But I think the rules are there for our best interest. God wants us to be healthy physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. Following the rules helps move us toward that.

Also I think the rule for what you have to do to get to heaven isn't just God's made up law because that's the way He wants it. I think it's more like a law of nature. Imagine if you live in the North America (representing life on earth) and you want to get to heaven which is Australia. God say "hey I want you to come to heaven (Australia)" and provides a boat called Jesus. It's your choice to get in the boat or not. When you list all the good things you do, which are admirable and good, it's like saying "I'm not really interested in taking the Jesus boat but I want to go to Australia. Why can't I go? I'm a really good swimmer. I've got a great breast stroke, I can hold my breath under water for 4 minutes, I've studied the stars so I know which way to swim. Why can't I go?"
I realize you might ask why He put heaven so far away. I don't know. I'm just a regular person like you.
Honestly, I think your on the right path because you seem open minded. I recommend enjoying your life and keep seeking the truth. If you're interested "Mere Christianity" by CS Lewis explains christianity better than anything else I've read. It cuts away all the ritualistic and hokus pokus nonsense that is generally associated with christianity and gets to the real meat. Lewis has a lot of interesting thoughts and insights.
Good night, I better get to sleep.

Answer 3

I am a Christian and I will try to answer your question as honestly as I feel I can. Firstly, lets deal with you not being a Christian: Your life values are good, all of which 'Christians' should try to live up to. I'm not going to quote scripture, as per your request, but to be a Christian you need to know and accept The Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal saviour.
If you don't know The Lord, that it why you will go to Hell. Because you choose not to know Him. I became a Christian 13years ago, and I have never regretted it for a second, neither do I know any other Christian who would regret making that decision. I could say more, but only if you want me to.
Next let's look at Christians trying to convince you to 'repent' because you are gay. Whoever becomes a Christian needs to repent. We ALL need to repent, we ALL have sinned, one way or another! We ALL need repentance to receive forgiveness of sins. The fact that you are gay should not deter you from wanting to become a Christian. God loves you, you as you are right now. God works on, and with, all of us. He changes us for the better, to His purpose, always with love, always with what is best for us. I wonder if you are happy being gay, and are you in a relationship at present?
I hope this answer helps you somewhat. I feel you are searching. If you have more questions, please ask.

Answer 4

It is a sin to have sex before marriage anyway. Gay or straight, first of all. Second, homosexuality is sexual immorality, which, is also a sin. You are supposed to resist temptation, not give in to it. I think you are a good person. But I'm sure if you are bold enough to try homosexuality, you are bold enough to give God a try. There is a reason you are wondering about this enough to ask people you don't even know personally. But if you think about it we are all connected in some way by something or someone. Give Him a try and don't be afraid. If you don't like it then don't stick with. God says it is better to have known Him and turn away from Him than to have not known Him at all. I believe you are just as normal as anyone else and you should not be judged for who you are. Love yourself, you don't deserve hell. You deserve knowledge. Find out for yourself. Something does not want you to believe. What is it? What could it possibly be afraid of? Find out for yourself. Please! Much Love, Bye for now.

Answer 5

Sorry, I don't interpret it that way. As God is all forgiving that even the worst criminal has a place in heaven - also I believe if we judge others then we are creating a separation - ie 'you're different, you'll go to hell' which cannot be the right way. To some extent we are all different, so we can all say 'you are not me, so you will go to hell' Perhaps the people who judge will be the ones in hell, and hell will be an isolation of their soul - away from anyone else.

If it was up to me. you'd be in heaven, with me and anyone else who was non-jugemental and we'd have a real good party!

Answer 6

First dont become involved with religion. God said He hates religion. Im biblical myself. I go by what it says in the bible and mostly whats written in red.

As a christian its hard to not go to the word to help you when thats what God tells us to do,lol. But with His help Ill try.

Being good is fundimentaly and the most logical way to live ones life. It helps u and others but the fact that u acknowledge there is a hell then you can also deduce there is a heaven and if there is a heaven then we should all stive to get there. right? And heaven is where we all know God and Christ reside so if we are to please him in order to get there we should also want to do what He wants us to do in order to have a long and satisfying life here first.

And if we are to do that then we should read the manual He gave us that shows us how to get there. And once we do that and have faith and believe in His word then we will know what He expects of us.

If just doing good deeds got u into heaven then even evil doers [who help lil old ladies cross the street cause his mamma taught him it was good but then when outta mammas sight, stabed lynny in the back alley cause he owed him money] would get in! Thats why God cant just go by apperences.

You dont have to be a christian to read His word and find out why just being good isnt enuff! Peace! :)

Answer 7

Bless your heart!

You wont go to hell! God made you, the way you are, he loves all his children! If the only thing you have ever done is to love someone of the same sex - trust me there is far far worse done on this planet right now. I like to think that I am christian, but not a great church goer, I just like to treat people how I would like to be treated myself. So I am not a bible thumper, but I do have faith, and of this I am sure.

My child is also gay, and a nicer kinder person you would wish to meet, and I JUST KNOW, that is the way you was created, never your choice. Have a happy life and celebrate your difference!

Answer 8

People go to Hell because they don't accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, knowing He died on the cross for our sins and most people can't understand He paid that price in full. If you understand this then I think you would want to become a member at a church because you sound like a really nice person. I'm a homosexual also and understand that God knows the intentions of my heart. I do ask for forgiveness and I probably will until the day I die. It's hard having lust no matter what sexuality. I'm sure God loves you and what you've accomplished in life through your generosity. Keep up the good work and try to at least pick up a Bible once to read about Jesus' compassion for others. God bless.

Answer 9

I don't think you're going to heaven or hell because of your own personality or anything about you. I believe that a human being cannot possibly get into heaven on their own, because how are they ever going to choose it. Now most religions or belief systems suggest there are one, or a combination of three ways to getting enlightenment (in Christianity, that's heaven):
- through knowledge: if you know enough of the Bible/Quran etc. you go to heaven.
- through action/thought: if you behave in a certain way (i.e. being good, praying 5 times a day) or think certain things, you go to heaven.
- through feeling: if you feel a divine presence, or reach a state of spiritual bliss, you are enlightened.

However, I disagree with all of these. I don't think any of these will get you to Heaven. Heaven is perfection, so how can a human ever ascertain its standards? We can never know everything, be good all the time, or be in perpetual complete spiritual presence. Therefore, we cannot make it to heaven on our own terms.

However, Christians believe that through Jesus Christ, we can go to heaven, as He was God, and perfect. Repentance is this acceptance of our inadaquacies, and also our desire to change them.

If we were condemned to hell because of our sins, heaven will be a very lonely place, consisting of God and the Angels. There would be no humans there whatsoever. Homosexuality doesn't condemn you to hell (I'm not going to go into the is-it-a-sin-or-isn't-it argument), but it could intefere with or hinder your relationship with God.

Answer 10

You presume that God would send you to hell because you are gay? You think that He would send you to hell because you have faults? That is not true. You send yourself to hell because you want nothing to do with God. You reject Him and tell everyone that He is nonsense. You have set yourself up as your own god and want nothing to do with the real one.
You think that your own good works will earn you a place in heaven even though you declare that the God who created heaven does not exist. Why would God honor your good works when you ridicule Him and declare Him to be a fraud?
You reject God because you don't want Him telling you what to do. You don't want a God who points out your sin to you, or that you need to turn from that sin. Well, fine, you will have the life you want now but you will have no life that you want after you die.