How do Christians resolve the problem of "wicked" people having great and happy lives?

Question

Even murderers who never get caught and punished, then forgetting their sins and going on to have the same mundane or even somewhat happy existence until they die?
What if in this life the evil nasty people who reject God gain lots of happiness and wealth and nothing really that bad ever happens to them?
Do Christians believe this could be so, or do they have such a problem with it that they would deny it?
so.... Really evil people who never get caught, live happy fulfilling lives and then embrace Jesus as their savior, no atonement after death and go strait to heaven?

How convenient.

Does this sound like a religion for the worst of humanity?

Answer 1

That's really the point of "heaven".

It's a way for Christians to justify the fact that pagans, atheists, and people of other faiths appear to be just as happy and successful in life as they are (or moreso). Knowing that these other people are not getting the big prize after death is a way to justify themselves. To take it even farther, there is also the promise that these people will also be tortured eternally in hell. This further reinforces their feeling of superiority.

This whole system of beliefs started after the supposed resurrection of "Jesus". The followers of Jesus at the time, thought that the End Times were at hand, literally. Jesus said that the end of the world would come within their lifetime. Unfortunately for them, the ending didn't come. And this belief that the dead would rise and be compensated later on, was born. (Meaning, those people that lived and died expecting the End Times, would still get the big prize, they just had to wait a bit)

Most Christians don't know this, of course. And they don't want to know it. And you'll see this demonstrated by all the thumbs down I'm going to get for this answer... :)

Answer 2

You're talking about two scenarios -- one with repentance and one without. The latter means that while they have a happy life, evil people are destined to an eternity of damnation after they die, so they do get their comeuppance. In the former, you're right, it seems unfair if they are forgiven all their sins right before death, and therefore go the heaven, but you have to remember a few things: 1) God supposedly loves us all, and indeed created us with the flaws that we have for a reason, so as long as you embrace Him at the end, you have performed His will (whatever that may have been) and the people that an evil person may have wronged also played some role, 2) the evil person has to be truly repentant -- God will presumably know if that person is just saying the right words in order to get in the door without really meaning it, and you know where they'll go instead and 3) except for the REALLY evil, some portion of a person's conscience will feel bad about what they did (hey, even Jeffrey Dahmer felt bad about eating people) and won't feel worthy of heaven -- they'd probably end up in a Purgatory instead, because their conscience would not be clean enough to get to heaven, until they felt they had served enough time atoning for what they had done.

That's my take on it; I'm a minister but certainly not a complete authority on the afterlife.

Answer 3

I use to ask my mom that question all the time. Her answer was this “the devil comes in many disguises and loves to tempt the heart of man. By showing u the riches and happiness of evil men, he is trying to turn you away from God by getting you to believe that if there is a God, then why would he make you suffer so??? And why the evil men are prospering.”

So according to my mom and every other Christian I know, the evil men riches and happiness is for the soul purpose to tempt the rightousness and others to do the deeds of the devil……and although they maybe enjoying heaven on earth, after they die, they’ll spend the eternity in hell…..do I believe that, I don’t know. Still trying to find my way.

Answer 4

Hello. The Bible says,'Do not be deceived God is not Mocked,you shall reap whatever you sow".
If there are people who do evil things and "get away with those things", believe me,it is only for a season,they can escape from the police,from the law courts,but they will NEVER escape from GOD, for he will reward everyone according to their works.
But if such a person accepts Jesus as Lord and savior,he is completely forgiven and God will not hold those wicked acts against him or her "...for if anyman be in Christ,he is a new creature the old has passed away and all things have become new"(2Corinthians5:17)

Answer 5

...Evil people may escape capture and punishment in this life, but the Bible says' "Each of us shall give account of himself to God." In another place it says, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment..." There will be no escape.
...What about all the good people? Consider this: Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory (splendor) of God. We have all missed the mark. The Lord says that all need the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.
...James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
...Romans 3:10 There is none righteous, no, not one.
...I Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
...God gives a deep peace and joy, and a true purpose in life that material things cannot - these evil people who appear rich and happy will be so as long as their circumstances remain pleasing to them.
...A Christian's peace and joy cannot be based on people, circumstances, money, but rather on God and His promises. Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
...RE: Does this sound like a religion for the worst of humanity? Yes, for the best and worst alike; God is no respecter of persons;no one is beyond saving; as long as there is life there is hope. The Apostle Paul called himself the "chief of sinners". Believe on the Lord Christ while there is still time; whosever will, may come.

Answer 6

The righteous shall live by faith and not by their righteousness alone.

It doesn't matter how much you sin, how little you sin, you are still a sinner. Christians aren't sin free! They are no less sinners than other people who commit so much more acts of sin.

We should be worried about resolving the problem of other children of God who are not exactly having great and happy lives, have you helped one to find God yet?

Answer 7

When we die comes judgment. The evil are getting there rewards here on earth for just a short time. Jesus died for all humanity. If a person truly repents of his sins yes he will be saved. Only God truly knows our hearts.

Answer 8

Beth, I like your attitude.

I've always wondered this myself. I think some Christians get bothered by the idea that people can live a different way and still be happy, and so try to prevent that happiness.

Answer 9

I think some Christians would argue that these 'worst of humanity' cases would go to purgatory first, or somewhere to be rehabilitated. I think they would also argue that someone that bad is unlikely to truly embrace Christ in their heart after a lifetime of evil.

Answer 10

The Bible tells us that the Christian life will be one of trials and suffering.

You've been listening to the health and wealth gospel- this is not Christianity, it's a fabrication, just another religion.