Christianity?

Question

I first would like to note that if you find the following question offensive please make a note of your distaste elsewhere. Why does Christianity preach forgiveness and love for your fellow humans while condemning non-believers and other "sinners" to and eternity in hell?

I didn't say that christians themselves condemn people, and they do. However, that is not the point. The point is that while christians preach forgiveness, thier god still condemns those who are unwilling to change their beliefs.

SUPERDAN, you have made a classic mistake in assuming that I, am a sinner. While I am not a follower of God I do believe he exists. Just as I do not follow Satan, though I believe he exists. While leading a relatively "sin"-free life I sin by choosing not to serve. Do I not? So I walk the line between heaven and hell, I serve none but my fellow humans.

Answer 1

Only God can condemn anyone, and all us Christians do is to tell others what God said He will do.

And all who do not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will spent eternity in the Lake of Fire, which is not Hell. For both death and hell will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, that is scripture.

Answer 2

As a christian, we are told the preach the Gospel, which is Jesus Christ dieing on the cross for our sins that that we might be forgiven, and have eternal life in heaven. Now the bible says that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those that don't believe. That is why we have to preach law, sin, judgment, righteousness and hell. it makes the "good news" of the gospel make sense. Now if the christian only preaches one or the other, then they are in the wrong, but if they preach the law, and then grace, then they are doing it right.

I realized that there are hell fire preaches that only preach about sin and hell, and condemn people. If they create converts they are creating "fear filled" converts, they choose to believe souly to escape the wraith that is to come, but in their hearts they believe that God is cruel and mean.

Instead, if they preach the Law, and then Grace, as they should, they will produce "tear filled" converts. People that believe because they see the serious nature of their sin and their dire need for God's forgiveness. They love God because He died for them (us), so that we could be forgiven.

Answer 3

If you believe in God, you're given the "rights" to the Sacrament of Confession, where you can be freed of your sins.

The love for fellow humans should be preached everywhere. I don't think that this is an all-Christianity thing.


Non-believers don't have faith in God and the "gifts" he can give to you through, i.e. Confession.

If you sin and do not free yourself from your sins, you are condemned to hell, even as a believer (technically, you're sort of a 'fake' then).

Answer 4

We do not have the power to condemn anyone to eternal damnation. People choose that destination by denying God, Jesus and the Scriptures. If a person denies the existence of God and does not pay due homage to his creator, refuses to accept Christ and the forgiveness offered through His death and resurrection and does not follow the rules and precepts set forth in Scripture, why in the world would that person think they have a place in Heaven?
We do not condemn people, we simply state what Scripture says about certain actions and attitudes that will lead to eternal death, what you do with that is up to you.

Answer 5

Let me ask you a question: Do you honestly believe that all those tyrants who killed millions will never be held responsible for their crimes? Do you honestly believe that child abusers and drug dealers and those who oppress the poor, and all the others who bring misery and death to our world, will never be held responsible for their crimes? I hope not.

And would it shock you to discover that no one in the Bible spoke more about judgment and Hell than Jesus? I suspect it would—and yet it's true. He warned that someday God will say to all those who have ignored His laws, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). God is holy and just, and someday all the evils and injustices of this world will be judged.

But this isn't the whole story! God also is kind and merciful and loving (as you say), and He yearns for us to know Him and be with Him in heaven forever. That is why He sent His only Son into the world. Jesus Christ came for one reason: to save us from our sins. He did this by taking upon Himself the judgment and punishment we deserve.

The Bible says, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Don't turn your back on Christ, but by faith open your heart to Him and trust Him alone for your salvation.

Answer 6

I apologize for the injustice some have caused in the name of christianity. I have often wondered the same thing, and i am a christian myself. The heart of christianity is not in the condemnation you see in so many people and churches today. I see the core of my faith in the life and example of Jesus, who taught 2 primary things while on this earth:
1. that god loves us and accepts us - ALL of us- without pause and without asking us to change who we are. God's love is unconditional and extravagantly gracious. i would even call it scandalous.
2. that we are to fight evil in the world in a non-violent and steadfast way. never ceasing to believe the good about others and always striving to help those who are broken by injustice and poverty.

Those who would twist the heart of christianity into something other than what jesus did and lived are lying to themselves and to the world. that is not MY faith.

There are people out there who's faith is so brittle, they need a blacka nd white rule-based way to live in order to fele safe. then there are those who believe that we were destined for freedom by the grace that we were given. i chooseto be the latter, and so are many christians.

Answer 7

Because God is more than forgiveness and love...those qualities are for sinners that repent and put there faith in Him. God has many more qualities than just love. His wrath just like his love is boundless. We can't preach one and not the other. God takes to Himself those that He loves and Spits those that He doesn't out of His mouth. We are not condemning anyone to hell, we can't...God is, and He can.

Answer 8

The challenge of true Christianity is to love God with all of that is within you, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. That is the goal of every true disciple of Christ. Those who reject the message of the gospel, reject God's answer, His gift of salvation and assurance of heaven. God will judge and condemn, or be gracious and show mercy based on our motives and free will decisions.This life is the journey we make towards that final destination.

Answer 9

that does not make sense i am here to seek and save that wich is lost ... like jesus and i will not comdim you or anyone else i cant because i was in the same place as you once lost i was a sinner and i was pretty good at sinning but then i found jesus and he has changes me and i would want the same for you ! and more i would hope you go farther in god than i could ever go

Answer 10

Heh. Tis one of the many inconsistencies in Christianity. Luckily I'm atheist so I don't have to worry about that. (I bet some christian will give my response a low rating solely on the fact that I'm atheist. If this does happen, it's proof of how hypocritical that individual is. Give me a low rating rating just because I'm atheist. Pffft.) :-)