how many of you can honestly say in the name of your lord, that without the promise of heaven, or the threat of hell, you would have become or would continue to be christians?
2006-09-21 21:36:32 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am a christian and withourt the promise of heaven i probably wouldn't be one. I would still believe in God because I know there is a God but i wouldn't devote my life to serving him if this was the only life I was going to Have.
I serve God now BECAUSE of his promise that my reward is in heaven.
The threat of Hell means nothing to me, its all about the promise of heaven and the reward that waits there.
2006-09-21 21:43:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I would.
I chose a faith because it provides me with a good, spiritual way to live out my physical life on earth.
I chose to be a Catholic because it had the maturity to accept other faiths and faith practices, and accepted that only God can judge who does and does not get into Heaven.
I did not choose to be a Catholic simply because of the fear of otherwise not being able to reach Heaven. A Christian Saint once said that even if it were to be proven, at the end of time, that God and Heaven do not Exist, the simple fruit that each Christian has borne having lived a good, loving and honest life on Earth would have been a sufficient for each of us as Christian. I would say that this will apply to anyone of any faith or belief which emphasises goodness and love for man on earth.
2006-09-22 04:44:59 · answer #2 · answered by Son of Gap 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. Good people can become better people. Better people make for a much nicer world for all to live in.
Kinder-gentler-love-charity-
I much prefer a world of peace than one of desolation.
Its not the promise of Heaven or hell.
Philippians 4: 7-8
4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
For me I choose Peace That Passes all Understanding.
I know that it is my gift from God. We can have so much peace with all we have to endure and enjoy it together in a peaceful world.
If we each left this worldly Earth a little better-
How much more would our children and Grandchildren have on down the line?
Isn't it a part of our legacy to leave a good testimony.
To improve Earth rather than pollute our planet and mankind?
2006-09-22 04:56:40 · answer #3 · answered by cork 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe it stems from just wanting the world to be a better place than it is. As an agnostic who converted to Catholicism, that's my honest answer. Is this world the best that there is? We can't do any better than rapists, theives, murderers, terrorists? I found God because if I didn't have anything more to hope for, than a life better than this one, then take me out behind a barn and shoot me. After going through all that we go through in life, there must be something better....right?! P.S Love "The Crow" my favorite movie of all time, not that it matters, but it also gives you hope for an afterlife too, doesn't it?
2006-09-22 04:49:19 · answer #4 · answered by traydenma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off. There is no promise of heaven. There is no promise of anything. No good life, wealth, greatness, power. When you believe in God your his servant. If you do the right things in life then you will go to heaven, if not well you know. You hope that you do the right things, but there is no promise. I know this yet I am still a Christian. Yea you may say we are stupid or feed us to the lions. That's what we do, its a Christian thing. Peace.
2006-09-22 04:51:13 · answer #5 · answered by rrxdeadman 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I do not need either to be a Christian,its not the promise of heaven or the fear of hell that keeps me going.But, the fact of a Loving Creator.
2006-09-22 07:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by Tinkerbelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can honestly say that right now. I am not a christian because of the rewards for good and evil because I was never told this until after I had a personal encounter with God. I am a believer because of God not about my outcome at the end.
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2006-09-22 04:48:55 · answer #7 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If He want to send me to hell, even there I will still love Him .I don't know how many persons will die for you as He did it 2000 years ago and care for you. I see that you don't understand the Christian life, but i will tell you from experience, that in life of a Christian person ar time when you can't see the Heaven, then you are tried by God to see how will react, to see if you have a true faith from heart or it's came from mind. This happend to Job in the Bible, the Israel also when they ame from Egypt and many other cases.
2006-09-22 04:42:04 · answer #8 · answered by Warrior_angel 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Christians covers a large group of INDIVIDUALS - who don't all believe in the same things... can't be so easily categorized. Many don't believe in heaven or hell and consider themselves to be Christians - many even believe in their own God and feel they are Christian - there are so many beliefs - Christians is way to broad - way to open to encompass one belief among all of them - Also most people are raised into their religion and can choose when they are older and educated and may know their own beliefs better - but no one knows about the "truth of heaven ... .threat of hell" when their parents are taking them to church before they can even speak..
2006-09-22 04:40:42 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I can say, while heaven is a perk, and hell is scary as hell... most christians are the way they are because of the way it makes them feel right now!!! Not to get all preachy but it feels good.
2006-09-22 04:39:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋