In an early posting, I was given the best answer by Love Shepard - but with a note stating the following:
"Not at all the best answer, but most misses the point that Christianity is about having an ongoing relationship with Jesus now, rather than some distant threat or promise of a reward."
The initial question was whether or not I would be willing to come to Jesus if the threat of Hell was removed. I responded that, without the threat of Hell, the religion is unnecessary and moot. This response leads me to ask this question:
What exactly is the point of having a relationship with a guy who has been dead for 2000 years? Youve removed the concept of Hell from the equation - so salvation is no longer necesary. You state that the point of Christianity is this relationship, and not a threat or promise of a far off place.
Without this threat of eternal damnation, why should I be concerned having a relationship with Jesus?
2006-09-26 12:12:53 · 15 answers · asked by YDoncha_Blowme 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I know many of you will say that he died for my sins - but if we have removed the concept of Hell, then we have to remove the concept of original sin as well.
2006-09-26 12:14:06 · update #1
Yeah yeah yeah...Jesus is alive and well.....still, what the point of the relationship? NOT ONE REAL RESPONSE??????
And Chris - at least I can see and feel and speak with my friends....
2006-09-26 12:25:49 · update #2
9 responses so far, not one of them telling me the point of having a relationship with Jesus. For the record, initially, Love shepard had posed a HYPOTHETICAL question. Why am I receiving responses such as the ones below??
Must I DARE someone to respond???
2006-09-26 12:28:42 · update #3
Missouri - I dont drink, so no, Im not afriad to give it up..... But thanks for telling me Hell really does exist and that I am heading there - whilst IGNORING THE QUESTION!
2006-09-26 12:31:00 · update #4
Answering the hypothetical question that you have posed, removing the thought of an afterlife from the equation, I would still desire to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Having someone that I could approach and speak to in absolute confidence would still be just as desirable. Being able to voice my needs to someone in whom I have absolute confidence in to be able to address my needs and desires with only my best interests in mind is still as important to me. Knowing that a greater being than myself is watching out for me, caring for me, guiding me on my path in this life is still as powerful. Knowing that God can and does judge and punish in this life is reason enough to follow Him.
2006-09-26 14:35:14 · answer #1 · answered by hisnamesaves 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If sin were never in the equation, then hell wouldn't even be around. Hell was designed for people that wouldn't repent of their sins. You shouldn't treat salvation as some "fire escape". There is much more to it than that. God created you and loves you, and for that you should want to have a relationship with him. There are innumberable things that could've happened to you if God hadn't been there for you. And besides you couldn't push away the reality of sin, so what's the point? There really is a Hell, and if you're not a Christian, you're going there. I don't mean to preach, but that's just the cold hard truth. God loves you, but can't stand sin, and since we're sinners, he sends us to hell. Why not have a relationship with God? Are you afraid to give up your whiskey or sinful habits? Just remember, that this is not just a way to get out of Hell.
2006-09-26 19:26:03 · answer #2 · answered by redneckgal 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If by removing Hell or eternal damnation you mean removing Death, then you put us prior to our Fall (Adam and Eve) in which case we would still be in God's presence, higher than all of the angles, but incarnate! What bliss!!!
You are correct then that we would not be in need of salvation, because we would not have brought Death upon ourselves. Christ would not have had to break Death's hold on us.
As it is though, this is not the case. So, only through Christ do we become reconciled with God. Bummer, huh?
God Bless,
MoP
2006-09-27 12:33:42 · answer #3 · answered by ManOfPhysics 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Simple reasion for having a Relationship with Christ ?
1) He loves you, don't you want to know people who love you ?
2) He has a plan for you. Don't you want to know what that plan is ?
3) He's the creator of Everything (how is best left to another question), but I know I'd love to have a relationship with the creator of the universe.
4) I want to get to know Him better, how else other then spending time with Him ?
2006-09-26 19:36:57 · answer #4 · answered by Master J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and these are my thoughts.
Jesus loves you, even if he hadn't died he would still love you. God created you to have a relationship with you. He adores you just as a parent adores their children (with the exception of those sick parents who do not). He gives you peace and serenity in life He guides you to make smart choices for your life. He gives eternal life with eternal happiness. Until now, I have not mentioned hell. It is there though, and most of al, he saves you from eternal damnation
2006-09-26 20:28:21 · answer #5 · answered by Gardener for God(dmd) 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whoa...huge question...
Jesus was resurrected, though. He isn't dead!
Also, how do you define Hell?
Relationship with God (Jesus is God the Son, ya know) is a wonderful idea, don't you think? Most of us think of God as a judgemental, condemning being who wields power capriciously and cruelly. The very idea that this is the first conclusion we arrive at when bad things happen to us should be proof enough that we humans are inherently rebellious toward God.
Now...imagine that God is simply leaving us alone, like we want. We are always free to rebel against God, to hate and despise and distrust Him for whatever reason seems right for us. In fact, it's the alternative that just feels best to us, unless God Himself reveals His true goodness and mercy to us, the fact that He loved us so much that He sent His Son to earth to bear the penalty of our sin and rebellion on Himself.
This is why we love Jesus so much...He saves us from ourselves and our bad decisions as much as He saves us from eternal damnation.
2006-09-26 19:17:02 · answer #6 · answered by stronzo5785 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
With all the stuff that you have just written, taking hell out of the equation, hell is still in the equation. Hell is not the reason that I am following Christ, He is my savior, He is my friend. I WANT to walk with Him, no one is forcing me to, just like no one is forcing you to. You have a free will and if you chose the road you want to follow then so be it. I have chose the road that I want to walk and that is with Christ.
2006-09-26 21:57:32 · answer #7 · answered by morris 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Even if there were no threat of hell, as you put it, it's really not a threat but, a choice.
Would nothingness be a threat? I mean if the choice were God or nothing, what would the answer be?
We are worth a Son to God.
2006-09-26 19:21:10 · answer #8 · answered by thomasnotdoubting 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I was raised to fear hell, I have heard hell fire and brim stone preaching,and I went to the preacher and asked to be saved from my sins so I wouldn`t go to hell, But I never felt any different when I went back to my seat..But one evening I went to a church, and I heard someone singing a song, called{ he`s alive} that evening was the first time I realized Jesus was Really alive, It wasen`t the song, It was what happened to me, He had opened my eyes, my heart, my ears, He was the best thing to happen to me, I went to the Alter, not because I feared Hell, but because I loved him, and I knew he loved me, I want to see him, to be with him.
2006-09-26 19:22:10 · answer #9 · answered by theladylooking 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Neither Hell nor sins have been REMOVED from the picture...
An escape route has been ADDED.
Forgiveness is a gift.
Just like any other gift, it is free but it can also be declined.
2006-09-26 19:20:00 · answer #10 · answered by BoredomStrikes 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋