Heaven vs. Hell - please comment?

Question

I am a Christian because I wish to follow God and I believe that Jesus was God's son and Messiah. But I don't understand Christians who put a tremendous emphasis on Heaven and Hell. When we are children, we may try to behave so we will be rewarded and not punished. When we are older, hopefully we will have enough moral sense to do what is right even if we are punished for doing the right thing. I would try to follow the Word of God even if the 'reward' for doing so was to be tossed into Hell. I think when Christians try to evangelize primarily by using the Heaven / Hell argument, it sounds juvenile, like "you better believe or God's gonna spank ya". I think it creates an impression of the religion which actually discourages many moral, intelligent people from searching deeper into Christ. I know I became a Christian in spite of this form of evangelism, not because of it. I'm not arguing the existence of Heaven or Hell, just how we emphasize it. Comments?

Answer 1

I agree totally with you. Christians should follow more the example of the good Samaritan. thank you.

Answer 2

I am thankful that you became a Christian! I disagree with you though about not emphasizing the dangers of hell. Jesus spoke more of hell than He did of Heaven. In fact, He spoke more of hell than all the other people in the New Testament combined.
Suppose you and I were on a plane, and we were going to have to jump out at 25,000 feet. I told you that you needed to put on your parachute, but you thought I was speaking nonsense. But what if I opened the door to the plane, and dangled you outside upside down for 5 seconds. At that point you'd realize you need to put on the parachute. Why? Because you were made aware of a very real danger ahead.
The same is true of hell. We must warn people of the coming judgement. There are many people that think they are really happy and full of peace. To them, the idea that if they accept Christ as Savior they will have peace and joy is silly. Besides, that type of evangelism leaves some people with the idea that their life is a nice, delicious sundae, and all their missing is the cherry on top--Jesus.
The reality is that we need Christ as our Savior because we have broken God's Law--the Ten Commandments. When you ask a person, for example, "have you ever lied?", chances are they will say "yes." You can then ask them, "if God judges you by His law of "You shall not lie" will you be found innocent or guilty? If the person is honest they will answer "guilty." Point out to the person that the Bible says, "all liars will have their part in the lake of fire" (Revelation 21:8). Then ask the person, "If God gives you justice will you go to Heaven or hell?" The person's conscience will show them the truth, and they will have to admit that they deserve hell. Just like you saw your need for a parachute when I dangled you outside a plane at 25,000 feet, so you use the Ten Commandments as a tutor to show a person their sinfulness and their need for the Savior. And you can use any or all of the commandments in the way I used the one about lying.
When a person gets saved their conversion is often accompanied by persecution and rejection. So to tell a person that if you get saved you will have peace and joy is misleading in some ways. The peace and joy that comes with salvation (and can never be taken away by persecution or any other hardship) is the peace and joy of knowing what you were saved from--hell.
God bless and keep sharing Christ.

Answer 3

there is no separate place called heaven or hell. it is only in this world. when we follow our conscience, we stick to morals and do what we believe is right. then we feel happy, which is heaven, and if we do something we know is wrong, then the guilt bogs us down and we spend sleepless nights knowing how that someone whom we had wronged against, would be suffering because of us. this is virtual hell. all this is for those who have a conscience.

for those hard hearted ones who dwell on the tears of others, God has his own way of punishing them in this very world, which will in due course become hell for them.

so there is no real heaven or real hell. its all in our mind and it is here in this world right now where we all live in. we make or break our own hell or heaven by our own deeds..........turn a new leaf before its too late. just think of that moment in our death bed when we look back and see what our life was or what good or bad deeds we had done. dont you want to think "ya, i'm happy for what i've been. thankyou God. now i'm ready, come and take me with you." or do you want to regret and think "oh no, i should have not done that. i should have been a better person. i could have helped in that situation." or whatever.

HEAVEN OR HELL IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. WE MAKE OR BREAK IT OURSELVES. so all of u go ahead and make your own heaven right away..........good luck............

Answer 4

Amen sister. Much reading and application of mind must be given to the Word of God.

JESUS WAS RESURRECTED OUT OF SEPULCHRE HELL AND DAVID WAS STILL THERE

Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption. Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the
resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh
did see corruption. Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are
witnesses. Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,
and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed
forth this, which ye now see and hear. Acts 2:34 For David is not ascended into
the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my
right hand, Acts 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. SATAN IS FOE/ENEMY
OF JESUS Matt.22:42-45; Heb.1:1-13; Rev.12:6-11,12 no one goes to heaven until
Satan is cast to footstool earth and has a short time.
Eph.2:7; 3:21 Jesus hasforever ];

THESE ANGELS THAT ARE IN HELL DO NOT SEEM TO BE IN ANY TROUBLE

Jude 6; 1Pet.3:18-20 [ Jesus went to visit them ];
2Pet.2:4 [ 1Cor.6:2,3 the angels will be judged by the saints ];

NO ONE GOES TO HEAVEN BUT JESUS UNTIL AT THE LAST DAY

John 6:39,40,44,54-58[ raised up at the last day. When Michael is on the scene
Dan.12:1-13; Rev.20:7-12[ the short time and heaven cleansed of Satan.
John 3:13-17 [Jesus back to heaven ];14:3 [ a place prepared for the heavenly ];
Rev.20:1-6 [ at his coming the heavenly are with him 1Thes.4:15-17 ]; to see the
resurrection of Rev.20:12,13 for the judgement day Heb.9:27; 1Cor,15:22;

Answer 5

I know what you mean...Many ministers dont agree either...some say we go right to Heaven some say we sleep for awhile before Judgment cuz it says the soul that sins will die" which is all of us! Either way the great reward is the same plus we rule here with Jesus first during the Millenium....they should prepare now for it..

Answer 6

i feel the same. you should do the right thing because it makes God happy. who cares where you end up. i teach children at church and i won't use the word hell with them. you can either go to heaven and BE with GOD or you can go to the place wher go isn't

Answer 7

Im jewish, so to me, there is no such thing as hell or the devil. In judaism, all people go to heaven, no matter what they did in life. Im not saying what you believe is wrong, im just expressing my opinion about the existence or lack thereof.

Answer 8

I agree to an extent but we must not ignore this reality lthat Jesus Himself taught

Answer 9

if u mean u thatl be hell or
if u mean me heaven 4sure
well i surely do not want to have to share my jesus with u

Answer 10

i grew up hearing about heaven and hell and sometimes you have to scare the hell out of people