someone that they are going to Hell, for saying or doing something wrong or do you try to help them? I'm asking this because I always see Christians say this to people, which gives others the impression that all Christians say this. If you do say this to people, can you think of other ways of approaching situations differently?
2006-11-08 16:23:09 · 20 answers · asked by booellis 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, I don't.
I am not God, the searcher of human hearts and the ultimate judge of all people. So I refrain from even pretending to know where anyone--including myself--will spend eternity. I am familiar with God's main requirement for entry into heaven--but it is in the other points of Christian theology that I am uncertain...and rightfully so.
If other Christians are saying literally, "You are [or someone else is] going to Hell," they are self-righteous and prideful, and God will bring them to account as well. How, only he knows--but rest assured that such an offense, the one of imagining oneself sitting on God's throne, will not be overlooked by the almighty.
2006-11-08 16:29:15 · answer #1 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I would not automatically tell someone that.
Being a friend first to someone is important. Find out what they believe and why.
Ephesians 4:15 "speak the truth in love"
You can have a civil conversation, ask what their beliefs are and share scripture. Plant seeds of truth.
Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth
It will not return to Me empty
Without accomplishing what I desire
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
The bottom line is, if someone asks you if they are going to hell, and they tell you that they do not believe in God, you have to answer biblically. However starting a conversation or a friendship that way is probably not the best thing. The ONLY reason I would say this to anyone is because I care about them, I believe with everything I have, that hell is a real place, and I don't want people I hang out with to end up there.
2006-11-09 00:39:50 · answer #2 · answered by redeemed 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No-one has the right to tell another that they are 'going to hell', hell doesn't exist anyway. If a loving God existed why would hell exist? If Christians believe that God is good, and God is all, then therefore all is good and there is no bad, no evil, no hell.
When people sin they do not grow and get caught in a rut. They need to learn from this and move on, move away from the sin, learn from their mistake, then they can grow.
As a Christian or otherwise, instead of telling someone they are doomed, you could try to offer them a solution to their problem, but only if they want to hear and are ready to listen, otherwise you are wasting your time.
2006-11-09 00:29:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
May I as an unbeliever suggest something? We know perfectly well that there are religions. We know them all, or at least the main ones. We know where we could go, if we ever felt like 'accepting Jesus' as some of you say. Doesn't it occur to you that if we don't actually go on our own, it's because we are not interested? And if we are not interested, all you are going to get (whether with a straightforward 'you're going to hell' threat, or with a different approach, as you put it, to disguise your hidden intentions) is for us to walk away. You found your god. Enjoy it. But why can't you just understand we found our own way to live, too? And no, we aren't sad or disappointed, or hit by life. No. We are regular people who have a different viewpoint, and who would like to be respected. Would that be possible?
2006-11-09 00:29:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll go out on a limb here - but I would guess that if a Christians tells a non-Christian that they are going to hell then the non-Christian might smile back in inside they are thinking FU.
So, I would say that that is definitely the wrong approach.
A
2006-11-09 00:25:51 · answer #5 · answered by Alan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I never say that to people. I may tell you you're doing something contrary to scripture. I might tell you that you did something wrong. But God is charge of judging and forgiving, and making a mistake does not automatically mean you're going to hell.
Keep in mind, forums like this attract bottom feeders, from all sides of the debate. Uneducated Christians, who really aren't equipped to minister, out here playing spiritual Rambo. A lot of times, they do more harm than good.
2006-11-09 00:27:42 · answer #6 · answered by cirque de lune 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If this person is saying these things , I think they are reaching out for help other wise I believe they would just do it! I would try to help. I would try to get them help if they were willing. I would let them know that I am there for them and if they ever needed someone to talk to to call me no matter what time of the day or night it was. I would try to find out why they act this way or say the things they say. I would pray for them mostly! I would do everything I could think of to help them but, if they were not wanting my help there is not much you can do about it! Remember this... if you had to be the one to ID this person at the morgue ... you would be questioning yourself.... saying did I do all I could of possiably done or what could I have done differently? So to prevent this hurting your peace of mind ... I believe you got do all that you could of done!
2006-11-09 00:31:46 · answer #7 · answered by MagikButterfly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is only one thing that a Christian can tell anyone they're going to hell for. And that is if they don't accept Jesus as their savior. Personally, I don't go around telling people that they are going to hell even if I think it's true, because who would want to talk to you after you said something like that. That's no way to convince a person to change their ways.
2006-11-09 00:28:41 · answer #8 · answered by Bri Liz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
IMO, telling folk they're going to hell is ''wrong'' b/c of the evil that follows. not a good approach.
when somebody asks me about my faith, then i'll ask them what they believe, and then if it's not what the bible teaches, i'll ask them ''if what you're believing weren't true, would you want to know?'' if not, we'll change the subject. if yes, i'll let them read some bible verses, i'll ask them what each verse says to them, and after that, i'll ask them if they want to accept Jesus' gift of salvation. never is there involved me telling that person they're going to hell.
i've actually made some good friends over the years who did not agree with christianity b/c of how unoffensive the approach is.
2006-11-09 00:41:36 · answer #9 · answered by phtokhos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No that would be breaking one of the other commandments. Which would put you in Hell also.
You can shake your head sadly and think it but learn to keep silient.
2006-11-09 00:56:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋