i.e. A good charitable atheist will burn for all eternity while someone who does nothing to help his fellow man but believes in Jesus will go to heaven.
2006-11-28 06:52:46 · 27 answers · asked by Quantrill 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Doesn't sound just, does it? Not that eternal suffering would be a just punishment for anyone, however good or evil they might be.
2006-11-28 06:56:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
I honestly don't believe a true christian will sit on the couch and do nothing but believe in Jesus all day.
Being a Christian is more than just believing in Christ, it's about honoring him, and His wish to go and tell the world about Him.
And although this presumable atheist goes and does charitable things with money, nothing is ever better than giving someone the knowledge of Christ and His love.
It's more about being a disciple I think.
2006-11-28 06:57:28 · answer #2 · answered by perko23 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You must believe in Jesus and God to go to Heaven but you also must live a good life. I could be the biggest sinner around and believe that Jesus and God exists but that alone is not gonna get me into Heaven. Have you ever read the Commandments?
2006-11-28 06:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by rowdyrebelgal 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Didn't you know that Christians own all the stock in morality and goodness? That's really what they think. Anyone who hasn't accepted Jesus as their savior - no matter how charitable or sin-free they are (they could have saved themselves for marriage, given 3/4 their paycheck to charity, given all their freetime to volunteer for charity work, and helped every downtrodden person they've come across, and have never had an ill thought or word toward anyone) and the fundamentalist Christian would say that person is hateful, sinful, morally inept, cannot experience joy or love, etc...
2006-11-28 07:02:56 · answer #4 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
the fact that the atheist is giving is a good thing but becuz of the lack of belief in a god the atheist is not able to recieve redemption...but if someone truely believes in Jesus they will have to do something to help their fellow man...not doing anything to help people is showing more disbelief in the existance of God than anything an atheist can verbally say
2006-11-28 06:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by the one 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The idea of what one believes mattering more then what one does is a doctrine of Paul not Jesus or those who followed him. What is written in the gospels is that what you do is as important if not more so then what you say!
However Paul is the one that came up with what you do does not matter. Probably because he was a total asshole! Paul is also the one that came up with the idea that all you need to do is believe in JESUS and you'll be saved!
2006-11-28 06:57:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is the height of arrogance for man to dictate to God that he can merit God's favor by doing "good works."
In the Old Testament (aka the Hebrew Bible), Isaiah clearly teaches that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
You cannot "earn" heaven. It is a gift. Just as there was only one way for salvation during the time of the Flood (the Ark), there is only one way to eternal salvation now. And it is not based on how "good" we act. It is based on faith alone in Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross.
UPDATE: Nice to see Scripture being fulfilled via "thumbs down." The message of the cross is an offense to those who try to merit God's favor by works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:11)
2006-11-28 06:58:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The bible says one must watch their life and doctrine closely. If they do they will save themsleves and those who hear them.
1 Tim 4:16
The bible teaches the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. If that's the only way, why would I think I could make up my own way. Why not obey the scriptures? Pride, laziness, self centeredness, not wanting to give up a sinful lifestyle?
It is easier to cast doubt on God and the authority of the bible and get a bunch of people who agree with you than to obey.
2006-11-28 06:58:25 · answer #8 · answered by songndance1999 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am looking for a good answer for this one. I am hoping for a good answer to this one because I would prefer to beleive that there is a good reason for it.
The only explaination that I can come up with is that they need the faith to sell all of the other stuff.
Paul was teaching things that were not easy to swallow. Paul told slaves that they should obey their masters. You can't swallow that easily without coating it in faith. If a slave wanted to be free and said that God should help them because he/she is a good person the religionist could say they don't have enough faith because if they had the smallest amount of faith they could move mountains. When they develop the faith you tell them that God has a plan for them and have faith that whatever happens if for the best. Then they want to stay as slaves because they trust God. If they refuse to have faith then you can whip them because the Bible teaching about not sparing the rod.
2006-11-28 07:05:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not true. As a follower of Christ, we are to help our fellow men/women. It's not just about believing in Jesus that gets you to heaven. You have to live the life of salvation by faith. Faith without works is dead. Besides, anyone can believe in Jesus and not serve Him.
2006-11-28 06:57:27 · answer #10 · answered by CuriousGirl 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yep. It is the blood of Jesus that saves you not your own actions. If that were the case there would be no need for Jesus to have died. We could all just live really good.
2006-11-28 07:00:01 · answer #11 · answered by chr1 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋