Do you think forgiveness of sin is merely a free ticket for people to clear thier conscience?

Question

I dont mean to be rude but one of my biggest problems with religion is that members of certain religions are able to commit horrible acts considered as sin like murder, violence etc and yet they can go to church the next day, ask god for forgiveness and then go out and tell a non-believer who has never committed any atrocious acts comparable to thier own that they are going to hell for thier sins. This concept has been the main reason why I do not ascribe to any organized religion, it strikes me as immoral to commit sins knowing you will be forgiven for it. This facet of religion goes against everything that I believe in, I dont think it is right to hide behind forgiveness and then justify it by saying we are imperfect thats why god forgives us. Isnt it better to develop your morality so that in the future you can avoid doing what is wrong because you know it is wrong not because you fear some deity will deny you entrance to an afterlife if you dont ask forgiveness. What do you think?

The alternative I offer bubba is moral values without punishment for failure or reward for sucess. I dont avoid doing bad things because I could be punished for it but because I know it is morally wrong and I dont do the right thing because I will be rewrded with an afterlife but rather because I know it is morally right. I take responsibility for all my actions and I accept any consequences without pressure to do so from some deity. My conscience is clear because I abide by my moral standards, without ever asking for forgiveness because none is needed when you learn moral lessons from your mistakes.

Randy G, I never stated that nonbelivers don't commit atrocious acts. Also I was implying that nonbelievers dont need to be forgiven by any deity because they are responsible for thier own actions. I think thier are some people who deserve no forgiveness at all if they are to learn a lesson in morality.

Answer 1

I think people abuse the concept of forgiveness to have an excuse to do what they want. If they are TRUE believers and are really going to go to heaven they will ask forgiveness for what they have done wrong, stop performing the bad behavior, and atone for the things they have done wrong. If you continue to sin, I think that punishment for those sins is inevitable, they are just kidding themselves......At least that is what our church teaches us. Yes, we are forgiven, but then we are EXPECTED to stay on the straight and narrow........(I think Southern Baptists are probably the worst when it comes to "being forgiven". They think that once they are "saved" they are always saved no matter what.....what a bunch of hooey!). And by the way, it's not necessarily the religion that's at fault, but our interpretation of it, because I am Catholic (though not devout) and wasn't raised to think we could do whatever we wanted and then go to confession, that's planned sinning. Confession is for those who make a MISTAKE

Answer 2

It is just because they are the easy ways that tempt us. As the Scriptures say: "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid." However, that is easily said and hard to live. Since Adam and Eve we have all struggled with the deceptive tugs of sin. We are told in God's word that we should not be "Slaves to sin." So the way to help with this tremendous problem is to turn to the LORD God and seek His ways. For His son Jesus in a parable said about cleaning the house and making sure that you don't leave a vacuum which can be inhabited by twice as many evil thoughts and ways. We have to replace them with positive Godly ways. We see very publicly how pop stars and high flying footballers etc get affected by the money they get if they are not extremely careful. They tend to try and do anything and everything and end up being enslaved to these things whether its drugs or anything else. So, in preaching mode but very seriously we have to seek God and His son while we may for tomorrow could be too late. Seek Him, that is from His own inspired word alone, and note the wonderful promise through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

What makes you think that God would be stupid enough to forgive someone who committed a horrible act simply because he thought that he would be forgiven later? Doesn't the book of Hebrews, for example, pronounce a curse upon anyone who would try to abuse grace in such a fashion? It seems that your understanding of religion, or at least Christianity, is a bit warped.

And what make you think that nonbelievers don't commit atrocious acts? Isn't "atrocious acts" the very definition of "sin"? If you don't think that believers should be forgiven for their sins, then why should nonbelievers be forgiven? You seem to be expressing a double standard here.

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I don't see why asking for forgiveness implies that one is not taking responsibility for their own actions. The very act of asking for forgiveness implies an admission of wrongdoing and a commitment to do better next time. Someone who refuses to admit to a mistake (I.E.: refuses to apologize) seems to be ducking responsibility for his own actions. It is not possible to learn from ones' mistakes, or make amends or restitution for any wrongdoing, if someone never admits to ever had made any mistakes in the first place. Obviously someone who constantly asks for forgiveness but never changes is being manipulative, but at the opposite extreme, have you ever tried to have a relationship with someone who thought that he was never wrong? It is hard to have a relationship with someone who is too proud to apologize for anything.

Answer 4

I honestly don't know of anyone in my church who kills people through the week and then goes and asks for forgiveness on Sunday. No where in the Bible does it say that you will not have to pay for breaking man's laws. God may forgive us of our sins, but it does not negate the penalty imposed by the state. If God is not in the forgiving business, what hope is there for any of us. He says we can't work our way into heaven, and we aren't good enough in ourselves to acquire it, so our only hope is for His forgiveness and the shed blood of Christ to cover our sins. What alternative do you offer?

Answer 5

If you do that (Kill etc. and repent) and don't mean it. Meaning you do it again the stupid way. Or just want to show off your a "holy person" then there is no way (even though I do not know his opinion(God)) Then is not going to forgive you. People who think that and do that are not real followers. They are faking their own worship by defying God, pretending to be sorry, then do it again or be pompous about their repentance or something in that range.

Answer 6

For God so Loved the World that he gave is only son that whoever believe upoun him shall have eternal live /John3:16.

Your sins are forgiven past present and future and very few people can accept this ,

Answer 7

Remember the concept comes from an age where sin was inherited to your offspring for 7 generations.

Hence a way to clear that allows the individual to continue to function in society, and therefore is needed in order for the collection of adepts to prosper.

It's all about controlling people's free will.

Answer 8

Please realize that modern man's definition of forgiveness and Father God's definition are worlds apart. Man may try to hide behind it as you say but Paul said" Be not fooled. God is not mocked. Be sure your sins will find you." Our hearts betray us before Father God, who will be our judge. We are not the authors of the definition of forgiveness.

Answer 9

A man's sin teaches him valuable lessons on why it is wrong to sin, and the price for sin. Forgiveness, is not, and has never been, allowance to commit sin. Sin is dead to the righteous. It is always satanic to condemn anothers soul, for such is satan's work.

Answer 10

In many instances people use forgiveness to clear their conscience, as a catholic we ask for that in communion.