I believe in the majority all of the Christian teachings. I believe a person can accept Jesus into their heart, doing good to others, Jesus was the son of God and similar ideas. However I find it silly that good people who lived decent lives will go to hell because they don't believe in the bible. So potentially Gandhi, Benjamin Franklin, and many other people will be going to hell. The problem is a Christian is not allowed to have a broader view and be part of a church group. I have literally seen people told not to come back to church for thinking along the lines I said.
Then the church wonders why they no longer appeal to a majority of Americans. Why the church is filled with mostly old people.
2007-01-31 03:45:57 · 8 answers · asked by Bruce Tzu 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please do not confuse Christianity with christendom.
Christendom teaches hell-fire.
Christianity does not.
Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 is one lead.
Ezekial 18:4 is another.
The choice (in Christianity) is not heaven or hell, but existence or non-existence.
Do not confuse Christianity with christendom.
2007-01-31 03:56:03 · answer #1 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Rob,
This is a tough question. It assumes man can judge God's Word and pick and choose what they decide to believe God is telling the truth on. Dangerous ground....
You mention a "broader view". This is exactly what Satan sells. Remember in the Garden of Eden, when Satan said, "Did God REALLY say...???" Satan plays the same lie today.
God has made it so easy. He has already paid the price necessary for us sinners to be forgiven and enter into his presence, through Jesus Christ. It is that simple.
Acceptance = life everlasting in the presence of God
Deny = God will deny us at our judgment hour
You address a church that doesn't appeal. Appeal, as in selling something. Church isn't about appeal - it is about worshiping the one true God - serving him, growing and learning. In part, I agree with a bit of what you said - churchs sometimes think that they have to sell themselves - when the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the good news and his plan of salvation) sells itself.
Sorry for being so long-winded. It is an important question and in my opinion, NO, you can't be a Christian and deny a teaching that Jesus spoke more of (hell) than he did Heaven.
2007-01-31 04:08:07 · answer #2 · answered by Mike A 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Hell" is not a major tenet of Christianity. It is not even mentioned in the ancient creeds and confessions of the Church, and many early theologians were universalists (i.e. believed that all human beings would be saved).
Even if we accept hell as a legitimate belief, the Bible is very, very clear about the fact that hell is reserved for the wicked. Scripture nowhere asserts that people go to hell for not believing in Jesus.
In the New Testament, Paul defines hell as the presence of God, which is heaven for the righteous and hell for the wicked. From the first mention of hell in the New Testament, it is already an allegory. The word 'hell' (Gehenna) is a valley outside of Jerusalem where the Jews burned their trash. It is impossible to read the passages about hell literally, because the place called 'hell' is currently a beautiful, grass-covered valley in Israel.
Here is a link to a picture of hell:
http://www.mystae.com/images/hinnom.jpg
2007-01-31 03:57:22 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Come over to the Episcopalians. We are open minded and we turn no one away. Even the ones that Rome excommunicated come here and we take them in.
As to the question about hell. The CHURCH says that we have to believe that there is such a place, but we do NOT have to believe that anyone goes there. Hell is a place one will choose. God does not send a person there. The 'hell fire and brimstone' mentality is not a mature one. It is usefully only to get immature people to follow the law. And for that purpose it works well.
2007-01-31 03:58:51 · answer #4 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are different degrees of hell--and the Bible says, "You must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven."
Churches do not have the power to judge us, only to love us right where we are--and the Bible says, "whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me." So when they turn people away and don't love them right where they are--allowing Jesus to work in their lives--they are actually turning away the Father. Don't be concerned with their sins--they will answer for themselves.
"He who is without sin, cast the first stone."
2007-01-31 03:56:02 · answer #5 · answered by heavnbound 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The church is something that I never will be a part of for their contradictory ideas regarding good hellbounds and evil heaven-bound people.
2007-01-31 03:55:03 · answer #6 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cuz the bible says the dead sleep AND BIBILICALLY THAT IS HELL....i know some dont agree but that doesnt bother me...we all sleep first but either way we are saved ..Im not worried
2007-01-31 03:54:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all a cult
2007-01-31 03:55:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋