If Hitler commanded you to love him in order to escape the gas chamber, could you?

Question

How is this different from the "promise" of Christianity?

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Mat. 5:48)

And

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Mat. 22:37)

And:

"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." (Luke 12:5)

We are told to be perfect and love God completely, but fear that God will torture us if we do not.

Answer 1

I don't see this as different from Christianity. That is why I altered my beliefs. I still believe in God, and in Christ - but I feel that the Bible has been so corrupted by man, that no one should follow it anymore. It is because of this, i have no problem with other religions. It seems the only faith that rubs me the wrong way is Christianity itself - and then it is the fundamentalists.

Answer 2

Love him? Not possible-- I guess under certain circumstances I would SAY almost anything to avoid death-- but mean it, no
Love cannot be forced or caused by fear. Including love for God. The answer given by "Pope" is how I feel about it. I think Jesus' message and truth has been tremendously altered and distorted by power-hungry church leaders down through the centuries.
God granted us free will. He wants a relationship with us--- He loves us unconditionally. I am convinced we are happier in a loving relationship with Him and all His children. But eternal damnation--- burning in hell forever if we don't do certain things--- com'on. By that philosophy, I must be greater than God, because I surely wouldn't do that to anyone, let alone one of my children.
You cannot love anyone you fear. End of story.

Answer 3

I am sure you are right as far as what we should do. But, quite honestly, I feel I would do anything and say anything to protect my family. That is the reason I was especially sorry for those Germans who had to do those terrible things to the Jews. Don't misunderstand me, I am much much more sorry for the Jews.

I am a lucky Christian in a lucky country. Thank God for that.

Answer 4

Short answer:

Your dilemma is different because the promise of Christianity is based on an invitation of love and mercy and freedom, while the "Hitler" in your dilemma is based on hatred and force.

Long answer:

Well, interesting dilemma. Back up a second. Is God commanding anyone to love him? Would this be love? Is God the one sending people to hell (the gas chamber in this question)?

God doesn't command people to love him. He loves them and wants for them to accept this love, a love which almost impells one to love others by its very nature... yet the choice to love is still the individual person's (The love of Christ urges us, it doens't force us). So, there is an invitation not a threat. Love by definition is a free giving... if it is in response to a threat then that's not love.

Is God the one sending people to hell? Back to the love bit.. free will. Sin is based on free will and sin is auto-punishing... God only confirms the decisions one has made... ie when a person chooses to completely reject God's mercy (mercy for sins!) (scary thought that someone can do that, but God loves us enough that we do have free will) then one dies without the possibility of being in union with God (being Catholic I believe in forgiveness of sins after death, but hell is where one has said "no" completely to being forgiven... so one still exists after death but in a state of "separation" from God... possible only in the sense that one can not experience union with God - because God is everywhere and existence is based on God still loving something - though the person in hell can't accept it and "flees" it).

Answer 5

I could "pretend" to love him.. that's my job as a girl, no I'm just kidding but really not like he's gonna know if I really love him..

But on the other hand God knows if you love him.. he can see your heart, hitler cannot spiritually see your heart. and other than that it's not much different than the promise of God. If you love him and believe, and are baptized you will escape the eternal pain/

Answer 6

The difference is that God reciprocates. If you love God, He reciprocates that love. If you hate God, He also reciprocates (Hellish Conditions). Either way, you have the choice.

Hitler did not give anyone the opportunity to reciprocate. What choice? You might be able to say you love Hitler, but what would be the meaning of that love? Escaping death? No one can escape death, so you could only postpone that death temporarily, if you were lucky.

However, God promises (not just Christians) that whoever loves Him escapes from the bondage of material existence, and obtains the original spiritual position.

Answer 7

He is alive and well in Iran Destroy the ones that have preserved the Msg. Of Redemption,
What Deception the Nations have subscribed to:

Answer 8

If Stalin commanded you to love him in order to escape the death squads, could you? Unfortunately, that scenario is not hypothetical. 26 million people said 'no,' and were murdered in the name of militant atheism. I'll take the imaginary God of the Christians over that any day.

Answer 9

If I thought that Hitler had commanded me to do ANYTHING, I would run, not walk, to my nearest mental health clinic. Seriously, God is love, but Hitler WAS hate personified. I would be very particular about what or Whom I was about to give my whole life to please.

Answer 10

I would rather go to that gas chamber for eternity than to love a man (if you want to call him that) who brought so much anguish to the people on this earth. that has nothing to do with religion, that is love for my fellow human being. and no i am not jewish