How can you believe in God when there's so many holes in the idea of christianity?

Question

For example: Judas was sent to hell for betraying Jesus. But wasn't that Judas' purpose? How could Jesus have been crucified to "save all our souls" if Judas did not do this? If god is so just and loving how could he condemn this man for doing what he was "created" for?

Answer 1

By Faith, pure and simple

Answer 2

Was he sent to hell?
I didn't get that memo. I mean, sure he probably was, but we don't know for sure. He hung himself out of remorse (so there is remorse/repentance right there, as well as belief that Jesus had been someone special). No where in the Bible does it say that those who hang themselves go to hell, that's just church doctrine and supposition. I believe that those who kill themselves are mentally ill at the time. It's the same as a sickness.

Even if he did go to hell, he did have a choice as to whether or not he would be the person to serve that purpose. There were other disciples. Why is it a hole that God knew who would make the wrong choice out of greed or jealousy, and put him in a position where his rejecting of God would produce something good? That's what God does, takes the bad, redeems it, and has good come out of it. I'm sure Jesus also could have been crucified if he hadn't been betrayed. They may have found him sooner or later, it just wouldn't have fulfilled the "30 peices of silver" prophecy. God knew it was going to happen, and because of free will, he sat back and let it unfold.

I'm not a pastor or an expert and I have no sources for this other than my own ponderings, but I definitely know where you are coming from with the holes. But honestly, if you ask someone who actually knows what they are talking about, pick up a good book, or really search with an open mind, you'll find that the answers to these holes make more sense than you would think. A good book that examines a few of the holes would be the Lee Strobel books "The Case for Christ" and the more interesting "The Case for Faith". Strobel was an atheist journalist looking to write a book on the holes and because of the explanations he found ended up a convert.

If all the answers were too easy, I'd be suspicious. Christianity is very complicated. But very intelligent people have gone before us and asked the questions we ask now and they got through it. The holes and questions are nothing new, but intelligent people are still able to believe because of different ways of looking at something, understanding better the culture of biblical times, and looking at the evidence in a way we might not have picked up. It's actually very interesting. I definitely think you should read those books just to see the thought processes behind why people believe this. They are intelligent and would answer your question: How do people believe in God? I think they would give you a great look at the mindset behind an intelligent Christian and the way they search and look at things.

Answer 3

Let's look at the example you gave. Judas was not created to betray Jesus. Judas just like the rest of us were created to worship God. God is the author of our lives and He knew that Judas would betray Jesus. Again, that's was not his purpose in life but God/Jesus knew he would. Judas could have done this to help fulfill the scriptures that teaches us that Jesus would be crucified to "save all our souls", but Judas also had the opportunity to repent and there would have been forgiveness not condemnation.

Answer 4

It sounds like the "holes" are just things you don't understand.

There are many people born who will never accept Jesus...or believe in God. They choose instead to believe they know better than God and in their arrogance are already lost for eternity.

God has always allowed each person a choice. He knew that Judas, even though he had every opportunity the other disciples did, would choose instead to betray Him....it does not mean because Judas chose this that he was not given the same opportunity as the others. It is just that God knows the end from the beginning....it is still up to us to choose to follow Him or not.

And he already knows who will reject Him and His Son, Jesus.
That's why Jesus said that His Father had given Him so many souls into His hand.....and Jesus has promised to come back....but not until that last person who God knows will choose Him, has done so.

God is not willing that any should perish for all eternity...but He also provided a plan that "whosoever believes in His Son, will have eternal life". Read the book of John in the Bible. "He that has the Son, has life. He that has not the Son is condemned already"....and Jesus said, "I am the Way, the truth, and the Life....no man (meaning any person) comes unto the Father, but by Me!" God does not push anyone into loving Him...then it would not be love. Instead He says "you have a choice....choose to believe on my Son, Who died for you".

We know from the Bible Judas was sorry for what he had done.
It does seem that he was eternally lost....but we probably won't know positively until we get to heaven....guess he could have repented...and God does forgive...whether Judas did that we aren't really told....just that he hung himself. It was really up to him.

Answer 5

Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, but for 3 and 1/2 years He still loved him and tried to teach him what was right. If Judas hadn't betrayed Him someone else would have. Judas had Free Will and Jesus took the time to love Him anyway and gave him the chance to not betray Him.

The priests were ready to kill Jesus, if it wasn't for Judas, they would have found another way.

Answer 6

Rev 20:14 says death and hell are cast into the lake of fire. Judas was not born to betray Jesus, he had this problem of lack of faith. The scriptures said that Jesus was betrayed, or would be betrayed by someone close to him, it could of been anyone of the twelve. As the scriptures say, Satan entered Judas, just as Satan can enter any one of us. Rev 20:14 say a thing(Death) and a place(Hell) dies a second death, and then is cast into the lake of fire. How does a thing and a place die? Let alone to die a second death? How can a thing(death) and a place(hell) be cased into a lake of fire? There are a lot of false teachings out there. Eph 4:5 says 1 faith,1 lord, 1 baptisim. Acts 15:14 says GOD will take out a people for his name.His name is at Psalms 83:18(Org. King James) If you want accurate answers, they are the only ones that can give them to you.

Answer 7

Judas did not have to betray Jesus - he chose to do so. If Judas had stayed faithful, Jesus would still have gone to the Cross by some other means. Judas condemned himself by his choice - God simply granted him what he chose. Please do not confine an Almighty God in the tiny recesses of your lack of understanding.

Answer 8

God's plan did save the souls for all man. Judas's act of betrayal came from the Devil that went into his heart. Luke 22: 2-4 " 3Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

4And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.

Ever since Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden the devil has been around to cause man to rebel against the work of God. So man is not alone in his endeavor to work against God's ways.

Judas was a man who would never repent of his sin. That's because Satan was in his heart to never repent of his sin. Instead Satan lied as he does to all man for he is a liar form the beginning, and told him God would never forgive him. And so just as Judas believed the devil to betray Christ. Judas believed the devil to kill himself.

Answer 9

The Bible is silent on Judas' destiny.

Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. All who believe can be saved. There is no obstacle. "Whoever will" can be saved.

The reality of human responsibility and divine sovereignty is ultimately a mystery. Only God stands outside the picture to see and coordinate how they work. He rules. We just get to participate.

You might find Deuteronomy 29:29 helpful on that point.

Good question. I find it comes up time and again in different ways. Next hole?

Answer 10

First, of all your example is based on an assumption that Judas did not have choice. It may have been his purpose, but that does not mean he didn't assent to it. Second, God does not desire to condemn any person, that is the persons choice, but as you learn early in life there are consequences to every decision. It is evidence of God's goodness and lovingness that he provided a way to escape the the eternally negative consequences of our wrong choices. But in the end, the so called "holes" are overcome by faith.

Answer 11

Judas was not "created to sin". It was known that he would do so. The sin that he committed was not done by GOD's HAND, it was done as a result of satan's hand. Satan is the root of all evil on this world that we live in. GOD has never done anything of the sort. If you are looking for "holes" check your creation theory and then read what is really important in our lives... GOD's WORD.

Study these scriptures and see what you think. To become a Christian:
HEAR - Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
BELIEVE - In Mark 16:16, Jesus said “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
REPENT - Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
CONFESS CHRIST - 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
BE BAPTIZED - Romans 6:3-4 do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL - Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Send me a note if you have questions. I am anxious to hear from you. Have a Great day.
Eds