how many of you have friends who are atheists, gay, jewish, muslim or any of the other billions of people on this planet who are apparently damned to hell according to the bible? why would you be friends with them if you're going to have to say goodbye to them once you die? is it because you think they are lost and you're trying to help them, or can you admit they are just good people? will it upset you when you are in heaven and god damns these people to hell for all eternity because they didn't accept jesus as their savior? would you try and defend them or would you just sit idly by while your creator casts your friends into a lake of fire to live in torment for all of eternity? if so, can you really call these people your friends?
2007-04-15 06:37:01 · 10 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
roger w, i want your answer, not something you copied from the bible. what are your thoughts? you do have them don't you, or are you just a mindless drone?
2007-04-15 06:43:48 · update #1
fatman, it's not preposterous. i'm assuming you mean god when you say your father. your earthly father can be reasoned with. he will accept you no matter what. bible father is different. in which case i would say yes to your question. grow a spine dude. evolve!!!
2007-04-15 06:46:15 · update #2
birdsflies, i hate to tell you, but you're not going to heaven even by your own standards. to do so would require you to have a soul. anyone who could turn their back on family for having differing religious beliefs is soulless.
2007-04-15 06:48:31 · update #3
reccmike, i don't claim to be god. i don't have to be god to challenge people's beliefs on god. do i?
2007-04-15 06:50:14 · update #4
kramaster, you were right...
2007-04-15 06:51:54 · update #5
roger w, amazing!!! i asked for your own words and you gave me more scripture. talk about dodging a question!!!
2007-04-15 06:54:25 · update #6
they won't answer this question will they?
2007-04-15 06:40:37 · answer #1 · answered by kramaster 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Have friends like that? Yes.
Why friends like that? I become friends with people for a variety of reasons, just like anybody else. School, work, shops I frequent, etc.
Because I think they're lost? Read the parable of the sower - it shows what a Christian is supposed to do. Offer salvation to everybody - some will take it, some will not. It's not within my ability to change their heart - that's the job of the Holy Spirit.
Admit they're good people? We're all better than some and not as good as others. When you have your own planet, you decide how good is good enough. God says either you be PERFECT (only Jesus is) or you can accept His free gift.
Will it upset me? Good question. I don't understand how, but the bible tells us there will be no sadness in heaven - I figure either I won't remember them, or I will completely understand then, and I'll see the justice of it.
Would I try to defend them? ... with which lie? That they were perfect, or that they did accept Jesus?
How can I then call them friend? A good friend always warns his friends if they're doing something wrong - a loser acts politically correct and allows them to "do their own thing" all the way to hell.
For God to let people in to heaven because they were "good enough" requires two terrible things to occur. (1) God is a liar. He said we can only get there by Jesus - if He changes that now, then He lied. AND (2) He sent His Son to die on the cross and suffer separation from Him for no reason at all - that would be pretty cruel.
If I thought God was either a liar or cruel, I would find another god to worship.
2007-04-15 14:07:42 · answer #2 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frankly, I do have family members like this, But I don't socialize with them, Now you ask the question will I try to defend them in heaven with God, Friend, I hate to tell you, There will be no defending, Why, Because they are not in heaven in the first place to bargain with, They are already in hell, They will NEVER see the gates of Heaven.-------------Who says you are my God, If anything, you are a evil spirit. I don't need a little punk like you telling me That I am not going to heaven, God told me 37 years ago when he saved me That I was going to heaven. & God rules over your childish ideals. It seems like I step on your little baby toes. It is about time someone did. Hey I have been serving God probably longer than you have been born, 37 yrs. is a long time & my age is 57, So I have been around a lot longer then you.
2007-04-15 13:43:17 · answer #3 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't matter if someone is a Muslim or a Jew or some other religion, God loves everybody equally. Besides, how do you know you're going to Heaven and they're not? The only person who knows is God. I don't think it depends on what your religion is, just what kind of person you are. But if it got down to it and I got into Heaven while my Jewish/Islamic/other friend didn't, I would defend them because I don't care if they're a different religion, they're still my friends. I don't base my relationships on faith.
2007-04-15 14:04:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
99% of the people that my wife and I hang out with are non believers.
We have meth freaks in the family, we are friends with people that are gay,(or whatever the pollitically correct word is now), I honestly don't know any muslims, but it's not that I wouldn't associate with them, I just don't know any. There are some on here that seem very nice. And both sides of my family are catholic. I personally don't agree with these people either, but I do love them and enjoy their company.
I have noticed that my "non believing" friends are very genuinely nice people and I would usually rather hang with them than my "believing" friends.
I don't really try to impose my beliefs, but I try (and fail a lot) to live a life that is more of a witness than my words.
When spirituality comes up, we try not to get "heated" and yes I share my opinions!
Yes, they are "good" people, but what is the measure of "good" against?
Sadly, according to Gods word, there are people that I hang with, and love, that will probably not see the kingdom of God.
2007-04-15 14:13:10 · answer #5 · answered by witness 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the text of your question it would seem to boil down to this: I should discontinue to love my father,even though we have different beliefs? Sounds preposterous to me. To really understand the depth of love, study the next convicted killer at the time of his execution. His loved ones will be there, even though they might not have condoned the crime he committed, they still love him.
2007-04-15 13:41:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do have many friends of all spectrum's.I am not their judge.I don't make their choices either.I can pray for them and try to help them to see the folly of their ways.But ultimately it is their own choice.One of my own children is floating in limbo right now.All I can do is pray God will help me to help her.Does it make me love them less?NO Upset?Hmm It makes me fight for their souls even harder now!!
2007-04-15 13:46:27 · answer #7 · answered by Christal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 10 :40"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
2007-04-15 13:41:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont really have any friends not Christian and if they arent we dont talk about our relegion. some I dont even know what they are... i live in the bible belt in s.c. im not really exposed to any other relegions other than Christianity.
edit: what is kramaste answerin? lol what in the world is he talkin about
2007-04-15 13:41:24 · answer #9 · answered by Adam B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are not god ,you do not speak to this problem well, it is not for you or i to think about as we can do nothing about it .there is enough work to do in this life stop wasting this life worrying about the next
2007-04-15 13:44:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋