Do Christians who believe in hellfire torment think that non-Christians make a knowing, informed choice to go to hell?
Would you knowingly jump into an active volcano? Which by the way is REAL and PHYSICALLY provable. Far less for hell which no one can prove is a real place and you have to take on blind faith. After all, faith is so subjective. Your personality, education, background, geography, life experiences all influence it. Two people could hear the same sermon read the same book and one converts, the other is unmoved. It does not mean they are evil or want to live an evil life, but they simply do not buy what is being sold and feel nothing compelling emotionally, spiritually or otherwise about it. After all, do ALL religions speak to YOUR heart and soul? So why expect that yours will.
Supposing (BIG TIME) hell exists, aren't they there unwittingly? Is that fair? And how can it be called free-will when you cannot understand or see what you are choosing?
2007-04-20 05:58:56 · 23 answers · asked by pixie_pagan 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think some Christians do not fully understand what free will is and unfortunately those have been the ones you have been in contact with.
In order to have free-will you need to KNOW what you are choosing between. It has to be REAL for you. I believe God is not a cruel father just like you do.
Nobody will be sent to hell unwittingly (provided hell exists the way you have been preached). The bible says God does not desire anyone to perish but for all to reach salvation. To that end he will ensure everyone gets a fair chance.
I also do not believe that hell is forever either. It does not gel with the idea of a merciful God.
2007-04-20 07:21:45 · answer #1 · answered by jessicabjoseph 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can choose hell by being evil on earth. When you manipulate, lie, steal, cheat, and harm other people you are choosing evil. We all struggle with the denial of consequences for our actions, but they are there anyway.
Now, you can be a good person, but have a lack of faith. You may not be going straight to Heaven, but that doesn't mean you are going to Hell, either. There has to be a place in between, and it is called purgatory. This is where you will acheive the understanding and holiness that you did not live up to on Earth.
Aside from that, you may have already drawn your own conclusion. Personally, I have faith in the Catholic Church, and I believe that is why it is the most talked about and dispised institutions by those who do not beleive. You see the movies and TV shows always mocking and trying to influence people to hate the Catholic Church. There are many people, even those in the church, who have formed their own conscience based on those influences. We have to be extremely careful of where our ideas and beliefs come from. What is poplular today will not be in the years to come, but one institution has remained the same in belief for 2000 years.
Even if you are not Catholic, you cannot deny the influence that Christ had on this world. No other man has changed the world as He has. There are many books on this subject, and when you look at it in a historical way, you can hardly deny that His way is good. Being Christian comes from the inside, and when you have the peace that Christ gives, everyone can see it in you. It does not happen overnight though. Faith is a journey, a longing that lasts a lifetime. Hell is already a reality for those destined for it. Faith gives you freedom, and when you have it, you will understand.
2007-04-20 13:14:56 · answer #2 · answered by Krista13 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All people who live on this earth and hear the gospel will have a clear and definite understanding of who God is and what hell is. You may not get the clear picture right away, but in your life time, God will confront you about your life and you won't be able to deny the true. This is true for every one that hears the gospel. When men and women die they will go before God and its says He will call the past into account. The Lord Himself will show people when they knew the truth and when in their hearts they decided to reject it. So, there will be no excuse for anyone in hell. The bible says, ".......warning comes before destruction". Everybody gets a warning.
2007-04-20 13:17:14 · answer #3 · answered by super saiyan 3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one ever said life is fair, let me ask you this...is it fair that Jesus who created the entire universe and can hold it all in the palm of His hand, came to earth in the form of a man because He knew the only way to save a sinful cursed world was to sacrafice Himself, He knew this before the world was even created and yet still choose to create you, knowing He would die a horriable death, no greater love is there then one who lays down his life for others... rather you believe or not, it happened... life isn't fair, He who knew no sin died for us...
truth doesn't depend on how many believe it or don't, truth is truth and the truth is the Bible has NEVER been disproven, Jesus Christ created you, paid your debt and loves you right now where you are. I wouldn't willing jump into a volcano, but know this too, the enemy, satan, is a liar, he tells people through other people and peer preasure everyday that smoking and drinking and doing drugs isn't a big deal and that its cool... when it is like jumping into a volcano because in the end 90 percent of the time those things lead to death... so why would people choose to do those things? Isn't that like jumping into a volcano too? Because they have been lied to, misinformed or they feel they know better then everyone who has ever told them otherwise about drugs...
Same with Jesus... the truth is there... and He does reveal it to you in one way or another... each individual has a different situation... if you choose to say no to the creator, then you are choosing to not follow the king you are voting for satan and you are ultimatley choosing hell,(even not choosing, is choosing) just like when you say yes to drugs, rather you do it innocently or not you have allowed yourself to become unhealthy, sick and possibly die... does this make sense?
That is the beauty of free will and choice... We could have been perfect robots...
Its difficult to understand Gods ways but the best way to get there is to read the BIble daily (seriously) and pray for spiritual understanding, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open... God cannot lie, if you look for Him He will reveal Himself to you and with His perspective, it all seriously makes sense... :)
2007-04-20 13:16:56 · answer #4 · answered by Vanillabean 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Everyone is offered the choice at some point in their lives. Some get many different opportunities. For others, once is enough. But there will be no "victims" in hell. We all choose to either seek the truth or to not.
I don't know why so many choose to not, but that's their decision. Some of the answers here demonstrate what I mean. I can't imagine not caring...
2007-04-20 13:05:27 · answer #5 · answered by AK 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Suppose you had a very serious illness, and you went to the doctor and asked him to treat it. Then suppose he gave you a prescription that would cure your illness—but you refused to take it. Who would be to blame if you failed to get better—the doctor, or you? I think you know the answer.
In the same way, the whole human race has a very serious spiritual "illness." It is a disease of our souls that the Bible calls sin. It is so serious, in fact, that it has put us on the road to eternal separation from God—which is what the Bible calls hell.
But listen: God loves us—and because He loves us, He has provided the remedy for our spiritual disease. The remedy is Jesus Christ, who took the punishment we deserve when He died on the cross for us. This is why the Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Yes—salvation is a free gift!
But what if we refuse it? What if we fail to accept the remedy God has provided? Who, then, is to blame if we continue on the road away from God? The answer is clear: We are. In other words, God doesn't send us to hell; we send ourselves. Don't gamble with your soul, but by faith accept Christ so you can know—beyond doubt—that you will go to be with Him in heaven forever.
2007-04-21 06:31:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They just loved the god of murder, slander, thievery, etc. more than the love of God the Creator.
Hell fire is made for the devil & his messengers. So, people make a soul choice whether to do the devils desructive work.
I know hell exists, from personal dreams or visions,& have read or heard about other people who have died, or had an out of body experience & went before hells gates or experienced some of the magnified feelings of hell. Think of hate feelings magnified; or gossip, doubt, rejection, etc... feelings magnified. Hell is the opposite of Gods presence & in Gods presence is faith, hope & love everlasting, & those feelings magnified.
2007-04-20 13:09:10 · answer #7 · answered by t_a_m_i_l 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, because all of Heaven and Earth declare that there is a God and that He is a righteous God. Also God has written His laws upon our hearts so that we may not sin against Him. When we face judgement, no one will be able to defend themself. We are all guilty of breaking God's laws, but God has paid the penalty of our sin, all we have to do is receive His Son, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior. It's that easy and that simple. God loves us so much, but He has given us a free will.
Life or death! Blessing or cursing! Heaven or Hell. Jesus or Satan. You have read the truth. The Choice is yours.
What do you Choose?
2007-04-20 13:11:54 · answer #8 · answered by Apostle Jeff 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it all starts as a free choice-we can come to the light or move further away from it. I happen to be a Jew-and now Jesus is my savior and best friend too.
a book to check out for you-Pilgrims progress=Yes -do not be fooled
to those the enter in-as in the book Pilgrims Progress-once the second best seller next to the Bible
it tells of the journey to belief and knowing Jesus salvation
those that refuse will have many excuses-do not let them deter you to live like them hopeless lives that end up in hell forever tormented weeping forever as Jesus says for rejecting the joy of salvation in His word= John 12:48 and Revelation 3:19&20 to come to faith and let Him into ones heart and chapters 19-22 of Revelation the descriptions of hell and also the joy of heaven-which starts in our heart the day we let him in, David -born a Jew once rejected Jesus too
prayin for you and great question--religions are religions man made-Jesus is God made into man-pick the one that agrees with him best and you will be pleased in this life and the one to come
2007-04-20 13:04:34 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
i dont know what happens to the people who have never heard the word of God but basically everone will hear about it at least once whether you believe it or not you have heard. and you can understand what you are choosing your the one after all choosing arent you even if you have a good life you know that its still not good enough you know theres something missing and i can tell you by experience that what is missing is Jesus Christ Son of the living God.
2007-04-20 13:06:37 · answer #10 · answered by darth_cheezy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋