Mainly interested in Christian opinion on this....?

Question

Why do so many Christian believe that if you do not follow their "One True God" you are evil and immoral until you are saved? I have NEVER believed in the Christian God. I was raised and continue to believe in the old pagan ways. And I am not talking Wicca, which is a new religion. I believe that the plants and animals all have souls, and should be respected, that sexuality should be free to the person to decide (not just homo/hetero, but also how many partners etc.) But I have also spent years teaching children to read and write. I helped to build 6 houses for Habitate for Humanity, I was in a branch of the peace corps helping to educate special needs children. I am married, and my husband has been my only partner ever (personal choice not religious) And all this I do because I want to. I don't believe that I will go to hell. So why do people feel that non-Christians have low morals and are "evil"? and what happened to the whole "judge not lest ye be judged"?

I have a fine self image. And I am not the only "non believer" that has been shunned for their beliefs or the lack there of. It is not about "I need to feel love" it was merely a question on how it can be justified and even taught in churches when the bible tells you not to judge, to love you neighbor etc. And I am not saying that all Christians feel this way. But I have been in churches where the minister has said that "those who deny the one true god are evil and loose in morals" what kind of acceptance is this teaching?

Answer 1

Dear Amanda,

First let me just say i commend you on your honesty and for your love for humanity.

The Bible teaches that everyone has fallen short of God. And falling short of God is sin, and sin results in death (spiritually speaking that's eternal separation from God).

So therefore we are all spiritually dead, unless we are reborn (hence the term born again) by receiving Christ's work on the cross.

So Christians who are judging you are kind of missing the point. Christians should share Jesus out of a love for people - to not want to see them be separated from God. They need to humbly remember that the only difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that they have received forgiveness of sins which they don't deserve but which God so graciously gives.

Ultimately someone needs to define what is moral and what is not moral, and the Bible teaches us what God's standard for morality is, and no person is "good enough" to earn salvation.

In terms of the judge lest yet be judged passage- in its context it is a courtroom term that talks about final judgment. Like when a judge slams down the gavel and determines someone guilty. Jesus practiced this for example by giving grace to the woman caught in adultery (Most people would regard her as the "skank" or "ho" of society- but Jesus forgave her and he didn't pass final judgement on her). One thing the Bible teaches are those who are forgiven much, love much. And i think we find some of the greatest Christians are those whose lives were on the brink of self-destruction and Jesus pulled them out of the pit.

i respect that you have done lots to help your fellow man. And i also respect your right to accept or reject Jesus. But i think in terms of eternity- you're not the one who determines whether you merit heaven or hell- God has given us a standard that can only be met by His Son Jesus Christ.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 2

I am speaking as someone who grew up in a Christian home, but I have turned from the ways of my family, the question you are asking being one of the reasons for my decision. Christians believe that if you are not "saved" or are non-Christian, that the Devil tempts you with evil thoughts, and that any action you do towards being a good work is "evil" unless you have been "saved". I myself have high morals, as you mentioned, but Christians tend to believe, again, that someone not of their faith must have the Devil "on their back" and therefore cannot possibly make good decisions. I have also chosen to remain abstinent until marriage, I don't smoke or drink, but these are all decisions that I have made based on things that have happened to people around me. I left the Christian faith I was raised in because of inconsistencies like you have mentioned. Christians, like everyone else, judge people, sin as everyone does, etc. They just choose to ignore parts of the Bible that they would rather not think about at certain moments.

Answer 3

Well the answers seem to change depending on which group of christians you ask. If you look at it technically though, if you don't believe in Jesus you don't get into heaven. Seems a little crazy doesn't it? So you could be a mass murder and rape little children, then right before you die repent, be saved, and poof enter heaven! yet you could be an atheist (I am one) spend your entire life dedicated to helping others and giving back to the world, but you don't take jesus as you saviour and you get to spend ETERNITY in hell. Yup christianity is just plain stupid. boy, poor holocaust victims, torturted here on earth and forever in the afterlife because they disagreed with your beliefs. The people on here who are saying "well I don't believe that" or " i believe that if you are good you get into heaven", how do you cherry pick what you want about your religion? You just follow only the parts that you like? Hmmmm maybe its possible to have morals then WITHOUT religion?!

Answer 4

Well it sounds as if what you said is that you do the will of God by the fruits which you stated. Jesus told a parable about a man who was robbed and beaten then left for dead. It talked about people who walked by and wouldn't help and it talked about another who helped and very well could have saved the mans life. Who was the righteous person? The Bible also talks about those who never knew Jesus yet his laws were written on their hearts.As for myself I was Baptized by fire some people live by faith I know. I've seen enough spiritual ware fair to no the truth. It's not something anyone would want to go through. As far as pagan religions I will totally stay away from that.To the best of my knowledge the spirit of creation crys and sings out to God! But I'm fully aware that Satan and the third were cast down to earth and are currently wreaking havoc on humanity and the Earth and Heaven. People who worship"Gods" could very well be worshiping very old and smart Demons/fallen Angels. Anyway good luck and God bless I wouldn't will that anyone should go to damnation. There is a lot of info in the Bible it can some times be difficult to read but very informative and important. Oh and by the way Jesus is coming soon. Very soon!

Answer 5

We don't have a trinity Yes it most likely was a later philosophy, but possible not. No it doesn't make me angry. I have researched the history of enough religions to know that a LOT of religions past and present borrow theology. Judiasm has some Egyptian...well that would make sense. Where was Moses raised again? Christianity has a HUGE Greek influence. Which would make sense since he was hanging out in Rome (they ripped everything off from the Greeks). One of the most famous Christian philosophers of all time was converted by reading PLATO. So it doesn't bother me. It is what it is.

Answer 6

Wow, so much here. First, who said that unsaved people are evil and immoral? Many non-Christians have high moral standards and do good deeds; it's just that moral beliefs and performing good deeds do not get you into heaven.

You believe that your good deeds are enough to protect you in the afterlife- that's your opinion but it is contrary to what Jesus said about His being the only way of salvation. If you have an issue with that, take it up with God. He freely offers you the opportunity to receive His gift of eternal life by placing your trust in Him.

As far as the "judging " is concerned, you are making a judgment that your beliefs are true just like the rest of us.

Answer 7

Good questions. I will answer as completely as possible, but please keep in mind I am explaining doctrine, not passing judgment! (Not trying to offend anyone.)

Christian doctrine says that since Adam and Eve screwed up, and all humanity stemmed from them, we inherited their sinful nature. We're naturally imperfect. That doesn't change once a person is saved, it just means God won't judge them on the basis of those imperfections. Christianity does not disagree that plants and animals should be respected. On the contrary, it teaches that man was placed as a steward over the earth, to protect and preserve.

Christians don't necessarily believe non-C's have low morals, but they've read enough Scripture to understand that God provided a way to return to him. Anyone who rejects it will be judged and condemned. Those who accept the salvation God offered will be rewarded and be eligible to judge those who don't. The "judge not" refers to a believer not judging another believer. Convenient for the evangelical, isn't it? At any rate, Christianity teaches that not even our best works are good enough compared to the perfection of God, so in that sense, nobody is "good enough" to get to heaven. What is required is simply acceptance.

I don't believe you're evil, and in fact you've done more good in the world than half of the Christians I know. Something else most Christians don't realize is that it's not up to them to convert someone - that's up to the person and God. You've been given free choice, so it'd be a waste not to use it!

Answer 8

I don't consider non-christians to be evil or immoral based on their beliefs about God. I consider them to be non-Christians. As such, I consider, since the Judge made the verdict, that they are going to go to Hell unless they do, at some point in their lifetime, accept Jesus as their one and only propitation for sin. I've never seen any vegetation that particularly inspired me on any level toward spirituality, though I think some flowers are pretty. I have never been engaged in conversation with a plant nor felt any particular desire to be engaged in such a conversation. I have never felt the need to obtain the opinion or approval of any particular plant, nor have I ever felt that a plant approved of or had an opinion about anything I have done. The same applies to animals. As to judging, I do not judge you. I am, however, called to discern what is or is not of God. If you want to call that judging, then that's fine. God sent His Son to redeem you from the Fall, and His Son is the only payment that could meet that price. It doesn't matter if you believe that or not, your disbelief doesn't change the fact. But I wouldn't call you evil or immoral without first knowing you and observing your behavior.

Answer 9

When an atheist says, I'm a good moral person.... I try to help people and live a good life and be kind to others".... This may be true, but unfortunately, it's not good works that make us able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. None of us are really any good. That's why we need receive the Holy Ghost -- so that there will be some redeeming quality to make us worthy to enter heaven. All that is evil will pass away (our humanly bodies) but what is good (the Holy Ghost within our souls) will live eternally. Nothing sinful or even the tiniest bit evil can live with God. Because He is pure goodness.
This is not me judging you. I think all that you have done is wonderful....

Answer 10

I am a christian and i certainly dont believe that! We will all be judged by our actions and the intents of our hearts and by the truths that we have been given or have received. So just because you are not a christian doesn't mean you are 'evil' or are on a one-way journey to 'hell'. We just believe that being a christian has improved our lives and can improve other peoples lives too..