2007-05-20 08:42:48 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
then why do I hear from Christians that I'm going to hell if I don't give my life to jesus? does this argument EVER work?
2007-05-20 08:47:28 · update #1
I don't believe in hell or heaven
2007-05-20 08:50:45 · update #2
The "danger" of going to hell has been used more often as the excuse for "saving" people who refused to convert:
Native Americans
Pagans
Christians of the "wrong" denomination.
The people forcing the conversion are afraid of hell. The converted are afraid of the rope, stake, etc.
2007-05-21 04:47:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, actually, I do know about people like that. No matter though -- it is not the right tactic to spread the gospel. I don't agree with it at all. I don't think we should scare people into believing in God. We should love everyone regardless -- something that conservative and fundamentalist Christians don't do very well. We should earn someone's trust BEFORE we begin to show them about God. We should live our lives as an example. Our actions should speak louder than our words and truer than our words. We should respect and always be patient with people that we are witnessing to. Above all, we should LOVE. I emphasize this because I think that is what people miss by screaming "you are going to hell". My ex-fiance was one of those people that was "saved" through fear tactics. However, he know he back to his old self. For him, it certainly didn't work for long.
2007-05-20 09:02:43 · answer #2 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually when I was 17 I accepted Christ, because I wanted a free ticket to heaven, but since then I have realized that living for Jesus here and now, would be enough, even if I was not given heaven. He has changed my life- I am nowhere near perfect yet, but day by day , I am drawing closer to Him, and I pray that I am living each day for Him. Because this life is all about Him, and nothing about me.
2007-05-20 08:48:35 · answer #3 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think as a child and hearing my mom tell me about Jesus and God, heaven and hell, it made me want to believe because i didn't want to go to hell. but now that im older i just try to understand the religion im not focused on the fear of hell because i don't believe in it, now.
besides the only thing you should fear is God himself, not hell.
2007-05-20 08:53:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that some people try to convert to Christianity for this reason, but if this is the only reason it doesn't last long.
2 Corinthians 5:14 "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." For true Christians, understanding God's love is what compels us to love Him in return...not fear of what will happen if we don't. Though this fear may be one of the initial reasons we come, fear isn't strong enough to compel us to keep our eyes on Him. Love is.
2007-05-20 10:40:20 · answer #5 · answered by misskatiemichelle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know of any kids that dont run away from their parents so they can recieve food, shelter, and clothing? MMM just about all of them that havent run away, yes.
Is that our primary motivation? Who cares! Lets say you tell your kids to do their chores...
1 refuses to do them swearing that you are a horrible parent and they shouldnt have to. Another is lazy and barely gives doing them a 2nd thought. Another has the good intention of doing them, but never does.
While another DOES it out of fear of punishment, and the last finally does it because he is the wisest and most reponsible knowing everyone is best served by doing what is right.
Who are you going to punish? Who did the job regardless of initial motivation? Are you going to say that you would be happier about the one who had good intentions but didnt do it rather than the one that did it and didnt want to initially?
2007-05-20 09:05:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I became a Christian when I was little because I didn't want to go to Hell.
2007-05-20 09:15:39 · answer #7 · answered by Me Encanta Espanol 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of all kinds of reasons, including guilt and the belief that Jesus is the only cure for addiction, but I've never heard of that one, at least not by itself.
2007-05-20 14:24:58 · answer #8 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I did have one fundie confess that if I could convince him that hell didn't exist, he didn't see any reason for continuing to worship god. So, I reckon the hell tactic does work on fundies which is why they think it'll work on us, because it worked on them.
2007-05-20 08:54:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
90% Christians.
2007-05-20 08:46:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋