What would I have to change?

Question

I see it stated quite often here that Atheists simply don't WANT to believe in god because then they would have to 'repent' or 'change their lifestyle'.

Following that premise would I then, if I decided that god exists, have to start being immoral since I am now a quite moral person? Would I have to repent of my charity work, decide not to go read to kids twice a week, take back all the money and time I have donated, not love my family and do all that I can to help them? Would I have to start commiting crimes? What exactly would I have to change?

Or is that premise based on the idea that no one could possibly be a good, caring person if they didn't believe in eternal reward or punishment? Are Christians seriously that bad? Do they really NEED the concept of eternity in order to be good people here on Earth?

Is the sole reason to be moral for eternal reward? And if not, then why all the comments about not wanting to believe and follow god's rules?

I do not claim to be perfect. I claim simply to be a good person. Yet no one has answered if eternal reward is the sole reason anyone would be a good person. Since that IS the implication in many posts on R&S.

To Adore Him, that's a very nice description of your beliefs, thank you, but it does not answer the question. Is it possible to be good for any other reason or is eternal reward/punishment the sole reason Christians are moral?

Answer 1

OK- you know something I can totally understand that you would ask this question- actually it is a great question- and as a Christian I will try to answer it the best I can , from the truth that I have experienced. I am SO glad to hear that you are a moral person. I know many who do not have a belief in God that are. However, when we start to compare ourselves to God, we are not righteous at all- I also "was the girl next door"- always helping others, always trying to be good- however I was heading straight to hell- why- Because God is holy and I am not. Have you ever done anything wrong at all- if you say you haven't ,as I thought I hadn't either for a long time- then we are both liars and then that is a sin right there, huh? Eternal reward is granted to those who admit they are not perfect,and they need a Savior. I may never have committed a heinous crime- but I have gossiped, I have lied- and since God is Holy, He cannot look on sin- unless He sees His Son in us- which can only happen when we repent and ask Him to forgive us. Is that more understandable. I am not judging you because I too was exactly where you were a few years ago.

Answer 2

To think you are a moral person, you think highly of yourself. Oh, I'm sure you are generally friendly and don't break any laws, but do you have a heart for those less fortunate? Do you care about the disparity of wealth in the world? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you seek out those that need your help and constantly look for chances to help them? Do you consider all your belongings to be blessings and would gladly part with them if needed? God calls his followers to partake in this kind of "morality". Clearly all of us fail to be fully what God wants us to be and the Bible tells us that "none of us (including Christians) are righteous, not one." Given that, then we can conclude that you, like everyone, does make mistakes and committ sins. Are you suggesting you would have nothing in your life to ask forgiveness for? Behold the second perfect person in the world!

Answer 3

excepting, believing, trust and faith in God is all that matters, because that comes from the heart, ur heart, you can't change ur self the way God wants to change u, it works better when u let Him do the changing because He changes from the inside out.U don't have to give up ur life to believe and to trust and to have faith in God, if there is something in ur life that God does not approve of He will take it away He will be the One Who does the changing u and it will be from the inside out. God don't look at the religion He looks at the persons heart, which tells all...

Answer 4

Some don't fall for the "difference" because it fits the electorate. The NRA goes to spend $forty million this autumn on promoting towards obama. It turns out they did their homework on his stance towards gun possession and don't seem to be satisfied he has transformed simply due to the fact that he mentioned everybody has a constitutional proper to undergo fingers. His prior statements approximately aiding the DC gun ban and folks clinging to their weapons is what they base their opinion of obama on. If the NRA used to be no longer towards Gore, he could have received rather of Bush, in order that they do have impact. Voters who rather study a candidate don't seem to be fooled through obamas folks enjoyable rhetoric.

Answer 5

it's good to be charitable and not commit crimes, but it's an error to brag about them. The idea of a Creator and heaven realms and heavenly beings implies something GREATER than human beings, greater than our pride. So to have God and spirit in your life should make you humble and so that would be what I would see you needing to change if you were to consider a living God and heavenly angels and such.

Answer 6

You are looking at the Small details in loving a God... Look at the big picture: do you love him? Do you believe he is coming back for us? Do you have faith?

These are the things that really matter... It doesn't matter what religion you are into, but it is what you feel about it...