Is there a point to being Christian besides wanting to avoid going to Hell?

Question

In answers to various questions in this forum, I've been told by Christians that, in the end, the only real need I have of obeying the will of God is so that I won't land my butt in Hell. I've been told that they would be ethical even if they had never heard of the Judeo-Christian deity, but it's better to follow God because his way is the right way and mankind's way is the way to Hell. I've been told by many that original sin was God's plan all along so that we could (1) be free willed and (2) have the need of redemption.

It all comes down to "You need to love and obey God to stay out of Hell. If you don't accept God as your heavenly father and Jesus as your Christ, you will burn forever". Yes, I know it's often not phrased like that. It usually takes a lot of poking and prodding to get anyone to admit to this outright...

But that's what it boils down to - follow God or go to Hell.

So... what reasons other than Hell are there to be a Christian?

And no, don't tell me "so that you can be a good person and follow Christ's teachings". I may not want to be a "good person". I may have my own ideas about morality. Telling me "yeah, well, you're a bad person if you don't follow Christ" doesn't seem like reason enough for me. And no, I don't think I owe it to God. If a God DID exist and constantly demanded worship and validation from me, I'd tell it to see a shrink and to stop being so needy. I love my parents but I'm still going to be my own person and develop my own sense of morality despite the values they instilled into me (as I think we all should). So... any other reasons?

*sigh* Ok, I'll rephrase... is there a point to being Christian besides using it as a means to ensure that you spend eternity in the "place" you want to spend it???

Answer 1

The points to being a christian are this:

1) To know God. Like I know my brother. Or my coworker. Or my bestfriend, only much better. To actually KNOW Him. To find out that He is the AUTHOR of LOVE itself. And Life itself.

2) To know Jesus Christ, the only man who EVER got everything right in how he lived his life. The only one who can show us how to get it right ourselves. And to shows us God's forgiveness. And how to forgive ourselves. I know you said you may have a different morality than the bible, and perhaps you do. However, I bet that you do things that you are deeply ashamed of and regret. Jesus can show you that forgiveness.

Hell is not eternal, and it is not eternal fire. Hell does exist, but Jesus wins people even from there! The reason why to live your life right is not to avoid hell. It's to have a clean conscience so that you aren't plagued within yourself, so that you are free to be your best self. And the best expression of God that you as a person can be.

We can not be free if we are trying to be believers who are trying to avoid hell. There is no freedom in fear. And we will find that God is nothing like that fear-based doctrine. He wants us to good because it is right. And He wants us to love each other because it is right. That's all.

Answer 2

You know, I have recently been thinking of such...I grew up in a Christian home, and I feel that this was the focus of all the teachings I received: Believe in God or go to hell.

However, now, as an adult and on a spiritual journey that is reshapened everyday, I am realizing that there is so much more. So often, people attempt to display the negative in order to win people to their side--as humans we tend to respond to urgency better. But, I find that when you remember to live and experience, God becomes more real. He doesn't want us to live in fear. He wants us to live and love. For, not doing such is much more of a sin.

Other reasons to be a Christian...really, I think that being a Christian has more to do with your roots, and roots are very hard to detach from. The most important thing is love. And, if you do such, you are being Christ-like.

Answer 3

It all comes down to truth, if you don't believe that Christianity is the truth then there is no reason to be a Christian. If you do believe it's true then you'll believe that God loves us and wants us to be happy. The bible and the consistent sense of morality we all seem to share were given to us by God so we can understand how he made the world we live in and the best way to live for long term happiness.

It's like having a 3 year old ( I have one.) from her point of view she can't imagine why she can't eat ice cream all day everyday. It seems to her that would be the best way to live, I know better so as a parent who loves her I don't let her eat all the ice cream she wants.
In the same way God has laid out rules in the bible for us, sure at the moment they seem like a buzz kill but in the long run, even here on earth following those rules will give us long term satisfaction.

Answer 4

What reasons other than Hell are there to be a Christian? I believe that is the question you want answered.....

Well I have to say I am a Christian for many reasons......... but Christianity isn't who I am. I am a child of God.

God is not human. There was no space or time but yet the Almighty.

He is the Alpha and Omega.

The devil is a liar. The greatest lie he ever told was that he doesn't exist.

I do not want to go to hell. I do not want others to go. I am not a Christian (though i and others claim it often and mistakenly we do.........) Christianity is my religion.

I am a child of the living and almighty God. So are you. The only difference between us is that I have accepted this in my heart and so my eyes have been opened.

Have you ever bought a car.......... a limited edition or an uncommon car? Then everywhere you go you see one? Hey before I bought this car I never saw any out on the road......... its because you weren't paying attention. There are many signs and miracles everyday. People are just blind to them.

The Holy Spirit has made itself known to me so I am now aware. What has made itself known to you?

I want to be with my creator.
I want to be in my eternal home, new Jerusalem
I want to dance with angels
I want to meet my redeemer
I want to love and be loved
I want to have everlasting life.......................not death.

It isn't believe in Christ or burn..........its where do you want to go when this life is over for eternity? The only way to heaven is through the one who sits on its throne.

Many come to America b/c its freedom or death. There are many choices which come down to this. Its no different to choose God or in other words......... life or death.

God Bless

Answer 5

well, aside from avoiding being eternally tortured for not being a Christian there are other perks.

1. you have complete and righteous moral authority simply by quoting Bible verse.

2. you are privy to God's feeling, thoughts and motivations.

3. you are member of an elite group who know the absolute Truth.

4. anything you do wrong, no matter how heinous, is forgiven.

5. you get a free ticket to heavenly bliss at the expense of some unfortunate Jewish guy who was executed for sedition against Rome 2000 years ago..

6. you're a member of the majority religion (in the USA) so you have a huge lobby in Washington DC pushing your religious agenda.

7. you being a member of the majority religion you get preferred status seeking employment and political office.

8. despite being a member of the majority religion and all the entitlements that implies you still get to whine that you're being persecuted by nonChristians.

9. you get to ignore any facts that conflict with your religious dogma.

10.a jewel encrusted crown and a golden throne await you in heaven as a reward for having chosen the right religion.

11. you get to yell "neener neener! told ya so" to the nonChristians writhing in teeth gnashing agnony below you in hell.

12. and you don't have to worry about the trashing of the Earth's eco systems since your god is gonna destroy this planet and give you a brand new one.


so don't wait! join today! don't miss out on these advantages and more by becoming a Christian!

Answer 6

I loved an old Muslim prayer I read. And I don't remember the exact quote or who said it, but the general idea:

"God, if I am in my faith because of a fear of Hell, then that is what I deserve."

Religion is more about relationships for me. I feel closer to God. I use my religion to put into context my relationships with other people. I use my religion to help interpret how events happen in my life and how I should respond to them.

I won't tell you that you have to follow God or go to Hell. I don't know who goes to Hell and who doesn't.

I won't tell you that religious faith is the only way you can interpret these things. It's clearly not.

But if you're asking about other reasons why people are religious, that's my main reason.

Matt

Answer 7

It is quite visible that you don't know God. As with many people who think they are Christians. Once you are filled with the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues. Your question would not be asked. You would be born again, despise sin. And want to go to heaven because you love God. Not because you fear hell. A good dose of hell is good for everybody now and again. But the true christians desire is not fear of hell, but fear of separation from God. Not being able to feel him and see him.

Answer 8

First off, I'm not Christian, but you have a really good question there, Zero Cool (damn, you must have been around a LONG time to land THAT handle!! I was the origional pyro_cracker at one time..)
How many christians are out there that have any other motives for their faith other than prevent eternal damnation? GENUINE motives? My guess is very few... If there was no recourse for "breaking the rules" of their faith, how many people would actually follow them? If fear of "fire and brimstone" were not beat into their minds from the very start, who would actually follow a faith where it is better to be trampled than defend yourself and that which is yours? But then again, it does keep your unemployed neighbor from banging your wife while you are at work (or let's hope so, anyways...)

Answer 9

Being Christian makes this life on earth, even with all its ups and downs, a lot more tolerable. Before I became truly Christian, I was caught up in the rat race like a lot of us are. I was constantly worried about getting the right education, getting the right job with the right salary, getting raises, trying to outperform my co-workers to get the better position, and making sure that I was able to buy all the right crap so that my friends and neighbours would know that I was a "successful" person who was really making it in this world. The truth of course was that I was a stressed out pride freak who was constantly worried, had to drink alcohol to relax, suffered from insomnia and was never really satisfied because there was always someone who had a better car, a bigger house, blah blah blah. Then I started to really listen to Christ's message. He says many things, but one of them is that you shouldn't worship money, and that it is OK to be poor. He said that it is better to be humble than to try to exalt yourself above others. He said that it is normal to be sad some of the time. He said that those who are truly rich are the ones who have treasure in heaven, not on earth, and eventually I figured out that it is acts of love towards our fellow men that are the coins of that treasure. And when I started trying to live as he described, I found that all the stress of the rat race just melted away. I no longer have that high powered job anymore, I work at a soup kitchen. I don't make the big bucks but I couldn't care less. I live in a one bedroom condo with my loving wife and drive a 12 year old car that is starting to rust, but I couldn't care less. I have more than enough to live on now because my judge is my Lord and God Jesus Christ, who is full of mercy and forgiveness and asks only that I show mercy and forgiveness to others. Christ says in the gospels that his yoke is easy and his burden is light, and believe me it is. And as a bonus I get to spend eternity with Him. It doesn't get any better than that.

Answer 10

there is more to being a Christian than just avoiding hell. there is having an inner peace that goes beyond all understanding when everything around you is in complete turmoil and having a love that you cannot completly understand impuded in you when nobody else loves you and having a complete understanding of things that are coming to you and know that they have already been taken care of. last but not least having the understanding that when you lay down at night that if death comes to you that your soul will be with Jesus and there will be no more questions to ask on this side of Heaven. there is more to this than what meets the physical eye. don't trust in yourself to understand all things, but trust in God who knows all things. that should be enough reason to be a Christian.