Is fear of going to hell a weak reason to be a Christian?

Question

I was thinking about converting to Judaism because some Jews don't believe in the afterlife. It doesn't seem just to me that God in Christianity would send a person to hell just because they don't believe in the Jesus when there are so many religions to choose from and no way to tell which one is correct. With that ideology, most people are going to hell.

Answer 1

Everyone has their own reason for believing what they want to believe...you cannot call it weak, it is yours and your alone...others might call it weak, but then they are being a bit judgemental aren't they...

Answer 2

Fear of going to Hell is a pefectly good reason to be a Christian because it means that you know that you have broken God's law and you need a Savior to rescue you.

"It doesn't seem just to me that God in Christianity would send a person to hell just because they don't believe in the Jesus when there are so many religions to choose from and no way to tell which one is correct."

If God were some man made construct then I would have to agree with you. But when you study the Bible, both Old and New Testaments you understand that we are looking at things from a human perspective and not God's perspective.

God is the Creator and we are the creatures. God is perfect and we are flawed. God says that the wages of sin are death and the penalty has to be paid. We say "Gee is it really that serious? Can't you just give us a break?".

God says "Sure, I'll give you a break. I'll send my one and only Son to pay the penalty for your sins and all that I ask of you is that you repent of your sins and trust on the salvation that I've provided for you through faith in the work of my Son on your behalf."

That's why Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father apart from Him. Other religions teach that if we do certain things and abstain from other things we can be made right in God's eyes. God says that He has a perfect standard of righteousness and that all of our good deeds don't make up for breaking his law. It's just like if you went before a human judge and told him what a good person you were except for this one time you broke the law. The judge might commend you for being a good person most of the time but he still has to make you pay the penalty for breaking the law.

Jesus is like your court advocate who steps forward and tells the judge that he is right about you being guilty but he offers to pay your fine for you. If you don't beleive Him and take Him up on his offer then you have to pay it yourself.

Answer 3

Jews do believe in an after life. They accept the old testament. Psalms 37:9,10,11,29

They just don't believe that Jesus was the messiah or they don't believe in heaven and hell.
As some Christians believe and Indians and lots of others.
Believe in what God told Adam "for dust you are and to dust you will return." Dead is the end of existance.

then Jesus said the meek will inherit the earth.
They believe that the good will be resurrected to live forever upon the earth. Matthew 5:5

Answer 4

Fear makes for a poor motivator.

However, you make it sound like you can change religions like changing a shirt.

The issue is not one of there being so many religions, but rather who the true, real God is, and salvation. It sounds like you would be well served to really study in this regard.

Also, you have picked up the common belief regarding hell. You might find that your understanding is somewhat flawed in this regard.

Do not work from assumptions. Scripture says to prove all things. All things indeed can be proven.

Answer 5

Fear of going to Hell is the wrong reason as well as weak.
You should become a Christian because you're sorry, broken, and repentant about sinning against a Holy God.

Answer 6

Yes. Most people are going to Hell. The fear of it is the beginning of a relationship, but a bad reason to be Christian. People should have a healthy fear of God. People will be given the chance to find Jesus. If they reject Him, they have no excuse.

Answer 7

Well if a person never hears of Jesus, Christians know God would allow but if they just plain deny him..Thats a whole different story.

With so many too choose from...God does help you choose...There are plenty of Biblical scholars and Historians who have actually read the bible as well as many different scriptures found that have nothing to do with Christianity, That has overwhelming truth too the biblical accounts.

Answer 8

If all one desires is "fire insurance," don't you think that the Lord who knows all things is the wiser? He looks upon the heart every second of every day and He knows who truly is His child and who is not. It does not matter what reason you had to first say yes to Jesus. But everything you say and do after that point of confession matters to God. Yes. There are many religions, but only one way.....Jesus Christ
( John14:6 ). Stay away from religions and follow God's Word alone.

Answer 9

Before 9/11 happened, I was taking steps to convert to Islam. In Islam any claim of any deity or words have to be backed up with proof, otherwise claims are dismissed as rubbish.

Then 9/11 happened and the sick underbelly of the culture that has sprung up around islam (notice lower case to distinguish between what people practice versus the book) showed its rotten self.

Answer 10

In the realm of moral reasoning, fear of punishment is considered the least mature fashion of ethical decision making.

It is followed by hope of reward, belief in governmental law and order, the decision that peace in the community is a good thing, and finally a willingness to break an immoral law and accept punishment in order to try to get that law changed.

Answer 11

Fear of hell is the weakest reason. Yet they think their god won't know they are just believing for that promised "get out of hell free" card.