I was told by a preacher/reverand that...?

Question

I was told that no matter how good of person you are in this life, you could save millions of peoples lives, cause world peace, etc , if you don't "accept" god as lord you will go to hell automatically, and because he told me that : When I go to heaven's gates They will say I knew I should have accepted because one of his followers told me... so I go to hell....


Doesn't this sound flawed? And If that was true, why wouldn't he just "not" tell me?

Answer 1

The fact is, no one can get to Heaven by doing good works. If that were possible, then Christ's atoning death on the cross would not have been necessary.

Answer 2

Flawed? Maybe. Or maybe it's merciful. I couldn't possibly love a murderer as much as God loves them, even if they repented. On the other hand, I couldn't possibly punish someone who lived the kind of life you described. But which is more merciful? Loving the person that couldn't be loved by any of us here...or loving the person that EVERYONE on Earth would love and admire? I would say the former.

And even if the pastor didn't tell you that, if you've heard that there MIGHT be a God, and you've heard about the Bible, then you've been given the chance to reject it. And I'm afraid that if it's all true, then yes, the pastor told you the truth. We are ALL offered a place in heaven...until we reject it. That's what I believe, anyway.

Answer 3

And one of his follwers did tell you. So now you know.

Im not saying that helping people is a bad thing, Its amazing and Its so good to know that there are such wonderful people in the World. But if one doesnt believe in God, and doesnt help others out of love for God, then its empty and in vain. You have to accept the Lord into your heart and grown with him everyday in order to go to heaven. Its not just about good works, and its not just about accepting him. Its a combination of both. By growing with the Lord, your honoring him and doing his works. He can change your life if you just give him a chance.

Answer 4

Yes, according to the bible you must believe in God, believe that Jesus is his only begotten son and accept him with all your heart and soul and you shall be saved. No matter how good or great you are in this world, you must be saved. If you will read the first four books of the new testament and the book of Romans it will tell you more than any one person could ever tell you on how to be saved and to know that you are saved. Good luck and God bless you.

Answer 5

This approach to Christianity is deeply worrying, because if it were indeed true, then it would also follow that if I person accepts Jesus as Lord, they can do what they like and still go to heaven.

I'm afraid that there are people who do believe this.
Central to Christianity is Love, and to control people by fear is contrary to Love. It is a shame that this mentality persists among so many Christians. Any claim that the good a person does is of no value, flies in the face of reason, and also contradicts the Bible (Matthew Ch 7):
15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

A tree bearing fruit is a metaphor for works, and it is clear that good works are essential. In fact it is clear from this that a person not doing good works is to cut down and thrown into the fire. And if a bad person cannot produce good works, and a good person cannot produce bad work, then the preachers claim falls down. Also verse 12 is apt:
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Do good and go to hell?!!!! Who do these people think they are, that they can judge who is to be saved.

21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

I recommend Jesus' teaching in Matthew Chapter 7 to all who think like this preacher.

Answer 6

James 4 says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed."

1 John 4:18 says: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Romans 2:7, 8 shows that it is necessary to avoid being self-seeking so as to show yourself willing for God's rewards. "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."

Love is not self-seeking. This is a big ask or a switch intellectually in a world that seeks to encourage people to set goals, especially in regards to business and careers. 1 Corinthians 13. Actually the words translated "self-seeking" in the Romans 2 passage are different from that used in 1 Corinthians 13. In Romans 2, it's "ek eritheia" - "out of electioneering or intriguing for office, a desire to put one's self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts, partisanship, fractiousness." It is elsewhere translated "strife." Colossians 2:14 specifically warns against complaining and arguing. Christians are not gods, but we are the light of the world. This means seeking the interests of others before our own. Philippians 2:4.

Answer 7

This has been argued so much...AAAAGGGGHHHH
Show me a man without good works and ...(look up verse in bible) says the Lord...and yes you do have to believe in God and the fact that he died for our sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Christianity.
There is a religion monkey on my back that says (see if I get this right) a bad thing is done and the person doing it gets mercy and the person it is being done to gets grace from above...I dont think so....so everything is all right

Answer 8

Yes it is flawed. This is the type of questioning that leads many to realize what a scam religion is. It is all about scaring people into following whatever they believe and not about helping people or actually helping people.

If you are a christian, read the book of matthew and you will see how different jesus was from those who claim to be of his religion today. jesus helped everyone and said as you have treated the least among you you have treated me. think about that, if you are good to people in need it is like being good to god.

Answer 9

okay something you have to understand about religion. not all of it is 100 percent accurate, alot of things random people just incorporated it into the religion and all of a sudden it became true. the only things you can really 100 percent trust are jesus's words. and he said that all you have to do is accept him as god and you will go to heaven. i dont see why he would care how you figured out he was god. it sounds like something someone randomly wrote down and it became the truth and it just so happens it conflicts with the realy truth so i would say yes it is flawed

Answer 10

Organized religion is a form of controlling chaos. For some people, just going to jail is not enough for them to do the right thing, others need the threat of going to hell. That's what I think, many people disagree and that's ok with me. I'm an open person and I like to here other peoples opinions. So let them loose!

Answer 11

The preacher is correct . Look up Ephesians 2:8,9...Then John 3:36...If anyone doesn't hear the word of God , then repent of his sins ( ways ) and accept Christ as their personal savior ,They will never even come close to seeing Heaven . Talk to your Pastor about it . If all we had to do is to live a good life to go to heaven ..then why did Jesus suffer so much , shed his blood and die on the cross for then ??