would you believe in god if hell didn't exist? if there was no consequence, would there be any point to believe? that's why christianity sounds made up to me. it sounds like belief out of fear.
2007-09-14 12:19:38 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
why would i believe in hell just because the bible and jesus say it's real? if i'm asking a question like this i obviously don't believe the bible...
2007-09-14 12:36:11 · update #1
hell is a mistranslation of sheol, hades, and tartarus.
And even when these words are translate correctly there is a misconception of what these are.
People follow God Almighty because they have love in their heart and this is God.
2007-09-14 12:41:41 · answer #1 · answered by cordsoforion 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I did not become a Christian because I was afraid of going to hell. For as long as I can remember I believed in God's existence. When I was 19 yrs old I walked to the alter and accepted the love and grace of Jesus. From that moment on I have had faith because I actually felt the Lord's presence, nothing in my life has been as wonderful as that. Fear does not enter into walking with the Lord.
2007-09-14 20:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by Joann N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I DO believe in God and hell DOES exist. So your question is moot.
As for Christianity being "made up," I guess you'll find out eventually, I pray it won't be too late.
Please think about Jesus and the fact that He died for YOU because He loved you so much, He wanted to save you from having to find out about hell first hand.
Jesus loves you!
2007-09-14 19:29:59 · answer #3 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
On the contrary, does it not rather show the sinfulness of man?
That he won't love His loving Creator Who gives him all, when there is no threat or danger,
and who still won't love Him when there is the worst of threats.
It rather shows the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
Surely no one in their right mind hates a loving, benevolent Provider?
Even on earth it is considered punishable to hate your loving parents who sacrifice all for your well being and good.
Clearly man is not in his right mind and it is sin that has dispossessed him.
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
When once you become convicted of your sin then the truth will become immediately obvious. Desperately so.
But how is that to happen?
If there were no reality of Hell then why would Christ need to die? That is absurd.
Are you charging God with foolishness? That He somehow doesn't know what He is doing? That the death and punishment of Jesus Christ to take the punishment of Hell in His Infinite Nature on our behalf was somehow unnecessary?
If that is what you really think then clearly, you, are not in your right mind.
God could have left you to go to that inevitable consequence.
Even in human courts breaches of the law are punished. Criminals are not just let off. But out of His love He chose to accomplish the only way of delivering you by taking the deserved punishment for you. Your sin made it necessary for Him to suffer it's consequences instead of you, in order to deliver you.
Only the glory of God could reach to such extreme and supreme heights.
Yet you think to despite that and make little of such intense, infinite sufferings?
What does that make you?
Surely the extreme opposite of the glory of God?
Can you not see that Justice demands that such an attitude rightly deserves the punishment that was so necessarily suffered for your deliverance?
I sincerely hope you do see it rather than suffer it.
2007-09-14 19:59:52 · answer #4 · answered by Ernest S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have two points to make.
1. hell DOES exist. the Bible says that in many places, even if the descriptions of hell are taken metaphorically.
2. for me, my belief in God isn't to "reap the benifits". my belief is because i know He is real, and i follow Him because of His love for me, both by dieing on the cross and what He does to help me through everyday.
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In terms of equating the concept of hell to God's nature...
Remember the Old Testement?
God is just and righteous.
Jesus covered the sins of those who will believe in Him and follow Him, so, if you're not "covered" as such, then in God's eyes you are sinful and must be punished.
I've heard it compared to our justice system.
Is a judge going to let a person not go to jail for murder if he can plainly see that they killed someone? Just because he loves the person? No, he's not allowed.
2007-09-14 19:26:39 · answer #5 · answered by emi_sausage 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
My definition of hell is anything that takes away your peace and your connection to your God. When you can not look into the mirror and like what you see. That is hell.
2007-09-15 02:31:10 · answer #6 · answered by booper 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you are a lazy a**. Even with no hell there are heights to work toward. Imagine reaching such a height as to be able to cure the sick through the purity of your spirit.
2007-09-14 19:32:31 · answer #7 · answered by mecasa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't believe in god then there can be no hell,both are great stories of fiction
2007-09-14 19:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by stones 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
but it is real.
but so is God's love.
it's so much easier with God.
not so much your trials and stuff, but it's a whole heck of a lot easier than going at it alone.
I've tried both.
plus hell doesn't sound so enticing.
i don't even like Arizona.
blessings.
2007-09-14 19:26:22 · answer #9 · answered by danielle:) 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe in a more "unitarian" approach and I don't believe in hell as a fiery pit of eternal torture. Personally I can't reconcile the concept of eternal torture and the nature of Christ. It just doesn't work.
2007-09-14 19:24:33 · answer #10 · answered by ◦Delylah◦ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋