surely a loving father will forgive people for not believing in Him? After all not believing in Him would only be a mistake.
When we actually saw Him on the day of Judgement couldn't we then say.
"Gosh, you did exist! Sorry about that. I did try and be good though anyway."
2007-09-26 00:59:57 · 20 answers · asked by DavinaOpines 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's that "loving father" part I have trouble with for a variety of reasons. First, my own human father was not the sort of loving any child would want. When I was young, he was a bully. As I got older, he tried to get seductive. When I told him I'd kill him if he didn't leave me alone, he turned to my sister. (I didn't learn this until much later.)
Second, what "loving" God would create a hell in the first place?
Third, what "loving" God would make hell a permanent thing? Why the all-or-nothing approach?
Fourth, I simply find I do not have, nor do I want, faith that God exists at all. Faith, as my Methodist Sunday school teacher mother (remember to whom she was married) told me, is belief in the absence of evidence, or even in the face of evidence to the contrary. I never could do that. It seemed like a dangerous denial of reason and rationality.
So if I die and find there is a loving God, I will say, "You know, you're not a bit like they told me you were. I'm so glad."
2007-09-26 01:10:51 · answer #1 · answered by auntb93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One would hope so, but the Bible is very specific about the fact that God is: vengeful, wrathful, jealous and will show mercy only if He darn well feels like it. In other words He's not as nice of a God as everybody tries to make Him out to be. Hence the fact that He created a fiery torture chamber for those who have the gall to not believe in something that sounds like hogwash.
Also, I want to comment on Stephen's answer:
Dude, this particular question is not about Pascal's Wager. It sounds to me like you've had one too many "drinks" already, so please stop trying to find a reason to take another one!
2007-09-26 08:21:36 · answer #2 · answered by Tea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF God let you in because you pleaded with him he would have to let in Hitler (im sure his mom thought he was a good little boy), Mussolini, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein and many others. God will not break his laws or he would be a sinner. If those were let in how could it be heaven? God made the way to heaven free, and easy. If you reject his son you by default choose hell. But the choice is yours. Your still breathing adn have a chance. Rom 10:9-10
2007-09-26 08:14:33 · answer #3 · answered by jesussaves 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is impossible to answer such a question in full here but you presuppose by your question that of ourselves we are good, only God is good because of His nature and we cannot know goodness without knowing Him first.
All good ,all love come from the author (God) and we participate in these attributes of God through grace, now if you do not know God or believe in Him how can you then shrug your shoulders and smile glibly on the last day and say well I didn`t know, that would be tantamount to an adult acting with the immature sense of a 4yr old.
2007-09-26 08:10:14 · answer #4 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Acts 17:29-31 (Young's Literal Translation)
29`Being, therefore, offspring of God, we ought not to think the Godhead to be like to gold, or silver, or stone, graving of art and device of man;
30the times, indeed, therefore, of the ignorance God having overlooked, doth now command all men everywhere to reform, (repent...change directions)
31because He did set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom He did ordain, having given assurance to all, having raised him out of the dead.'
Be honest, is there really anyone in the civilized world who has not heard of Jesus, and had the opportunity to repent?
2007-09-26 09:08:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greetings,
you do good all your life and come back to him,thats what God wants.But one thing you can`t do good without praying,to the father who actually is the real source of life.Somewhere in one`s life,there comes a time when you know that,You cannot help yourself neither anyone can,Except the father. You Pray with a true heart accepting Jesus in your life and asking Gods will to be done in your life.Read the Bible everyday and rejoice in the name of the Lord.
Peace Be With you.
2007-09-26 08:15:44 · answer #6 · answered by Nick Carter 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God created the world and all creatures in it. He made the rules that go along with it. He gave us free will so that we would not feel like slaves. His rules say that the ONLY way to heaven is through Jesus Christ. We must ask Him to be our Lord and Savior. Not to do so will lead to a life of eternal damnation in hell. It does not matter if you are a nice person. It does not matter if you do good things for others. It does not matter what arguments you make. God made the rules and He does not bend them to accommodate you and your wishes.
Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and need forgiveness. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins, according to the Scriptures, and I thank you for raising Him from the dead. Today I ask Him to come into my heart to cleanse me from my sin and become my Lord and Savior. I give myself to you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
2007-09-26 08:36:53 · answer #7 · answered by D.A. S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Depart from me...I never knew you either..." He'll say. Only there won't be any hell. Just destruction. The Bible doesn't support the common misconception of an eternal torturing of lost souls in a flaming pit of fire and brimstone. Those that don't belong to God will simply be consumed and destroyed along with all of everything that is not of God...Death, suffering, hatred, wickedness and sin. Oh and Hell will be destroyed too...which if translated correctly from the Hebrew "sheol" actually means grave or literally "to be covered over". Separation from God means no life. It is through Him that we live, move and have our being. Without Him we are nothing. With Him we are and can be all He created us to be as His children. That is the choice we are making here. Many people choose hell as far as they understand it but even so they don't fully believe in it...or they wouldn't brag about going....however, hell is simply the grave or death. We don't each have our own individual souls that linger about drifting or floating here and there. God is the only immortal Spirit that He shares with each "soul" (individual being) as the breath of life. The more you have of the Holy Spirit the more alive you are...the less you have...the deader. On that last day when all are raised to Judgement then it will be decided who stays or who goes according to the book of life....I pray your name is in it my friend. Love in Christ, ~J~
2007-09-26 08:09:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The point is is that God is righteous and just and he has to punish sin somehow. Hell wasn't created for mankind, it was created for Satan and his angels. But man decided to disobey God and became fallen as well.
God has ALWAYS provided a way for us to know Him. There isn't an excuse for unbelief.
Being "good" doesn't get you to heaven. God sets a standard of righteousness, and there isn't anyone, save Christ, who has met that mark.
2007-09-26 08:06:14 · answer #9 · answered by not too creative 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd choose hell if people like a certain person I will not name bashes all the non believers that don't agree with her.
2007-09-26 08:07:05 · answer #10 · answered by Lynnemarie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋