Does the mere fact that God (allegedly) created Hell not scream of hypocracy? For he must have known (based on his infinite wisdom and power) that some of his creation would reject him and thus be thrown into the "pits of fire". And what about the Christian concept of predestination-where he allegedly has already chosen who goes to heaven and who goes to hell? This is contradictory to the idea that God wants everyone to go to heaven.
2007-10-11 04:24:39 · 27 answers · asked by Free Thinker 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because he can't stand to be around sin, so he made Heaven a place where sin was impossible....but then Lucifer and his angels were able to go against God's will and rebel against him...
Oh, wait....
2007-10-11 04:29:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
If God forced ppl to believe in Him, it would not be true worship. There is evil in the world because ppl choose not to do what is right, Christians and atheists alike. He allows it because it is our choice.
Free will allows ppl to choose for themselves, either believe and follow God or ... dont. The consequences are eternal and while I dont want to scare you to salvation, it has been the driving factor through the ages.
The real reason for repentance however should be conviction of your sin. Knowing that you are in the wrong and you want to be in the right. Only then will a sincere asking for forgiveness come into effect. Many ppl fake it but we will know eventually. And God knows already. And He does want everyone to go to heaven, but many will choose not to.
2007-10-11 04:36:21 · answer #2 · answered by itchy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's like asking, if we want everyone to obey the law, why do we build prisons? We'd all like to live in a society free from robbery, rape and mayhem, but some people just want to be criminals. We put them behind bars, but even if we knew in advance that they would be criminals, should we have killed them when they were born so we wouldn't have to bother?
God makes man in his own image. He calls him to live righteously, and man either serves God or He does not. If man has this choice then it makes sense that he is justly condemned to hell if he opposes God. The thing is, salvation is only meaningful if man is capable of choosing. If God just made us all only capable of being good little boys and girls, where would be true allegiance? Even those who oppose God end up serving His purposes because they impact those who do not.
Choseness is understood in different ways. There are those who simply believe that God chooses out of the mass of sinful humanity some to save. Others believe that since Christ is the Chosen One, those who trust in Him are thus chosen. Here again, if you choose Christ, He chooses you. If you choose hell, you get it.
What God wants might be for everyone to go to heaven, but this coincides with HOW He wants them to go there. If a man hates God, doesn't repent, charges God with crime, then that person is not wanted in heaven. If a man recognizes his absolute rebellion and offense before his almighty and holy creator, then he throws himself on the mercy of Christ, and is received with open arms. Everyone is going to hell. God steps in and saves us so we don't have to. God is the good guy here, not your problem.
2007-10-11 04:29:11 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You misunderstand Hell. Hell is not a place of torment that God Created. Hell is a place from which God has withdrawn his presence and love. The absence of God's presence is what makes the place a torment. God can not abide our sins and must trun his back on us unless we are redeemed.
The Hellfire and cantering demons are metaphors for the supreme torment of being denied God's presence and aid. It's the total and complete loss of Home, Justice and Love, all things that God provides.
2007-10-11 04:38:42 · answer #4 · answered by cornswalled 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He had to create Hell as an eternal separation from sin. The Scripture says, "Shall we continue in grace that sin may abound? God forbid!" In other words, though we have grace as a part of our salvation through the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we're still human and "apt to sin" as the Apostle Paul quoted. Therefore, an eternal separation had to become part of the picture for those who live and die in an unrepentant state. Another passage says, "For what communion (relationship) hath light (good) with darkness (evil)? What concord (contract) hath Christ with Belial (sin)?" One way the aforementioned passage can be viewed is that since light and darkness are symbols of good and evil and have been SEPARATED from the very creation of the world, it only stands to reason that an equal and OPPOSITE state must be created for those who separate themselves from Him willingly.
2007-10-11 08:31:44 · answer #5 · answered by bigvol662004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kerry one question regarding the baseball, was it an accident? if my kid hits a baseball through a window on purpose i can see making him pay, it would be the same as an adult getting into a car accident, what's insurance for? back to the question, i believe in God but not in hell, i just cant see an all loving God putting anyone in hell even though most of us deserve it, including myself =)
2007-10-11 04:47:44 · answer #6 · answered by Elizabeth (the jewish princess) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Earth time is here for us to prepare for the next "estate"... Think of this time on Earth in relation to the following analogy...
What if I told you that you would have the opportunity to run a marathon in a couple of years. I give you everything you need in order to prepare; Good food, proper exercise program, strategies, etc. Instead of following my advice, you drink, smoke, eat poorly and don't exercise. When the marathon comes you are not able to make it...
Are you going to blame me for you lack of preparation?
Then why do we blame God when we don't follow His teachings and we end up somewhere other than where He is?
God is a God of law, justice and order. He will not abandon any of them or the entire plan comes crashing to the floor...
As always, something to think about...
2007-10-11 04:35:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, at least you are giving it some thought, albeit you need to give it more thought.
There are going to be the incorrigible. So what do you do with them? Let them run around heaven making it a hell for everyone else?
.
2007-10-11 05:01:55 · answer #8 · answered by Hogie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God does not want everyone to go to heaven.
He wants everyone to be fair to each other and stop hurting each other for fear of hell. (if not for love of goodness)
Basically He wants Justice.
Because He is most Just.
2007-10-11 04:34:50 · answer #9 · answered by Antares 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people prefer hell so out of freewill God created hell
2007-10-11 04:28:53 · answer #10 · answered by Ice 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Obviously, the idea that God wants everyone to go to Heaven is a false concept. God is all knowing and knew who would make it and who wouldn't before He even created them. And He decreed history accordingly. So, whatever happens happens because God decreed it to happen that way via His omniscience.
2007-10-11 04:28:51 · answer #11 · answered by srprimeaux 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋