Why would God damn me to hell?

Question

I read the Bible.

In my younger days, I went to Church and youth groups and volunteered for Church-based causes.

I don't believe. I never have. Not even as a small child. Not even in my weakest or strongest moments. Not in the slightest.

It is not, and never was, a 'choice' for me to accept Jesus as my personal savior. I didn't decide 'hey, I'm going to not believe in God now.' I just don't.

If God didn't give me a choice, then why would he damn me to hell?

Or was the choice provided to me just to provide lip service and tell people 'Yes, I believe'?

bahamamama81007 - You understand my question, but not what it asks.

Christians say atheists go to hell because they choose not to believe. I am stating plainly I am 100% without faith, but it isn't a choice.

The underlying question is simply 'Is your religion wrong, or just petty?'

Beta_Fishy -

Are you telling me you CHOOSE to believe in God? You decided just on a random day?
'Yep, I'm going to do believe now! Praise Jesus!'

Would it stand to reason, then, that it would be just as easy for you to decide not to believe at an equally random point in your future?

'I'm done with that now! Christians are dumb!'

Answer 1

Your question reflects a Presbyterian theology. (That is, that each of us is pre-ordained to heaven or hell). as well as some fundamentalist thinking, (that one must accept Jesus as a personal savior, or be damned).

There is an alternate view, contrary to both, One which says that we are creatures who are both sinful and saintly. And that God loves us even as we "miss the mark" of sainthood, so much that he himself not only died on the cross, but rose from the death, in order to give us the hope of resurrection.

A quick response to anyone who tells you that you are condemned to hell, is to say, "Unless you are God, that is not your call."

Answer 2

Well, why are you worried about it if you don't believe any of this? The thing is, the Bible says a couple of things about you in particular:

"since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Now that means you have all the choice in the world. If you don't believe, and you face God and tell Him so, He'll ask "why not?" since you've had every opportunity to answer this very important and eternally significant question of His existence. Have you sought Him, trying to understand what He's revealed about Himself? Observation of the world should inform you that it didn't all come from nowhere, so you're off and running. If you never seek God, you will never find God, though he is there, and you are totally guilty for not caring. But if you do change your course, and begin to pursue God, you will find Him, and it will benefit you not only for eternity, but this life as well. It's also a very expensive gamble to ignore God.

Answer 3

No, of route not. habit is a go, a crucifixion in case you'll. The upside is a lesson in humility, the draw back is the continual conflict. God gained't opt for for you, you should. in case you opt for adverse to the compulsion at any given time, God may help you contained in the wrestle. in case you fail, it truly is okay, one ought to nevertheless proceed the conflict. ultimately the compulsion to, lessens..loses its skill; it remains there yet not as overwhelming. In mild of another varieties of human crucifixion, this one even with the very undeniable reality that fairly confusing, is achieveable. (devil is the actual enemy the following..habit/obsession is basically his device..understand the enemy, thereby compelling the understanding gained of the intentioned objective of habit..it truly is 2 sided, a go or an eventual defeat, by no skill supply up). God bless.

Answer 4

Psalms 14:1 says that a fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Before I would call you a fool, I recommend that you get on your knees and ask God to reveal Himself to you. Then spend some time in nature and just ask how this came into being. Then remember that due to our sinful nature we can not stand before God. But He provided a sacrifice to cover our sins. That sacrifice was Jesus. Without that forgiveness hell is the only future to look forward to.

Answer 5

Christianity is not the only religion. Have you considered other religions? Just because the teachings of Christianity doesn't make sense to you, doesn't mean that you have rejected The Creator! It is your rejection of The Creator, Himself that condemns you to Hell. You haven't rejected him. It sounds like you are rejecting Christianity- not The Creator. Don't be so hard on yourself. The answer is out there, but it doesn't mean that it is in Christianity.

I have a friend who is now Muslim -but she was raised as a Christian. The Christian beliefs, didn't make sense to her. So, she look into other religions- until she decided that it is Islam which makes sense to her.

Again, don't be so hard on yourself! Rejection of Christianity is NOT rejection of The Creator. Look into other religions and choose the one which makes sense to you.

Answer 6

You are working from the premise that God will or does condemn you for not "believing."

But in a sense, people condemn themselves, seeing as they are given the choice to repent or not.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

You obviously need a reason to believe; or not believe. Why don't you read through Acts and keep in mind what is preached as the gospel. Then perhaps you will start to comprehend the issue.

.

Answer 7

God wouldn't most likely but other humans most certainly would unfortunately.

I have read the Bible, too . . . the passages about hell are few and far between, and often fairly vague at that. But there are a lot of vengeful, hateful people out there that have done their best to make the most of them.

Answer 8

our lord god says believe in me and you will b e saved god so loved the world he gave his so we can be saved so yes you will go to hell if you are not saved or believe and to others i say god is very real if you dont believe why you running good religous people down but our lord says forgive our enimies and turn the other cheek you dont have to be on this page plenty of other answers

Answer 9

God has given you a choice and He still does.
You can choose Heaven or Hell.
You must choose Heaven.
If you do not choose Heaven, you've chosen Hell.
God will abide by your choice and give you what you want.
He will not force you to spend eternity in Heaven with Him if you want nothing to do with Him in this temporary life.
That would not be an act of love.

Answer 10

You don't believe because you choose not to. Belief is a leap of faith, you choose to accept the Bible as fact and ask Christ into your heart. The choice has been provided to you many times, it sounds like. If you have read the Bible, attended various church services, and have worked for His purpose, then He has called you many times and given you many opportunities to accept Him as Savior and Lord. You have chosen not too and are, therefor, worthy of hell. You are worthy of hell because you have sin in your life and no way to "cover" it or get rid of it. It is there and will always be there, THAT is what gets you into hell.