I hear people say this a lot and I'm getting kind of sick of having others tell me what I believe and why I believe it. So speak up Christians: how many of you believe just because you're afraid of eternal punishment?
2007-10-24 03:53:38 · 38 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Glitter Girl, Satan, et al: thanks for proving my point. Really, I don't go around saying why you think the way you do, so kindly back off.
tawaen: no it wasn't anything you said, you're one of the good ones.
2007-10-24 04:11:25 · update #1
i don't even believe in eternal punishment
i believe b/c i've come to my own conclusions based on how i've experienced the world and the people in it, it's based on my feeling of love that I know did not come from pond scum
2007-10-24 03:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Hope 4 · 5⤊ 3⤋
I got saved by hearing about hell, etc and realizing that I was seperated from God by Sin, then figured out Jesus's role in it with relation to "me". After that, I quit being afraid, realized what's important, and then researched every doubt I had, and came to a comfortable acceptance of my faith's truths. Now, I believe it because I wrote down every doubt I had, did a few years of research, and came to truth. Living in faith is easier now because I've explored the doubts I had, and although I still have some questions, they are not earth shattering or doctrinal in nature.
It's like buying a computer, and not having to KNOW what each transister does, or about the language that computers use. It's enough for me that it works, and it's real.
2007-10-24 04:23:22 · answer #2 · answered by Zipperhead 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was raised in a church that taught fear (baptist) from the pulpit every Sunday.
I joined a church that did not like to talk about hell or damnation because talking about the Love of Heavenly Father was much more important.
I am on my own path now to find my own truth. I do believe that God is a loving father not a punishing master.
2007-10-24 12:07:46 · answer #3 · answered by Cinthia Round house kicking VT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure eternal punishment even became an issue for me until well after the fact. It was other things that drew me to know God. As it stands now, I have a healthy concern for eternal punishment.
2007-10-24 04:09:04 · answer #4 · answered by . 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I do not believe because of fear of eternal punishment, but because of the love of the Eternal God for me.
2007-10-24 04:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I actually don't believe in hell or any eternal punishment - pretty much rules out fear as a reason for believing.
2007-10-24 05:10:03 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm at the instant an atheist; letting circulate of the Judeo-Christian God substitute into very not elementary for me by way of fact I possessed a definite concern of hell. in step with that, i could say that there is a minimum of a few definitive degree of concern that fuels the non secular ideals of many Christians.
2016-10-04 11:58:50 · answer #7 · answered by persinger 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believing in order to save your own behind is selfish and egotistical, which is the antithesis of loving God and my neighbor. Matthew 25:31-46 says that those who view God as fire insurance will be sorely disappointed while those who genuinely love others even without factually correct beliefs (which no one has, I guarantee) will be pleasantly surprised....
2007-10-24 04:01:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe God loves me.. there is no fear involved.
A faith based on fear isn't faith.
When they talk about the gift 'fear of the Lord' it means our awe and reverance of God, not fear in the modern sense of the word.
If anyone converted out of fear from one of those type of preachers; there fear wears off after a time, and they just go back to being what they were.
2007-10-24 03:59:53 · answer #9 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That is up to you, no one can tell you what to believe or not, but people will tell you, or witness about the good news to you, it will be your fait, it will be where you go, people are only trying to help you, and we should not get mad because someone cares enough about us to tell us about The Lord, what if no one ever told you, and you never had the choice of Heaven or the other place, now that would be something to be mad about.
2007-10-24 03:58:34 · answer #10 · answered by Lynn C 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
(((Rach)))
Lol, I think I've only said that about the fire & brimstone preachers. Apparently they think threats of punishment are the most important message they need to get across about their religion.
I don't mean it about you and the others who preach kindness and tolerance. I know you guys believe because of personal experience and love. That's what you're trying to share with the world.
Sorry if I said it recently and offended you.
2007-10-24 03:59:37 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋