morality vs. religion?

Question

if your a good person, not perfect, but just nice in every way, hardworking, caring, do you believe you would go to hell if you are not saved, where as, a convicted killer on death row finds jesus and truly believes, does he go to heaven? Why is one more deserving than the other?

Answer 1

I believe it doesn't matter. First off I'm not christian second off I think it'd be a hell of a thing if someone like Oscar Schindler, Mahatma Ghandi, JP Morgan or Bill Gates was not admitted to "heaven" because they didn't worship a certain specific god. In all honesty I'd rather be proud of my accomplishments in this life and not worry about asking for forgiveness. How can people who feel guilty enough about something they did, truly feel forgiven, when they feel the need to ask for forgiveness?

Many people say that if you ask for forgiveness you shall be forgiven. In the spirit of religion yes, you may be forgiven, but you will still know what you did was wrong and have to live with it. Because you were forgiven does not mean you forgot about it.

I think it's ironic that you bring up a convicted killer on death row asking for forgiveness. It's ironic because they probably didn't give a damn about religion or forgiveness when they brutally murdered someone but when something's about to be taken from them they are bible thumping to a "T".

In our society today I feel the "religion" that is being talked about it an exploited, misinterpreted, half-bred, evil, step child of what any "prophet" might have intended it to be.

People are selfish, violent, territorial beings who use religion for their own purpose when it suits them; when it doesn't they ignore it.

My religion is treating others how I want to be treated, I give respect when respect is due, and I always give someone the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. In some cases they prove me wrong quite quickly.

Answer 2

Just because you're a good person and does everything right don't make go to heaven. Its the heart of a man that makes a difference. For example: the holly wood stars have all this money and they give to the poor and do things to to be seen but it there heart not after god their reward is hell. So the answer is no, because God delights in a broken and contrite heart. With that being said, when you repent and follow after God whole heartily than this can keep you out of hell...A convicted killer on death row who repented of his sins and truly believes does goes to heaven. Is not about is you this person worthy than him to go to heaven because we all not worthy but because he died for us we all have a chance to get it right. God is a forgiving God no matter what your pass. Look at what the people did to Jesus and yet he forgave, and look at the thieves on the cross but yet he forgave...So many examples..we all have a chance to reign with God but we must first yield to HIM totally.

tougie

Answer 3

The final judge is God, of course, but understanding what God has said, there is ONE way to heaven, and that is Jesus Christ (i.e., salvation through Christ).

No one person is more deserving of heaven than another.

While they are alive, BOTH the "good" person and the murderer are sinners, and therefore deserving of hell. ("For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"). There is no "sliding scale" of sin, so to speak. Murder is no more or less serious than rejection of God (even if that were the ONLY sin the "good" person ever commited, which isn't possible).

If the murderer TRULY repents (and God knows this because He sees the true intentions of the heart) then yes, he could go to heaven while the "good" person who continually rejects God could go to hell. Just as neither was more deserving of hell, the blood of Christ makes them both equally capable of heaven, all sin being equal and Jesus having died for all sinners.

Answer 4

It's about the heart, not what you do.
It's not fair to judge by "how good of a person" you are according to the standards of society and morality, bc we don't all start on the same footing.

Human beings judge each other by their external actions. God judges them by their moral choices.
When a man who has been perverted from his youth and taught that cruelty is the right thing, does some tiny little kindness, or refrains from some cruelty he might have committed and thereby, perhaps, risks being sneered at by his companions, he may, in God’s eyes, be doing more than you and I would do if we gave up life itself for a friend.
It is well to put this the other way round.
Some of us who seem quite nice people may, in fact, have made so little use of a good heredity and a good upbringing that we are really worse than those whom we regard as fiends. Can we be quite certain how we should have behaved if we had been saddled with the psychological outfit, and then with the bad upbringing and then with the power say, of Himmler? That is why Christians are told not to judge. We see only the results which a man’s choices make out of his raw material. But God does not judge him on what he is given at all, but on what he has done with it. Most of the man’s psychological make-up is probably due to his body. When his body dies all that will fall off him, and the real central man, the thing that chose, that made the best or worst out of his material will stand naked.
All sorts of nice things which we thought our own, but which were really due to a good digestion, will fall off some of us: all sorts of nasty things which were due to complexes or bad health will fall off others. We shall then see, for the first time, see everyone as he really was. There will be surprises.

With grace and forgiveness, it takes into account an important choice that everyone can make: to live with God or without him. Hell isn't a punishment, it's a choice. It's the lack of the presence of God. If you don't want God in your life, refuse to seek him out, and just plain don't like him in your heart, he's not going to force you to go to heaven to be with him is he? It's about being able to set aside your pride and open your heart. The thing is, we all have done crummy things, and even when they are REALLY crummy, we have excuses, reasoning, and other rationalizations to justify it. Everyone thinks he's good enough to get in. Where would we draw the line?

Grace is great, bc it gives everyone an equal shot. The truly evil person will be so filled with pride that they won't accept the gift, like Hitler. Why do you hate the idea of forgiveness and someone dead coming to life and changing their actions and thoughts? Christianity is the only religion that offers unconditional love and acceptance. It's all we've got that's different. If you think you can handle it and be perfect, knock yourself out. You won't last 15 minutes (I've tried).

I kinda think that a lot murderers on death row are either mentally ill, underpriviledged, have anger problems, are emotionally broken, came from terrible homes, have been abused, or something like that. There is always some reason they are there along with the choice. Have some compassion. I hope they all make it (althought I'm pretty sure they won't).

Answer 5

With God everything is possible, and no one is beyond change if they choose to follow Jesus Christ; Paul is a great example of what you are talking about.
Acts 8: 1 to 3; 9: 1 and 2
Acts 26: 9 to 11
Corinthians 15: 9 and 10
Galatians 1: 13 and 14
Philippians 3: 6

Can you tell me what sin Christ did not die for?
Further read;
Matthew chapter 7, verse 1 to 5 -and verses 21 to 23 and chapter 20.

Answer 6

Interesting question, and of course, the Catholic church doesnt believe that if youre not Catholic, you go to hell. And if a convicted killer found Jesus at the last second, yes he would be saved according to the new testament and the Catholic Catechism. But really, im not saying you can get out church just because youre good. Having God in youre life is rewarding and makes many happy. You should try it, but if you don't think its for you, I'm not condemning you. But really, im not sure what happens if youre just a good person and dont go to church. I dont personally believe youd go to hell, but hey, thats God's business. And if you're so worried about it, why not just join the church? who knows, maybe you'll find its for you.

Anyway, i dont know, im not God

Answer 7

Look, Andrew M. salvation is not morality. Anyone can be
moral. It's by the grace of God we are saved not by works,
not of ourselves. Yes, a moral nice person who dies without
Christ is in hell for eternity. A murdered can go to heaven ie.,
King David, Moses, Paul/Saul. So, what your point? It's not
a matter of deserving. It's a matter of YOUR free will to believe
by faith.

Answer 8

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." James 2:10

Sins are not ranked in order from bad to worst...sin is sin and all are guilty of it. We cannot save ourselves, it is only by God's kindess that we can have any hope.

Answer 9

Because religion is a club - you play by the clubs rules, you believe what you are told to believe, you get "air miles". So to be saved by religion X, all you need do is believe the earth is flat or the earth is made of green cheese, or you should murder anyone who breaks the morality "rules" that your religion advocates.

I recommend being a virtuous person & letting salvation take care of itself.

Answer 10

Yep - that's pretty much the definition of "salvation". Sorry if it doesn't meet with your infinite divine approval.

But then again - you're not God now, are you.