Why would God want us to come to him becasue of fear of eternal suffering? I seek religion for inner peace. Does that make me selfish? I feel like every answer, when it comes to religion, just creates more questions. End the maddness!!!
2007-11-19 09:57:36 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
Christianity is a love-based religion.
There are basically six levels of spiritual maturity:
+ Information (lowest)
+ Knowledge
+ Intelligence
+ Understanding
+ Wisdom
+ Transformation (highest)
Some Christians never progress past the legalism of the stages of Information and Knowledge. A few of these Christians may live in the fear of hell.
Many others progress much further. Most of these Christians have no fear of hell and eagerly look forward to heaven.
As Paul encourages in Hebrews 6:1, "Therefore, let us leave behind the basic teaching about Christ and advance to maturity."
With love in Christ.
2007-11-19 10:06:02 · answer #1 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's more like explaining the stark reality of the truth can be fearful sometimes. It's akin to explaining what will happen if you fall off of a fifty-foot cliff and then hit the ground, and that causing fear in people. Some people would just shrug and say "I'll simply avoid the cliff then." Others would say "I've been scared away from cliffs forever!" There are just as many who pursue Christianity for the inner peace of knowing that Jesus is in control and has given Himself for us, that our sins are redeemed and we have an eternal resting place. I find an immense amount of peace whenever I'm struggling or frustrated or having difficulty in life to remember "Hey, this is tough, but it's not forever. Forever is with Jesus, so this is just a temporary tough spot on the way."
2007-11-19 10:03:51 · answer #2 · answered by gumbledim 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is No fear, in LOVE. God IS LOVE.
However, if we're in it, just for the sole purpose of what WE can get out of it, you can forget it.
Because....that is not of God. It is purely self serving and self seeking, and making it into a form of idolartry.
God does not decieve. man does.
God is true in every way. man is Not.
We are all dying creatures. God is Eternal.
Why was man created in the first place? because God created this earth and mankind, so as this earth and all that is in it, and mankind, would reflect HIS Glory....but, man sinned, he fell from grace, and the curse was, he would have to work hard for his food, the ground would grow thorns and thistles, and he would die and return to the dust again, yet, God made a promise about His Son, Jesus, who would crush deaths power over man, BUT on certain conditions, could mankind be saved. And that is Gods plan of redemption. For example....cain, gave to God what HE saw fit, he thought it was good enough for God, and wanted to jazz things up a bit, get a bit modern, just like the majority of people think is good enough for God today.
Able, his brother was a humble person, and gave to God what he KNEW God wanted. And THERE, we have the difference. Cain was jealous, threw a tamtrum like a spoilt child and decided the world would be a better place without Able around, who was humble, obedient and accepted in the eyes of God. And its been the same ever since, hasn't it?
We often want to do things OUR way, in our OWN time, and we often want to only give what we see fit, to a gracious Loving, Heavenly Father, who created this world, that man might be happy, peaceful, joyful, before Him, and give to Him the honour, respect and love He so richly deserves. So....who's right? God or man? There is NO darkness in God, at all, for where there is light, there is no darkness.
2007-11-19 10:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course not. Christianity doesn't do such a thing.
Religious leaders ARE the ones using fear to intice people to become Christians, not the religion itself.
2007-11-19 10:11:32 · answer #4 · answered by David G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me, as a Catholic, being a Christian is MUCH MORE than obtaining a "Get Out Of Hell Free" card. It is much more than answering the simplistic question: "Are you saved".
It means two words: "Divine Sonship". God is a Father who is Fathering a family, and He wants you and I to sit at His table and be a partaker in the Divine Nature. It means having God as your Father, Mary as your mother, and all the family of God - in heaven and on earth - as your sisters and brothers. It means love, patience, and charity.
I cringe when someone asks me "Are you saved". I feel they have missed the most beautiful part of the good news, that we have been called to be sons and daughters of God.
This is what salvation means to me
2007-11-19 10:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't fear that "drove" me to the cross... it was intense humility that I knew I could not save myself no matter how many good works I did... and it was an intense gratitude towards Jesus because I knew He heard my prayer. In Jesus there is inner peace... seek a relationship with Him, not a religion.
2007-11-19 10:03:26 · answer #6 · answered by Blessed 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I was a little girl (they start indoctrinating em young) I was told that I could either accept Jesus or burn in a fiery pit for all eternity after I die.
Which one was a four year old gonna choose? Come on now...
2007-11-19 11:07:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
See that's the thing, you're afterlife is a lot.......... more important, we'll say, than this life. So, fear is used to bring inner peace... it motivates you to want to have a better afterlife.
At least that's the idea.
2007-11-19 10:02:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general, as people mature and think for themselves, they realize that their beliefs do not necessitate the "fear of God" associated with many teachings. Religion is a personal experience. It makes no one selfish to not "fear" God.
2007-11-19 10:02:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
When somebody says, "You got two choices" then says what the choices are. You will most likely choose the one that suits you best cause the other one is most likely the one that you don't wanna do. There you have it, so the rest is up to you.
2007-11-19 10:54:37 · answer #10 · answered by oldschoolelf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋