Each church I speak to teaches Jesus/God/whoever judges sends all non-believers to eternal hell for the 'unforgiveable sin' of rejecting the Holy Spirit (ie. rejecting Jesus).
Is there a non-heretic, mainstream Christian school of thought that teaches hell is not eternal, not as excruciating as Dante's inferno, and that allows non-believers to enter heaven? I'd love to join if there were.
2007-12-02 19:35:35 · 28 answers · asked by grassfell 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
hi,
I have a very specific answer to your question. go to this link.
http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/BibleStudies/StudyGuides/tabid/105/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/453/IID/2-11/LNG/en/SC/R/Default.aspx?7=Is-The-Devil-In-Charge-Of-Hell?
2007-12-02 19:57:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's bedtime, but I would love to respond to this. If you have not selected a best answer and closed the question, I will give a proper response later.
God bless you.
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I'm back.
The thing about hell is that most people have a difficult time reconciling one erroneous thought with another. The process goes something like this:
God is good.
Hell is not good.
Why would a good God, send people to such a bad place?
A good God cannot.
So, either hell is not that bad, having been created by a ggood God, or God is not all that good.
Reasonably sound logic. But it's full of holes and little more substantial than a sheet of wet toilet paper. It can't hold up to the truth.
God is good.
Hell is punishment. People can't really expect to do wrong with wild abandon and get away with it forever, can they?
And that's the point. Wrong and wrongdoers can't get away with their shenanigans forever.
Hell is not meant to be an uncomfortable experience. It is meant to let those who end up there know that wrong choices can't persist forever.
God gave people the easiest out ever, to accept his Son as Lord and Savior. Jesus did all of the dirty work, so humankind wouldn't have to.
Hell is punishment. Punishment for a lifetime of sin, something everyone has done in one form or another. Wrong thoughts, wrong words, wrong actions.
But like misbehavior, people want to filter God's punishment through their ideas of what it should be , and how extreme.
I can see someone worrying about hell, it is not going to be a fun place, after all. But hell is not the point, and therefore should not be the focus.
Because if you accept Christ's gift, hell is no longer a problem for you. It is not in your future.
You wanted a humane explanation of hell. Please look at these examples I gave recently:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmiLwohdJfeDyva1amWqzSjty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071202230511AAc7LST&show=7#profile-info-hmU2udmRaa
God does not want anyone to be punished forever. But the decision to accept Christ is up to the individual.
I hope that the example I gave helps shed some light on the subject of hell.
I hope that you are able to place your faith in the salvation that can be found in Christ alone.
Feel free to email me if you have any other questions.
Hope I helped. God bless you.
2007-12-02 19:42:46 · answer #2 · answered by 1985 & going strong 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This part also puzzles and saddens me. It seems too cruel. Probably it is something we just cannot understand with our limited intelligence. Or perhaps we are not supposed to believe it literally. Some people say separation from God is Hell. Others say Hell is here on Earth, for some people (who are suffering a great deal.) Who hasn't had experiences before that we considered "hellish", they were so horrible and difficult. Yet they were temporary. You ask a very good question. I think there are some churches that don't believe in a literal Hell, and as far as I'm concerned, even if you go to Church, and are a Christian, you don't have to believe everything that is taught completely. And you can change your mind on different topics, as you mature and age. Nothing is set in stone. Sometimes we just have to accept that we don't know, and perhaps never will know (or be certain) of everything. But embrace the good things about Christianity that make you a better person, and try not to think about the terrible things that make you sad. In the end, you are only responsible to God for yourself (and perhaps your children, to an extent). Good luck in your spiritual journey.
2007-12-02 19:47:52 · answer #3 · answered by Char 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The first thing I have to address is the fact that you want to go to heaven, but you do not want to accept Jesus for who He is??? That dosen't quite make sense to me... Everything in your question seems to be a little askew...
I just want to clear up a few things...
1. Hell is eternal.
It is just as eternal as heaven is.
2. The most excruciating thing in hell is the realization of an eternal seperation from Christ as Lord.
One day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. To get to that point and then realize that it is too late and to never get to experience all that God has for you is a tragedy!
3.There is no biblical evidence of a non-believer ever entering heaven.
As a christian there is no way to "fake your way to the top" as one song would say. I would like to share with you my church. I can't just give it to you in a few words, so I'll give you the link to our website and invite you to a service if you happen to bein or ever visit New Jersey. the web site is www.ffmwoc.org I advise you to take advantage of all the information on th site. and please sontact the staff they will be more than willing to receive any question with understanding and love. You will definately have peace in your life. oh, and the address is 2702 Main St., Sayreville NJ 08872 or call them at (732) 727-9500 I hope this has helped, God Bless.
2007-12-02 20:03:39 · answer #4 · answered by Jason S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Whoever told you that Jesus sends all non-believers to Hell is telling you lies.There is no such sin as an "unforgivable sin".That is another lie.Some Christians have Bibles that say rejecting the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin . Their Bibles are corrupt.The only way you can go to hell is by offending God with mortal sin. He does not send you there .You go there because you prefer Satan over God.
2007-12-02 19:56:42 · answer #5 · answered by ROBERT P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No wonder you are scared when each church you visit tells you such a thing!
As one other answer said, this is totally based on misunderstanding the Bible or human thinking.
If you were to pick up a bible a look up the scriptures that the other answerer's gave, you will feel amazed at what you find!
Also think, why in the Bible,did Children willing and happily go up to Jesus and talk with him; surely if he is to fear, a child would not have felt comfortable with him?
You will find so many accounts in the New Testament that show Jesus as a loving shepherd and fine teacher.
Please take heart, there is no fiery torment waiting for you.
Why don`t you take up the offer of one of the other answerer's who is willing to share with you what the Bible really does say!
Best wishes in your search.
2007-12-02 20:03:17 · answer #6 · answered by Suzanne lily of the valley 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
KEEP YOUR CHURCH IN YOUR HEAD AND YOUR TEMPLE IN YOUR HEART. don't join any religion or any orginization telling you what to have faith in. Read what Jesus says, don't listen to what people tell you he said. Be your own pastor. That's what jesus did and he is the truth, the light, and the way. Know you are god, your spirit is god and is eternal and ever filled with the grace of god. Once your cup is full it will spill out onto others. NEVER PREACH, ONLY TEACH. Be the shepherd not the sheep.
And don't fear hell. When the body is gone how can anything bring pain or fear to a soul made of love. God.
2007-12-02 19:50:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't fear Jesus. Jesus came to SAVE you from hell. Not to try to scare you WITH hell. And I think you are mistaken. Any 'christian' school teaching that hell is not eternal, and allows non-believers in (Revelation 21:8 proves this wrong) then that school is heretic. No, you want a school to teach you what you want to hear, even if they tell you bold faced lies. If you were living a true life for Jesus, you would have no reason to fear hell as much as you do. Give your life to God and follow the truth.
2007-12-02 19:42:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why in the world would you be terrified of Jesus? Jesus is someone who is on your side and no matter what you have done in life and no matter what sin you committed, Jesus will forgive of your sins if you truly repent and ask Jesus to be your lord and savior. Some Christians like myself tend to back slide from time to time and have to come to Jesus for forgiveness again. Don't think of Jesus who is someone there to judge you, he is there to save your soul so that you can dwell with him forever and ever.
Hell is enternal, but you do not have to go there. Read the King James version of the Bible and most inportant ask Jesus to be your personal savior and ask him to come into your life and repent of your sins.
2007-12-02 19:53:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing like that fire and brimstone speech is there? Scared the hell out of us when we were young. Don't be scared. Jesus is love. God loves all. They are just trying to scare you to get you to keep coming. You don't have to go to church to love God. He is in your heart. P.S. Don't let the blow hards and long winded idiots scare you either. Some people take this too far and act like they met him in person 2000 years ago. Love who he was and what he tried to teach us to make us better people.
2007-12-02 20:27:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hell is eternal.
Jesus suffered the eternal punishment you deserve because He is the eternal God, dying on a cross in your place.
Now He promises eternal life to all who will repent of their sin, and their hard thoughts against God, and accept the testimony that God became a man to save you from Hell and grant the free gift of eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[ that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
John 3:16-21
2007-12-02 19:45:41 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋