Forgiveness and absolution are supposedly the building blocks of Christianity, I thought God was supposed to let anybody into heaven. Then suddenly, when the subjects were mis-behaving, some ruler decided to bring in eternal damnation for all those who sin (everybody virtually then). Is the idea of hell not completely against everything Christians stand for?
2007-12-12 07:27:57 · 24 answers · asked by weemundo 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sending everyone who believes differently to hell is indeed a Christian concept. It certainly should not be, but it is.
2007-12-12 07:34:16 · answer #1 · answered by t_rex_is_mad 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
What, do you think Christians are suppose to be sugar and spice, everything nice? Or be a light regarding the Truth?
What a Christian believes is based wholly on what the Bible says. Do I understand it's implications? Yes, and it really gives me pause. However, I also know that my point of view is based on the physical, not the eternal. Both the old and new testament make it VERY clear that there is an eternal punishment and torment for those who do not accept the free gift of eternal life. It's been handed to everyone on a golden platter. Yet everyone refuses the free gift based on their own "chosen gods". These gods can be either religious or material (science is a god of materialism).
Science cannot tell you ANYTHING about the afterlife and its consequences. They can only postulate. However, an angel from the eternal realm said to Daniel...
"...many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt."
Jesus knew more about the afterlife than anyone else in the physical world. He confirmed the words of Isaiah regarding the maggot that will not die, but will be eternally chewing at your carcass. And also talked about the rich man in torment, day and night.
If you can't trust those testimonies, who can you trust? So the answer is, "Yes, there is an eternal place of darkness and torment." But there is also an equal answer that "Yes, you can avoid hell with 100% assurance by just believing in Christ as Lord and Savior." As God laments in Ezekiel 33:11...
"As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!"
2007-12-12 07:33:06 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 2⤋
The concepts of eternal rewards are not clearly explained in the Bible... Heaven and hell are oversimplifications, as you seem to realise. Through latter-day prophets, the Lord has revealed an expanded view of eternal rewards. I find this expanded view more in line with all the other teachings of Jesus, and also makes sense in terms of the natural progression towards enlightenment. Eternal reward or punishment is not based on a single act or belief... it is based on who we have become, by our own actions and thoughts.
See "Heaven and Eternal Reward"
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beliefs/heavenly-father-s-plan-of-salvation/heaven-and-eternal-reward
This is just a basic explanation. There is much more depth to it that this, if you wish to understand further.
Love and Peace.
2007-12-12 07:44:23 · answer #3 · answered by MumOf5 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So your little 8 year old son decides one day to rip all the wires out of your new HDTV wide screen television, then he takes a brush and some paint from the garage and paints your new car, windows and all, then he takes a baseball bat and breaks out every window in the house.
Since you are "Love" do you simply say to him, "Son, let's go to McDonald's. I want to buy you whatever you want to eat, because you've earned it!"?
No you don't. Instead, you dole out punishment where punishment has been earned. You are still "All Loving" to your child, but you are also "Justice".
God is the same way as you are.
You can continue to shake your fist at God and blame Him for being a just God, or you can accept His discipline and learn from it. You can choose to have Heaven as your ultimate destination or not. If you choose not, then God, because He loves you, will not force you to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. He will lovingly grant your desire to be forever apart from Him. It's all your choice.
I'll bet the only time you even acknowledge the existence of God is when you blame Him for something....how convenient you hypocrite!
2007-12-12 07:47:53 · answer #4 · answered by the sower 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Contrition, Repentance, & Penance is needed for absolution.
Without a contrite heart, you of your own free will cannot will to change into the absolute goodness of God the Father, Son, & Holy Sprit. Instead, it's called "Lip service"
Then there is repentance ... taking what you say/think and taking the steps to being better towards God, yourself, and your neighbor. It can be baby steps or leaps; depending on your and your relation with God.
Lastly, pentance. See we believe that if the mind wills to steal, and the hand carries out the steeling, well, the hand should have corrections too; as it works in conjunction with the mind & spirit.
During this advent season we're taught to "repent" and to make ourselves prepaired for the coming of Christ our savior, and the return of our savior at judgement day.
2007-12-12 07:36:37 · answer #5 · answered by Giggly Giraffe 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
"I thought God was supposed to let anybody into heaven. "
You thought wrong. That is not Biblical, not taught in Scripture anywhere. God chooses out some for salvation, based on His grace, mercy and love. All humans are born depraved, sinful, with a sin nature. God's first and foremost attribute is holiness. God, in His holiness, cannot allow sin into His Heaven. He is also righteous, His righteousness demands payment for sin. Jesus died for the sins of His people. Either Christ took the penalty for sin due you upon Himself, or you pay, for eternity. This is entirely Biblically consistent. Unless God intervenes in a person's life, they will follow the natural course of their lives, which ends in paying for their sins eternally.
Mat 7:13 Go in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are the ones entering in through it.
Mat 7:14 For narrow is the gate, and constricted is the way that leads away into life, and few are the ones finding it.
2007-12-12 07:36:10 · answer #6 · answered by BrotherMichael 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
A God who doesn't punish sin is an insane monster!! Our God is both loving and just! There's nothing else He can do to save people from hell if they refuse the blood of His Son. What else can He give to redeem man?
Hell isn't for "misbehaving" people. It's for sinful, rebels who have sided with Satan by refusing to follow the Lord Jesus.
2007-12-13 07:48:53 · answer #7 · answered by Lover of Blue 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think your posting this question because you don't like Christians and don't believe in God, however if you genuinely want to know how sin and hell came about according to our beliefs, then please just read the Bible. See that's what I don't understand is how some people can be so opposed to God and yet have not even read the Bible. Read about it, do your research before you start doubting. You might be suprised at the change of heart you may have.
2007-12-12 07:41:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
if you've ever lied you're a liar
if you've ever stolen anything you're a thief
if you've ever commited adultery you're an adulterer, and God says if you've ever really wanted to commit adultery you've already done it in your heart which is as bad (i dont just mean thought it, i mean wanted to do it)
if you've ever killed you're a murderer
the list goes on
so why would God let people like that into heaven?!
he'd be stupid if he did
and also, it's not that God condems people to hell, he just cannot accept them into heaven.
that's why you have to become a christian and ask for forgiveness, that makes you pure so you can enter heaven (i'm not saying you'll never sin again becasue obviously everyone does but you've got to feel sorry about it.)
it's not that difficult to get your head round.
:-)
2007-12-12 09:43:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you that it isn't forgiving at all! Good observation. I never believed in Hell, or an eternal punishment, it just never really made sense to me, and when you mention the issues surrounding forgiveness and such, it makes it even more obvious.
Here's course excerpts from University Of Metaphysical Sciences on Radical Forgiveness if you want to check it out. http://www.ucmeta.org/Pages/Articles/Forgiveness/ForgivenessDir.htm
2007-12-12 08:46:25 · answer #10 · answered by Laura Phillips 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, since Christ Himself described Hell in the gospels, I guess I would say that it's a fairly Christian concept.
It may be that this isn't in line with your idea of who Jesus is, but the words are His own. I believe that people have a confused idea of how bad sin is and how holy God is, and that's why this idea is hard for them to swallow.
But since the word Christian means one who follows Christ, and the words are Christ's own, I would say that it is a very Christian concept.
Mark 9:47 It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.
2007-12-12 07:33:57 · answer #11 · answered by KL 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋