John 15:6, Kjv reads: "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
2007-12-29 00:47:32 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ok..I believe that Jesus was neither God nor the son of God. For God doesn't have sons or daughters. I guess that makes me an unbeliever. Am I to be burned?
2007-12-29 00:51:23 · update #1
Ted Dansen: Why do you hate Elmo? He has a heart!
2007-12-29 00:53:09 · update #2
I am amazed that people deny words right in front of their eyes. I was going to try to clarify this verse, but I really wouldn't know what to do other than just pasting the verse again.
Regardless of the mental gymnastics they do to try to twist this verse to make it seem justified, or say something other than what is obviously says - All-knowing god would have foreknown what the result of inspiring this verse would be...an untold amount of people, over centuries, being burnt at the stake by Christians for thought crimes.
They can spin it however they want, but to deny that the world would have been a better place had that verse not been written is absurd. And to claim that an all-knowing, all-loving god inspired that verse is up there with one of the most absurd things I have ever heard.
2007-12-29 01:04:37 · answer #1 · answered by AiW 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What Christians want to do to unbelievers depends largely on the local political situation. As long as they had the power, the popes executed and incarcerated as much as they could.
I do not know of any country where Christians have given up a position of force on the grounds of their ideas.
If they ever get in power again, they will do it gain. I can not prove that, but I strongly believe in the lessons of history.
A few recent lessons:
Mid 20th century, the Spanish cardinal Segura said about the Spanish Protestants: "Heretics can not be protected by the law when they have a conflict with Catholics". Spain was at that moment under the Catholic dictatorship of Franco.
In the 1960's, Cardinal Ottaviani said "In the eyes of a true Catholic, there is no place for tolerance". Cardinal Ottaviani was one of the most influential cardinals of the Vatican at that time. He was instrumental in putting the brakes on the changes proposed by Vatican Council II. He thought that supporting religious tolerance was equal to suppressing public manifestations of non-Catholic religions when possible.
2007-12-29 08:59:56 · answer #2 · answered by kwistenbiebel 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christians can not do something this hateful to you or they are not a Christian. This is Jesus talking in this passage. Jesus does not want to do this but is a just judge. He can not let sin go unpunished or he would not be a just judge. The question is really do you think you are a good person?
The dictionary says "good" is to be "morally excellent." Let s look at God s moral standard the Ten Commandments, and see how we do. Is God first in your life? Do you love Him with "heart, mind, soul and strength?" Have you made a god to suit yourself? Have you used His name in vain? Have you always honored your parents? Have you looked with lust and therefore committed adultery in your heart? Have you lied (including "fibs"), stolen (the value is irrelevant), or coveted other people s possessions? If you are honest, you know you will be guilty on the Day of Judgment. God, however, doesn t want to send you to Hell. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the Cross, so you could go free. That s how much God loves you. We broke God s Law, but Jesus took our punishment and died on the cross. He then rose from the grave defeating death. If you repent (turn away from all the things you know are wrong) and trust in Him, God will forgive your sins and grant you everlasting life. Begin by reading your Bible daily and then obey what you read. God will never let you down.
2007-12-29 08:53:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
This it the "I am the branch, you are the vine..." verse. This is talking about how God works with us as we grow spiritiually. What isn't good is pruned away, just as the vinekeeper prunes the vines. The vine that does not bear fruit, is cut away and cast into the fire. It doesn't exactly sound like this is talking about unbelievers since unbelievers wouldn't be a vine on a part of that particular branch, would they? We as Christians are supposed to produce fruit abundantly; therefore, God cuts away at us, getting rid of the bad so the good can thrive and bring glory to Him. As God does His work on us and we become more Christ-like, you will know us by our fruit.
2007-12-29 09:07:58 · answer #4 · answered by RT 66 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What it is saying is that when Jesus Christ returns those who were unprofitable in doing the works of Christ will be cast off from the presences of the Lord.
It's talking more about Christians that don't live a Christian life then it's talking about you.
The bible teaches us that we need to labor in Christ.
I'm sorry if you think we just condem people because true Christians don't condem any one. And certainly not you.
If you ever have questions this is a great site:
www.mormon.org
2007-12-29 08:59:53 · answer #5 · answered by Telling Truth 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, it does say that MEN will gather the unbelievers up and cast them into the fire...
Historically, christians have always wanted civil law to reflect biblical justice.
Every group wants things their way.
2007-12-29 09:16:22 · answer #6 · answered by flip33 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a metaphor. Branches are burned. Christians are to love everone and wishing to burn you at the stake is not love. What we truly want is for you to come to know Christ but even that must be of your own free will.
2007-12-29 08:59:13 · answer #7 · answered by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No,
all major Christian groups now condemn the execution of heretics
but literalists can take all sorts of "fundamentalist passages"( "You shall not suffer a witch to live",is one) taken out of the context of Apostolic Tradition and the direct teachings of Jesus("Turn the other cheek","Put away your sword:He who,lives by the sword dies by the sword',"You have heard it said'you shall not kill'but i saydo not be angry","Love those who hate you",etc)
There are"unbelievers" who want to burn Christians and others or execute or imprison them,at least. There are violent atheist, Muslim,Hindu,etc "fundamentalists" also,as we all know
2007-12-29 08:51:54 · answer #8 · answered by James O 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Not at all. The passage is saying that non-believers will not thrive/go to heaven/enjoy the fruits of faith in God. No burning is allowed by people; that would be very un-Christian.
2007-12-29 08:51:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Come on Gloria,it's a parable describing the fate of unbelievers at the hand of God-true followers are to follow Christ who explicitely condemned violence as His kingdom was not of this world.
2007-12-29 08:57:00 · answer #10 · answered by Wonderwall 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋