Qualifications for Hell?

Question

This follows on from another question I asked.

As I understand it, Christians believe that non-believers will go to Hell.

I want to understand this point clearly.

If a non-believer led a good life, never hurt anyone, did charity work...you know, a generally good guy, they would go to Hell.

Along with this a Christian, who worshipped God but really didn't do anything for his fellow man, perhaps was even obnoxious or unhelpful...but believed with all their Heart in God, they would go to Heaven..


I know this is a loaded question, as the hypothetical situation suggests, but I wanted to give an extreme case to understand the Christian view on this.

(All due respect to people of all faiths (non-faith)...this question is borne out of interest in this faith (I am not a Christian).

In answering could you review the scenario and advise if this would be the case

Jon M and Mr Wisdom..Thank-you....I was finding some of these answers hugely depressing, but your answers were a breath of fresh air. Many thanks.

Answer 1

Well, here is my take.

Let's say this non-believer did lead a good life doing charity work and all. But while they lived had one bad thought of "Man I want to do something to the guy that cut me off in traffic!" Then he just lost his ticket into Heaven. One sin, whether it be mass murder or one lie, is still a sin in the eyes of God.

Second scenario, the "Christian" went to church every sunday but did not use the talents that God gave him to help others of spread the message of Jesus. They also were obnoxious and went around telling people "You are going to HELL!!!". Well, that is not very helpful nor is it showing the love of Christ that us as Christians should have and show.

Take a look at the book of Matthew

Matthew Chapter 7:20-26 talks about how knowing Christians

20Therefore, you will [a]fully know them by their fruits.

21Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.

22Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?

23And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].(A)

24So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a [b]sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.

25And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

26And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.

So as Christians we, including myself, will make mistakes but we know in our hearts that to truly be with Christ that we must be like Christ in our everyday lives. Yes, we will make mistakes and yes we fall into sin, but the number of times you get knocked down doesn't prove your worth, it's how many times you get back up and back onto the path.

Hope this helped. I would love to go deeper if you are still unclear.

Answer 2

you may assemble a sash finished of benefit badges first. there is the "not Believing That Jesus Died For You" badge. this is the huge one. there is the "intercourse, drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll" badge. (some human beings have 2 of those, Intermediate and more advantageous.) Then there's a badge spoke of as "God isn't 3 persons, he's One person!" there is an "Odin replaced into enormously Cool" badge and a "I study the Bhagavad Gita" badge. and there's a "God will possibly not be listening to Me" badge which you get for each a hundred unanswered prayers. in case you get to the different worldwide and you do not have the ease badges, only the Brownie uniform and the beanie hat, they deliver you to Paradise quite.

Answer 3

Christian Universalism does not teach the existence of an eternal hell. While the purifying fires of hell may be a for a very long time (aionios), they are to burn away the satanic ego. No good parents punishes their child for eternity for a finite crime. Jesus' sacrifice is meant to save us from death and is for all. Here are some resources for anyone interested in Christian Universalism:

Online resources:

http://www.christianuniversalist.org/

http://www.christian-universalism.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism

All of the following links are for discussion forums that are Christian Universalist in orientation:

Emergent Universalism Discussion Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/emerging-universalist/

Christian Universalism Discussion Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/christian-universalism/

Apokatastasis Discussion Forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apokatastasis/

The Church of Interfaith Christians Discussion Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thechu...ithchristians/

Wider Universalist Fellowship Discussion Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WiderUniversalist/

Fundie Universalist Discussion Forum

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fundieuniversalist/

Answer 4

In John 3;18 he that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of god. please read Matt. 7;15-27, we are known by our fruits.

if a Christan dose not do as god has asked they will not go to heaven judgment will begin a the house of god 1 pet 4;17 then god will put those Christan's into hell at the last day the judgment day.

Answer 5

Your understanding of heaven seems to be based on what fundies say here on YA. This view is not supported biblically at all, and is rejected by mainstream Christianity.

Answer 6

It is NOT about how you live, its about what you use your free will to choose.

God or basically yourself.

God is eternal life
Self is eternal death.

Now, that is not to say that once you have chosen God that you will remain your selfish self. If you remain your selfish self, there is quite good evidence that you have not really submitted your old self to God and obey him and him alone.

Yes, you will screw up, its not a once a believer you are perfection. You will just know that you have screwed up and work at not doing it again.

But, all else said and done, you must believe with all your heart. If you believe with all your heart, then you will not sit back and do nothig, you will do your best each day to follow what God wants instead of what you want, even when it seems that what you want is still a good and honorable thing.

Edit: I cannot use your scenario, because you could have very well given me two unsaved persons to tell you which would go to heaven and which to Hell. Very likely they are both headed south. A believer does not live like unbelievers and vise versa. You as a non believer should be able to tell who is a christian and who is not by how they live and speak and act around others and each other. If someone has to TELL you that they are a Christian, there may be a problem with that thought on both sides.

Answer 7

You understand christianity correctly. The non-believer, who behaved well in life would go to hell, and the believer, who behaved badly in life would go to heaven.

Answer 8

Hell is a very popular holiday paradise and become increasingly harder to get in to. Heaven on the other hand is easy.

Answer 9

As a Christian minister I would say that a nonbeliever who lives a good life, never hurts anyone and does charity work will find salvation.

Answer 10

Might I suggest you read the Bible to understand this more fully because the Scriptures make it clear that good works will neither save us nor abate an unbeliever from hell. Anyone who has trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior is saved. Good works has nothing to do with it.

Suggested reading: John chapterer 3, Acts chapt. 14, and I John (the whole book) to name a few passages.

Happy New Year!

Answer 11

I love Jesus and Jesus love me so you who don't to hell...ha ha