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re: What do people get out of going to church on Easter once a year?
Posted on 4/21/14 at 11:31 am to Mattwells90
Posted on 4/21/14 at 11:31 am to Mattwells90
Im saying devoting your life to worshipping a god you cant even know is there. The bible demands a lot more from the true followers of Jesus than most American christians are ever willing to commit to, much less someone who is skeptical of god's existence to begin with.
If the bible is right, even a lot of christians arent going to heaven. If hell is no worse than our time on earth, and plenty of believers arent truly saved anyway, whats the point? If given the choice between existing as I am now or jumping through a bunch of hoops just so I can worship god for eternity in "paradise", I choose this.
Hell being fiery and painful is a crucial component of christianity's success. Id argue a lack of belief in hell is a bigger driving force behind our declining belief in god than a lack of belief in god himself. If people dont fear hell, theres no point unless you just really really love Jesus.
That being said, the bible very clearly says that hell is real, it is painful, it is full of eternal suffering and that most of humanity will go there. This idea that hell is just a "separation from god" is a soft way of breaking the story to people. If the bible is true, and I of course dont believe it is, hell is not just a separation from God.
If the bible is right, even a lot of christians arent going to heaven. If hell is no worse than our time on earth, and plenty of believers arent truly saved anyway, whats the point? If given the choice between existing as I am now or jumping through a bunch of hoops just so I can worship god for eternity in "paradise", I choose this.
Hell being fiery and painful is a crucial component of christianity's success. Id argue a lack of belief in hell is a bigger driving force behind our declining belief in god than a lack of belief in god himself. If people dont fear hell, theres no point unless you just really really love Jesus.
That being said, the bible very clearly says that hell is real, it is painful, it is full of eternal suffering and that most of humanity will go there. This idea that hell is just a "separation from god" is a soft way of breaking the story to people. If the bible is true, and I of course dont believe it is, hell is not just a separation from God.
This post was edited on 4/21/14 at 11:35 am
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Posted on 4/21/14 at 11:38 am to Roger Klarvin
See that's the key difference. I don't view it as hoops to jump through. Really all that's required to be saved is to admit you're flawed, accept jesus and love him and others. Because I love jesus I don't enjoy doing things I liked before. I don't like getting drunk sleeping around cursing etc.
And FWIW hell is actually painful. I'm sure the lake of fire isn't comfortable. The bible gives the example of non stop torment. And again what you're saying is you'd rather live in this world than paradise. That makes no sense. That's like saying I'll stay in Antarctica and freeze instead of going to the Bahamas for free. But it really is true when your heart is changed, you won't enjoy sinful things. And I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I can honestly say I've lived on both sides of salvation and I am much happier and enjoy life more since leaving those old things behind.
And FWIW hell is actually painful. I'm sure the lake of fire isn't comfortable. The bible gives the example of non stop torment. And again what you're saying is you'd rather live in this world than paradise. That makes no sense. That's like saying I'll stay in Antarctica and freeze instead of going to the Bahamas for free. But it really is true when your heart is changed, you won't enjoy sinful things. And I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I can honestly say I've lived on both sides of salvation and I am much happier and enjoy life more since leaving those old things behind.
Posted on 4/21/14 at 11:47 am to Roger Klarvin
I think a more accurate portrayal of Hell is not separation from God, but just the opposite: it is being subjected to the unveiled and unrelenting wrath of God's judgment.
Hell is separation from God's love and forgiveness, but not from God.
Hell is separation from God's love and forgiveness, but not from God.
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