Christians only:are racist people going to hell?

[bostonterrier]

I'm not racist, just wondering, if so then 80% of the world's population are going to hell.

[M30USA]

I'm not racist, just wondering, if so then 80% of the world's population are going to hell.

 

"Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

 

-Jesus Christ (Mark 3:28, 29 NIV)

[pureinheart]

"Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

 

-Jesus Christ (Mark 3:28, 29 NIV)

 

I'm still lost on this one, and you bolded it so emphasis was intended? OP, if this is out of line please just say so, meaning going off in the direction I am:)

 

I've read a bit, and the couple of interpretations said nothing conclusive IMO. M30, I'm going off of the question I asked and you answered (which I completely appreciate) in another thread.

 

Please correct me if I interpreted your answer wrong, although IMO we have all quenched the Spirit at one time or another, which would lead to no one being saved- ever.

 

With all due respect, I think this could send believers on some very shaky ground, feeling that they have quenched the Spirit so what's the point, I might has well live like the devil...you know? Does this make sense?

 

I feel this is on the lines of the theory that one can lose their salvation, which I completely disagree with based on Scripture and the exact meaning concerning conversion, we are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit...if one goes back to what a "seal" actually meant in those days, it was final.

[pureinheart]

I'm not racist, just wondering, if so then 80% of the world's population are going to hell.

 

IMO 100% of the people would enter into hell. We've all been partial in something. So in answer to your question, I'd say no. The condition for salvation is the acceptance of Jesus Christ, making Him Lord and Savior...the sinners prayer basically.

 

I do understand what you mean by racism and how it can enter into extreme evil.

Edited June 25, 2014 by pureinheart

[M30USA]

I'm still lost on this one, and you bolded it so emphasis was intended? OP, if this is out of line please just say so, meaning going off in the direction I am:)

 

I've read a bit, and the couple of interpretations said nothing conclusive IMO. M30, I'm going off of the question I asked and you answered (which I completely appreciate) in another thread.

 

Please correct me if I interpreted your answer wrong, although IMO we have all quenched the Spirit at one time or another, which would lead to no one being saved- ever.

 

With all due respect, I think this could send believers on some very shaky ground, feeling that they have quenched the Spirit so what's the point, I might has well live like the devil...you know? Does this make sense?

 

I feel this is on the lines of the theory that one can lose their salvation, which I completely disagree with based on Scripture and the exact meaning concerning conversion, we are "sealed" with the Holy Spirit...if one goes back to what a "seal" actually meant in those days, it was final.

 

I'm not talking about sinning. Even believers sin. But I don't believe a true believer will ever reject the Holy Spirit. You can be listening to the Holy Spirit and still sin. That's possible. But a true believer does not reject the Holy Spirit. And a true believer may sin but their life does not show a pattern of sin and they especially do not show obvious refusal to repent. True believers in Scripture, even when they did sin, when confronted with their error they would always be sorrowful and repent; it's the unbelievers or false believers who get angry and stiffen their neck. When Scripture says that adulterers, drunkards, liars, etc, will not enter the kingdom of heaven, it means just that. People who don't repent of those things will not enter heaven. Otherwise this scripture means nothing and it might as well not even be in the bible. It's in there for a reason. It's not just fluff or filler to be glossed over. People won't go to hell for sinning. They will go to hell for not repenting.

Edited June 25, 2014 by M30USA

[pureinheart]

I'm not talking about sinning. Even believers sin. But I don't believe a true believer will ever reject the Holy Spirit. You can be listening to the Holy Spirit and still sin. That's possible. But a true believer does not reject the Holy Spirit. And a true believer may sin but their life does not show a pattern of sin and they especially do not show obvious refusal to repent. True believers in Scripture, even when they did sin, when confronted with their error they would always be sorrowful and repent; it's the unbelievers or false believers who get angry and stiffen their neck. When Scripture says that adulterers, drunkards, liars, etc, will not enter the kingdom of heaven, it means just that. People who don't repent of those things will not enter heaven. Otherwise this scripture means nothing and it might as well not even be in the bible. It's in there for a reason. It's not just fluff or filler to be glossed over. People won't go to hell for sinning. They will go to hell for not repenting.

 

I was just going to post after really thinking that I misunderstood due to being hypersensitive right now. Being in the process of changing "my" thinking (again) I'm just so frustrated with myself concerning sin. While yes we can tell the Lord, "this is bigger than me" and this is true, yet I have to be an active participant in the transformation...and I'm not doing it. Basically it is the words of the Apostle Paul:

 

Romans 7:19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.

 

…18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.…

 

Thank you for making it plain and clear:)

[taiko]

The big question can someone be saved who conformed to the social group they were raised in in what is now seen as human evil by the greater, or the politically powerful segment of society. Be they racist or nationalist, if they see nothing wrong in their actions will they ask for forgiveness? Either from God or through a formal process where a man will tell you what to do to make amends.

 

Many will say that accepting the Holy Spirit will lead to the state where they will be convinced by the Holy Spirit that racism is wrong. And if it doesn't there was false confession and that person is just a cultural Christian. But is it instantaneous? That would suggest that there is not actually free will but rather a direct takeover by God.

[jonsnuh]

It's conflicting in my opinion-- God Himself was genocidal when it came to providing his people with the Promised Land.

 

On the other hand, I think any hatred and coveting that may lead to racism or come from racism lends to and from fear and insecurities. The acts and thoughts are damnable and sinful. Nonetheless, I'd probably go to hell for lusting with dirty thoughts of a girl I saw after work today. It's the act that counts imo. Different denominations may interpret it differently too, mind you.

 

I think the real answer varies over time, and has become more liberal and less literal.

[pureinheart]

The big question can someone be saved who conformed to the social group they were raised in in what is now seen as human evil by the greater, or the politically powerful segment of society. Be they racist or nationalist, if they see nothing wrong in their actions will they ask for forgiveness? Either from God or through a formal process where a man will tell you what to do to make amends.

 

Many will say that accepting the Holy Spirit will lead to the state where they will be convinced by the Holy Spirit that racism is wrong. And if it doesn't there was false confession and that person is just a cultural Christian. But is it instantaneous? That would suggest that there is not actually free will but rather a direct takeover by God.

 

I was just thinking about this- the sin I know and the sin I don't know. It's not easy to ask God to search my heart- quite a scary thing ...

[BetheButterfly]

I'm not racist, just wondering, if so then 80% of the world's population are going to hell.

 

Jesus commanded his followers to love their neighbors as they love themselves (Matthew 22:39).

 

When asked who is one's neighbor, Jesus told the famous parable about the "Good Samaritan." I boldened some of the passage below:

 

Luke 10 (NIV)

 

"25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

 

In that time period, many Jewish people despised Samaritans, yet Jesus showed that anybody is a neighbor no matter their ethnicity or "race."

 

 

 

About hell, Jesus showed in his parable accounted in Matthew 25:31-46 that those who do not help those in need are in danger of eternal punishment. One can of course equate eternal punishment with the concept of hell, but it's important to note that Jesus is Jewish and hence his idea of hell, or Gehenna (or a form of the word) is not the hellenized concept of hell.

 

 

 

Here is Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

 

 

"31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

It's very important to God how we treat our fellow humans. We are to help those in need, not hurt people.

 

In Luke 6:31, Jesus says to " Do to others as you would have them do to you." Those who are racist I do not think would like other people to be racist against them, so they are breaking Jesus' command to love their neighbors as themselves, as well as the Golden Rule which Jesus taught.

 

Again about hell, God decides who goes to eternal punishment. If someone is racist, they can be forgiven, but they need to repent (stop sinning -disobeying- and change). Jesus Christ has helped many racists change from hate-filled to loving people who understand that all people are equal and that Jesus' commands to love one's neighbor as oneself includes people no matter their skin color or ethnicity.

[BetheButterfly]

It's conflicting in my opinion-- God Himself was genocidal when it came to providing his people with the Promised Land.

 

God is the Creator though. An artist who creates works of art may destroy her/his work of art, no? I consider the same to be the case for God. He creates and He destroys.

 

However, that most definitely do not mean that humankind has the right to destroy other humans.

 

I understand about the conflict about the children of Israel killing other people. I think though that much of that conflict has to do with being in the post-Jesus' first coming period. Jesus taught his followers to love and to not kill. His apostles who walked and talked with him didn't kill others. Rather, Jesus rebuked Peter when Peter lashed out with a sword, trying to defend Jesus. After Jesus ascended into Heaven and his apostles received the Holy Spirit that he promised (John 14-16), they did not kill people but rather told them about Jesus. They were persecuted, but they didn't persecute, which is very important. So basically, while Jesus fulfilled many prophecies/promises concerning him, he radically taught love for one's enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27-37) which was different than the past.

 

On the other hand, I think any hatred and coveting that may lead to racism or come from racism lends to and from fear and insecurities. The acts and thoughts are damnable and sinful.

 

Agreed.

 

Nonetheless, I'd probably go to hell for lusting with dirty thoughts of a girl I saw after work today. It's the act that counts imo. Different denominations may interpret it differently too, mind you.

 

King David lusted, and acted on his lust, yet repented and God forgave him.

 

I think the real answer varies over time, and has become more liberal and less literal.

 

I believe God has made a new covenant with people through Jesus Christ, and that covenant includes love instead of hatred - hence Jesus' teachings and example to love one's enemies.