The doctrine of hell is what bothers most about Christianity

[Darren2013]

Chrustianity has alot of problems for sure but I think the thing that bothers most skeptics and "unbelievers" is the doctrine of eternal hell. After-all it is a doctrine that contradicts what Christianity tries to sell. They want to convince us that God is love but then turn around and say that if you don't worship Him and love Him back then He's going to throw you in hell. Basically that doesn't sound like a God of love. That sounds more like a sadistic abuser giving an ultimatium. Any relationship in which one partner gets the other partner to do something under duress is not a loving relationship at all.

 

Not to say that this sadistic doctrine of endless punishment is the only problem in Christianity but it is a big one. Alot of churches do not talk about hell these days but it is in their written statement of faith. Perhaps deep down they do not really believe this doctrine and intuitively know something is wrong with it.

 

And Christian leaders are getting nervous now because we live in an age of where there's a wealth of information on the Internet that argues against hell. Believe it or not there bible scholars on the other side who make strong biblical cases against hell.

 

The masses can now look up this information and learn that hey maybe the gun pointed at me is empty after all but the religious powers that be have wanted us to think that the gun is loaded in order to keep us under their control.

 

Well unless Christian leaders have plans to succeed in regulating information on the Internet so that only articles arguing for the existence of hell are legally allowed then more people are going to wake up and learn the truth that the gun doesn't have any bullets in it and they will be set free from the control that religious tyrants had over their mind for far too long. So there's nothing they can do. Christianity's days are numbered thanks to the Information Age of the Internet because if you google just about any subject you are going to find more than one viewpoint on it.

 

So Christians can point their guns at me all they like with the doctrine of hell but I already know there are no bullets in their guns. Perhaps this is why I get along with atheists better than Christians because they don't try to scare me into conforming to their way of thinking.

 

I know that Christians would deny trying to scare me. What they do is hide behind God and bible verses and use that as a shield or a mask and say "see there God said it I didn't". That to me is a cop out.

 

More people are leaving the churches now and I say it is about time. I have a feeling Christianity will collapse in my lifetime as far as its influence on the world and governments and stuff. In the meantime I will continue to do my part to vote against these right wing Christian nitwits running for political office.

 

All I can say is good luck in the years ahead trying to convince folks that the gun is loaded. They are just going to laugh at this ridiculous doctrine of hell.

[M30USA]

The fact that God IS love is exactly your problem. A loving God cannot allow the wickedness of unrepentant sinners to harm those who have repented and chosen to obey Jesus. And so he must separate them and remove them from his kingdom. Otherwise he's not a God of love.

[Darren2013]

Actually a God of love purges wickedness out of the wicked and transforms them into righteous people. That's what the cross was all about. Reconciling the world to God by purging sin and all wickedness out of everyone. All of us were wicked in Adam but in Christ all are righteous.

 

If hell is real and even one person goes there then that means God is tolerating sin and evil in some small corner of His universe. That is not justice. Justice is about setting things right and not retaliation. All wickedness is spiritual sickness Jesus came to cure the world of. All of us are in the same boat and are sick. There's no manifestation of spiritual sickness too great for the work of Christ at the cross to cure.

 

God will not tolerate sin and He demonstrates this by purging the sin out of all through the lake of fire so that all that remains is our original makeup of righteousness. The lake of fire is symbolic for what happened to our old Adamic nature at the cross.

[M30USA]

Actually a God of love purges wickedness out of the wicked and transforms them into righteous people. That's what the cross was all about. Reconciling the world to God by purging sin and all wickedness out of everyone. All of us were wicked in Adam but in Christ all are righteous

 

Oh really? Then God would have to go agsinst people's will. Many want nothing to do with God and nothing to do with repentance. The funny thing is you are partly correct when you say that a loving God will "purge" sin out of people. He will. But only to those who want it. The sad truth is many people don't. And it's not just that they don't understand God's love--that's the gibberish of modern pastors. Scripture says they knowingly oppose God and refuse Christ because they don't want their sin to be exposed in the light. Oh, God will surely purge sin out of us. But only for those who want it. We must have the desire. God is the one who perfects us.

[Darren2013]

God is the one who works in us the will to do what He calls is to. Phillippians 2:13. So even the desire for God is something that would have to come from Him because by the default of human flesh there is none that seek after God. All are enslaved to sin if left to ourselves. There is none that want God because sin has captivated the will. So really the desire to sin is a false desire. It is the result of being spiritually sick. There's no free will if one is a slave to sin. It takes an outside supernatural force to change the will.

[M30USA]

God is the one who works in us the will to do what He calls is to. Phillippians 2:13. So even the desire for God is something that would have to come from Him because by the default of human flesh there is none that seek after God. All are enslaved to sin if left to ourselves. There is none that want God because sin has captivated the will. So really the desire to sin is a false desire. It is the result of being spiritually sick. There's no free will if one is a slave to sin. It takes an outside supernatural force to change the will.

 

I can't argue with you here. Now you're getting into free will versus predestination. The Bible supports both ideas. So clearly it's not something the human mind can understand. All I know is the Bible says many knowingly reject God even when they're fully aware of what Christ is offering them. Can't we just take that at face value? Otherwise the Bible wouldn't say these things.

[Darren2013]

Then the question is what was it about you that compelled you to choose Christ while someone else who was offered the same rejected it? Obviously Christ was more appealing to you than sin was. Why did the other guy reject Christ? Obviously because sin was more appealing than Christ. But then why is sin more appealing to that person? Obviously they chose sin out of deception. They are deceived by sin's offer or else they wouldn't choose it. If they really see sin for what it really is then they would not choose it.

[M30USA]

Then the question is what was it about you that compelled you to choose Christ while someone else who was offered the same rejected it? Obviously Christ was more appealing to you than sin was. Why did the other guy reject Christ? Obviously because sin was more appealing than Christ. But then why is sin more appealing to that person? Obviously they chose sin out of deception. They are deceived by sin's offer or else they wouldn't choose it. If they really see sin for what it really is then they would not choose it.

 

Let's look at Satan, himself. It's not that he rebelled from God because he didn't understand God. He knows better than any human being alive about the mercy of God. So why does he continue to rebel? Because he thinks his own way is better. In effect, he wants to be God. So too, in the end, do all unrepentant sinners want to be their own gods and be seated on the throne.

[todreaminblue]

do you ever sit and blame someone for choices you make ?

 

 

 

when you make choices you know right from wrong ...you know what is right....then you choose that.....but if you know what is wrong and you choose to do that then thats on you not on god or anyone else.....its allyou...god is a loving god...but he doesnt shoulder the responsibility for agency we have that was a gift he gave what we do with it is up to us.......to shoulder our responsibilities and consequences isnt loving its stifling.......we dont get to shove it all on god.....

i am a christian a latter day saint actually...i am also an ex escort.......when i was an escort i was also a christian i believed in god i knew right from wrong ...i chose to become an escort ...i had my reasons....i knew it was wrong.....i have been forgiven....god doesnt have to love what i did back then......neither do i actually i loathe what i have done......

 

 

 

 

just like the guys who raped me if they repented they are forgiven also so i have forgiven them....just like the guy who took my virginity when i was five if he repented with true remorse he will be forgiven i dont know if he has but god does...thats justice.....thats christian ......being christian is not a free pass to do what the crap you want to others or thumb your nose at god and say love me anyway

 

i expect consequences when i do something wrong always will...when i do soemthign wrong i dotn like myself all that much anymore......because i feel remorse and guilt a whoel range of things i shouldnt have to feel fi i just did the right thing in the first place......god knows that...and wants me to be happy thats why we have guidelines and guides to guide us through life and everything life throws at us.......god is loving...but he does believe in justice and of that i am grateful...he sees what we dont say.if we arent truyl remorseful he knows......you cant hide from that......thats justice.beign a christian doesnt give anyone a free pass....nor do i want a free pass.......deb