The Random Thoughts of a Busy Student Who Really Should be Studying...
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Question to the Religious...
How would you feel if, come Judgment Day, God decided to forgive everyone? If, rather than sending the sinners to Hell, He cleansed them of their impurities and allowed them into Heaven? Why would you feel that way?
I think that it would degrade God's Holy Character and Righteous Nature if He allowed unrepentant sinners into heaven.
God already offered His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of mankind and cleanse them of their impurities if only they repent and have faith in Him - why should He give them a free pass to live in sin and unbelief?
Further, it would violate man's freewill because those who choose not to repent or have faith in Jesus Christ really don't want to go to heaven. God is Loving and Just and He would not force anyone to spend eternity where they didn't want to be.
If God allowed sinners into Heaven, it would turn Heaven into Hell!
That's an interesting point, Dani. I think the sins themselves are something to consider as well, though.
I believe that there is a huge difference between a pedophile and an atheist who lives a clean life, but doesn't believe in God. We are all sinners, but if someone's sin is that he does not believe in God, how can he repent?
It is God's will who He chooses to save and who He damns and I'm not commenting on what He should or shouldn't do. I'm just saying, if He were to make such a choice to forgive some, I think I would be glad for them. They would, after all, get to experience evidence of God's mercy, which we read about in the Bible. I'd be happy that some of my fellow man would be saved from Hell by God's benevolence.
It’s true that there are different degrees of sin, but all of us are guilty of sin and deserving of death. It’s ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ that we can be saved from eternal damnation.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23
Of course there is a huge difference between a pedophile and an atheist who lives a clean life, which is why there are also different degrees of punishment. But living a “clean life” cannot be possible if a person is denying his Creator. Also, even *IF* an atheist never told a lie in his entire life, was envious of his neighbor, or looked at a woman with lust, or fornicated, or got drunk, or any number of things God considers to be a sin, the Bible says he is “without excuse” for not believing, which is a greater sin deserving of eternal separation.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” – Romans 1:20-22
Also, the Bible is clear about who will not go to Heaven.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Cor. 6:9-10
Lastly, God cannot forgive someone who doesn’t want to be forgiven. As happy as you would be to have an unbelieving friend experience God’s mercy, this is something they have to want for themselves. Forcing someone to go to Heaven when they have lived their life in rebellion towards God, it not only unjust, it is unfair and cruel to that person because they obviously don’t want to be with God forever – if they sincerely did, then they would acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Hmm, I'm with you until your very last paragraph on this one Dani, but do you really think atheists don't WANT to be with God? I always just assumed they don't have enough faith to believe, which is an entirely different thing.
I think if atheists believed there was a God, if there was evidence they were willing to accept as hard fact, that they would feel the same as those of us who believe in Him. They're just too skeptical to accept that there's a God unless he's standing in front of them.
Yes - I believe that it's not that atheists simply don't believe in God, it's that they truly don't *WANT* to believe in Him because then they would be held accountable for their actions. In a world without a Righteous standard - anything goes and they are free to embrace moral relativism and live free of condemnation...or at least they think so!
There are literally mountains of evidence that prove God's existence, but atheists choose to be willfully ignorant and live in rebellion towards God.
If you really think about it, it takes WAY MORE faith to be an atheist and believe that complex, self-aware, moral creatures like ourselves arrived here by a cosmic accident through a series of random chance mutations, than being created by a Living God.
The Bible's definition of faith is this: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." - Hebrews 11-1-3
As believers, our faith is based on EVIDENCE because logically we know that all things which are designed, have a Designer! Atheists have blind faith to believe that order came from chaos.
Here is an excellent excerpt from Robert Breaud's Capstone's Corner which pretty much sums it up:
Atheists are liars. Self-deceived, sadly, but liars nonetheless. They reject truth. Specifically, the truth that is Jesus Christ.
But this isn't the reason I label atheists liars. Most will tell me they see not a shred of evidence for God. Now, I may be dense at times, but just how does an atheist "see evidence" for God?
I will usually tell an atheist, "Have you ever gone looking for something you didn't think was there?"
Isn't it reasonable to state no one will find God unless they believe He exists? For reasons they could not admit, atheists know they are lying, to themselves, others, and God. Deep down in their spirit the knowledge of the Creator endures, though it can be suppressed. These conflicting wills within produce a contest. So when offered reasonable evidence from conscience, creation or cognizance, the atheist will curse, crow or cut out, never cede.
Generally, most need not even be an atheist to give more thought to where they'll spend vacation than eternity; the beach we can see, God and heaven we can't. Our spirits agree with the Spirit of truth. It is the deceitful heart that gets in the way. The clash between the inner voice that tells us our first duty is to God and our own "want to's" is where the battlefield is: between our ears. One need to be an atheist to live like such. Unbelief of heart is easily hidden from man.
Finally, it seems there will never be "proof" or "evidence" for God to an atheist. Regrettably, most will die as Pilate asking, "What is truth?"
Yes - I believe that it's not that atheists simply don't believe in God, it's that they truly don't *WANT* to believe in Him because then they would be held accountable for their actions. In a world without a Righteous standard - anything goes and they are free to embrace moral relativism and live free of condemnation...or at least they think so!
I have to disagree here, at least about some atheists. I'm in graduate school, so the majority of people here don't believe in God because they're so stuck in the *science* of it, they can't possibly accept what they don't see.
I'm sure there are many atheists who are exactly as you describe, but I think there are also a large number who were simply raised in homes where the Bible was considered nonsense and God was dismissed as a myth. I've always been a strong believer that children grow up to be whatever their parents mold them into.
If you really think about it, it takes WAY MORE faith to be an atheist and believe that complex, self-aware, moral creatures like ourselves arrived here by a cosmic accident through a series of random chance mutations, than being created by a Living God.
That's actually a great point, Dani, I never thought of it in those terms. I always thought we had more faith because we believed without any "evidence," but atheists believe that everything exists because an accident worked out in just the right way and everything fell into place perfectly. That takes a lot of...faith. Oh, the irony. ;D
I was raised by a conservative, stay-at-home Mamma who taught me there's nothing "degrading" about devoting yourself to taking care of your kids and a liberal Daddy who told us he wanted one of his girls to become the first female president of the United States. I believe absolutely that there is a God and I try to live my life so I will never be ashamed to have Him watching over me. I welcome everything except rudeness.
6 comments:
I think that it would degrade God's Holy Character and Righteous Nature if He allowed unrepentant sinners into heaven.
God already offered His Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of mankind and cleanse them of their impurities if only they repent and have faith in Him - why should He give them a free pass to live in sin and unbelief?
Further, it would violate man's freewill because those who choose not to repent or have faith in Jesus Christ really don't want to go to heaven. God is Loving and Just and He would not force anyone to spend eternity where they didn't want to be.
If God allowed sinners into Heaven, it would turn Heaven into Hell!
That's an interesting point, Dani. I think the sins themselves are something to consider as well, though.
I believe that there is a huge difference between a pedophile and an atheist who lives a clean life, but doesn't believe in God. We are all sinners, but if someone's sin is that he does not believe in God, how can he repent?
It is God's will who He chooses to save and who He damns and I'm not commenting on what He should or shouldn't do. I'm just saying, if He were to make such a choice to forgive some, I think I would be glad for them. They would, after all, get to experience evidence of God's mercy, which we read about in the Bible. I'd be happy that some of my fellow man would be saved from Hell by God's benevolence.
It’s true that there are different degrees of sin, but all of us are guilty of sin and deserving of death. It’s ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ that we can be saved from eternal damnation.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23
Of course there is a huge difference between a pedophile and an atheist who lives a clean life, which is why there are also different degrees of punishment. But living a “clean life” cannot be possible if a person is denying his Creator. Also, even *IF* an atheist never told a lie in his entire life, was envious of his neighbor, or looked at a woman with lust, or fornicated, or got drunk, or any number of things God considers to be a sin, the Bible says he is “without excuse” for not believing, which is a greater sin deserving of eternal separation.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” – Romans 1:20-22
Also, the Bible is clear about who will not go to Heaven.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." - 1 Cor. 6:9-10
Lastly, God cannot forgive someone who doesn’t want to be forgiven. As happy as you would be to have an unbelieving friend experience God’s mercy, this is something they have to want for themselves. Forcing someone to go to Heaven when they have lived their life in rebellion towards God, it not only unjust, it is unfair and cruel to that person because they obviously don’t want to be with God forever – if they sincerely did, then they would acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Hmm, I'm with you until your very last paragraph on this one Dani, but do you really think atheists don't WANT to be with God? I always just assumed they don't have enough faith to believe, which is an entirely different thing.
I think if atheists believed there was a God, if there was evidence they were willing to accept as hard fact, that they would feel the same as those of us who believe in Him. They're just too skeptical to accept that there's a God unless he's standing in front of them.
Yes - I believe that it's not that atheists simply don't believe in God, it's that they truly don't *WANT* to believe in Him because then they would be held accountable for their actions. In a world without a Righteous standard - anything goes and they are free to embrace moral relativism and live free of condemnation...or at least they think so!
There are literally mountains of evidence that prove God's existence, but atheists choose to be willfully ignorant and live in rebellion towards God.
If you really think about it, it takes WAY MORE faith to be an atheist and believe that complex, self-aware, moral creatures like ourselves arrived here by a cosmic accident through a series of random chance mutations, than being created by a Living God.
The Bible's definition of faith is this:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." - Hebrews 11-1-3
As believers, our faith is based on EVIDENCE because logically we know that all things which are designed, have a Designer! Atheists have blind faith to believe that order came from chaos.
Here is an excellent excerpt from Robert Breaud's Capstone's Corner which pretty much sums it up:
Atheists are liars. Self-deceived, sadly, but liars nonetheless. They reject truth. Specifically, the truth that is Jesus Christ.
But this isn't the reason I label atheists liars. Most will tell me they see not a shred of evidence for God. Now, I may be dense at times, but just how does an atheist "see evidence" for God?
I will usually tell an atheist, "Have you ever gone looking for something you didn't think was there?"
Isn't it reasonable to state no one will find God unless they believe He exists? For reasons they could not admit, atheists know they are lying, to themselves, others, and God. Deep down in their spirit the knowledge of the Creator endures, though it can be suppressed. These conflicting wills within produce a contest. So when offered reasonable evidence from conscience, creation or cognizance, the atheist will curse, crow or cut out, never cede.
Generally, most need not even be an atheist to give more thought to where they'll spend vacation than eternity; the beach we can see, God and heaven we can't. Our spirits agree with the Spirit of truth. It is the deceitful heart that gets in the way. The clash between the inner voice that tells us our first duty is to God and our own "want to's" is where the battlefield is: between our ears. One need to be an atheist to live like such. Unbelief of heart is easily hidden from man.
Finally, it seems there will never be "proof" or "evidence" for God to an atheist. Regrettably, most will die as Pilate asking, "What is truth?"
Yes - I believe that it's not that atheists simply don't believe in God, it's that they truly don't *WANT* to believe in Him because then they would be held accountable for their actions. In a world without a Righteous standard - anything goes and they are free to embrace moral relativism and live free of condemnation...or at least they think so!
I have to disagree here, at least about some atheists. I'm in graduate school, so the majority of people here don't believe in God because they're so stuck in the *science* of it, they can't possibly accept what they don't see.
I'm sure there are many atheists who are exactly as you describe, but I think there are also a large number who were simply raised in homes where the Bible was considered nonsense and God was dismissed as a myth. I've always been a strong believer that children grow up to be whatever their parents mold them into.
If you really think about it, it takes WAY MORE faith to be an atheist and believe that complex, self-aware, moral creatures like ourselves arrived here by a cosmic accident through a series of random chance mutations, than being created by a Living God.
That's actually a great point, Dani, I never thought of it in those terms. I always thought we had more faith because we believed without any "evidence," but atheists believe that everything exists because an accident worked out in just the right way and everything fell into place perfectly. That takes a lot of...faith. Oh, the irony. ;D
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