What if I'm just scared of hell?

[Colter]

Some people need fear of torment to "be good," So need promises of a reward to be the same. Others need neither. I find it dangerous to take away others hopes....especially if you arent replacing it with a better hope.

"In its true essence, religion is a faith-trust in the goodness of God."

 

[Colter]

Clearly, you do not see God as Job did.

Job 42:5-6
5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."

Eternal Hell is God's just punishment of the unrepentant wicked. It is no human invention.


Satan does not and will not "run Hell." This a Hollywood idea, I suspect, with no grounding in Scripture. The only thing Satan will do in Hell is suffer. He will not be in charge there.

Exactly! Job is a parable which reflects what people once believed. Some still do. I do not!

 

[aiki]

Exactly! Job is a parable which reflects what people once believed. Some still do. I do not!

Well, from where do you obtain your views on God, heaven, hell, Satan and so on? If the Bible is merely a collection of Bronze Age myths, you must derive your beliefs about these things from somewhere else.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Exactly.

So, if Jesus made a point of claiming such a place. Why shouldn't people who choose not to fear Him fear he'll? And why should those who legitimately choose Him fear it--as if the threat is still real for those who love Him?

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Human invention by Bronze Age apocalyptic thinkers who wrote the scripture! That's not the nature of God, it sounds more like Satan!

Spoken like a true unbeliever. Maybe you have the only True and living God confused with a figment of your imagination. Do you even value Scripture? I didn't think so.

 

[Colter]

Spoken like a true unbeliever. Maybe you have the only True and living God confused with a figment of your imagination. Do you even value Scripture? I didn't think so.

I value the true parts of scripture.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

I value the true parts of scripture.

Then, you value no Scripture. You can't, in good conscience or with any logical consistency accept some things and not others. A filter like "I can believe this, so this is true" means that you put yourself in the position of god to decide what is real and what is not. But, just because you can believe those parts doesn't mean they are any more or any less true than the others. So, if verses you don't like happen to be written down by the same author who writes the ones you do, it is completely inconsistent to accept some and call the author a liar about the others. Truly, you can have no confidence that any of it is true, in reality. So, you have no faith at all to stand on, in your current position.

 

[Colter]

Then, you value no Scripture. You can't, in good conscience or with any logical consistency accept some things and not others. A filter like "I can believe this, so this is true" means that you put yourself in the position of god to decide what is real and what is not. But, just because you can believe those parts doesn't mean they are any more or any less true than the others. So, if verses you don't like happen to be written down by the same author who writes the ones you do, it is completely inconsistent to accept some and call the author a liar about the others. Truly, you can have no confidence that any of it is true, in reality. So, you have no faith at all to stand on, in your current position.

That's your opinion based on the false doctrine of the inspiration of scripture. The same false doctrine the Jews used to reject Jesus then and now.

I think a person lacks a "good conscience" when they defend child rape, genocide, a God who puts "lying spirits" and "evil spirits" into people etc. The Bible books are anything but consistent, and no 2 people who belive the books to be inspired has the same belief about what they say.

I can and do extrapolate the spiritual truths from the human error in the scriptures. The Old Testament is a vastly exaggerated, historically inaccurate, nationalistic religious political propaganda document written by Israelites and for an Israelite audience. That frustrates your need for control, it's your problem not mine.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

That's your opinion based on the false doctrine of the inspiration of scripture. The same false doctrine the Jews used to reject Jesus then and now.

I think a person lacks a "good conscience" when they defend child rape, genocide, a God who puts "lying spirits" and "evil spirits" into people etc. The Bible books are anything but consistent, and no 2 people who belive the books to be inspired has the same belief about what they say.

I can and do extrapolate the spiritual truths from the human error in the scriptures. The Old Testament is a vastly exaggerated, historically inaccurate, nationalistic religious political propaganda document written by Israelites and for an Israelite audience. That frustrates your need for control, it's your problem not mine.

Your lie sounds pretty; but, don't expect your impotent god to deliver you. The real God makes promises to those who accept His whole testimony, not just what they want to believe.

 

[Colter]

Your lie sounds pretty; but, don't expect your impotent god to deliver you. The real God makes promises to those who accept His whole testimony, not just what they want to believe.

It’s tempting to make the Bible into a fetish or idol, but it’s better to have a sincere, personal relationship with God rather than convince yourself to believe things that are unholy and untrue.

Jesus knew the scriptures were human, he chose the cream of the truths of the Hebrew scripture and left the untruth to die on the vine.

I’m not scared of hell or the boogeyman.

 

[aiki]

I value the true parts of scripture.

Which are? And how do you decide that they are?

 

[Colter]

Which are? And how do you decide that they are?

Little bit of common sense, the “spirit of truth” etc.

What scripture book did they use in Egypt? What scriptures and traditions did Abraham use? His religion was that of his fathers, from beyond the rivers.

 

[aiki]

Little bit of common sense, the “spirit of truth” etc.

What scripture book did they use in Egypt? What scriptures and traditions did Abraham use? His religion was that of his fathers, from beyond the rivers.

So you are the Final Arbiter of what is and isn't God's truth? Your common sense determines what is truly from God and what isn't? If so, how are you not, then, putting yourself above God? How do you avoid conforming God's truth to your standards, to your own moral preferences and particular life philosophy and so making His truth merely a reflection of you?

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

It’s tempting to make the Bible into a fetish or idol, but it’s better to have a sincere, personal relationship with God rather than convince yourself to believe things that are unholy and untrue.

Jesus knew the scriptures were human, he chose the cream of the truths of the Hebrew scripture and left the untruth to die on the vine.

I’m not scared of hell or the boogeyman.

Wow. You are so deceived. Do you actually claim to have a personal relationship with the God described in the Christian Scriptures and yet reject His very Word? You don't have to be scared of hell. Being scared of hell or not, even believing in hell or not, won't change where anyone ends up.

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

That's your opinion based on the false doctrine of the inspiration of scripture. The same false doctrine the Jews used to reject Jesus then and now.

I think a person lacks a "good conscience" when they defend child rape, genocide, a God who puts "lying spirits" and "evil spirits" into people etc. The Bible books are anything but consistent, and no 2 people who belive the books to be inspired has the same belief about what they say.

I can and do extrapolate the spiritual truths from the human error in the scriptures. The Old Testament is a vastly exaggerated, historically inaccurate, nationalistic religious political propaganda document written by Israelites and for an Israelite audience. That frustrates your need for control, it's your problem not mine.

If God is God, then God decides what is right and what is good, not you or I. You don't believe and you don't have a relationship with who you claim--the God talked about in the Bible--because if you did, you couldn't write off anything He says.

I surrendered my need for control when God woke me up. Clearly, he hasn't done the same for you--so you insist on controlling your god.

The fact that two people--using human logic--can't agree on Scriptures means nothing. It just means human logic and understanding is not equal to God's wisdom. God's Word is not only inspired, but God's Word is living and active. And, that was God's call and promise--as is God's promise that His Word will never return void, but will accomplish all He sent The Word forth to do.

 

[OutOfPlace_Christian]

I've been doing a lot of reflecting on my recent attitude and feelings toward my Christian walk and something very worrying occurred to me. I've found that my main motivation for doing anything that I do (praying, going to church, staying clear of temptation) is fueled by my fear of eternal damnation.

I don't know if anyone else goes through this, but it is scary. What if I am Christian mainly because I'm scared to go to hell?

I have.......and still am experiencing this fear-driven walk with Jesus. I actually feel spiritual dead and it bothers me so much.

 

[OutOfPlace_Christian]

I’ll give you a sincere answer.
It happens to many of us.

Very real. Thanks

 

[OutOfPlace_Christian]

Sounds like, to me, that all you have ever been taught is "Fire, Hell, and Brimstone". God is your Father, and you are His child....He loves you more than you can ever comprehend. If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you are saved. This is "condemnation" working on your mind. Paul said that
Romans 8:1 King James Version (KJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Here is my testimony when I went through what you are now.
Well I am still new and can't quite figure it out so the rest of my story goes like this:
I went to church all my life, got saved when I was 7. After I became an adult I joined the adult Sunday service. We had a wonderful pastor who just happened to preach his sermon on the very sin I committed that week. At the end of the sermon he invited anyone who needed to come to the alter to rededicate, get saved or be delivered to come forward. I was there every single service. One Sunday after church and getting saved again I went home threw my body on the floor and cried to God uncontrollably and said "I give up, this Christianity thing is too hard and no matter how I try I seem to always mess up!"
Then I heard a voice, it wasn't really audible to my ears but it was very audible in my mind. It said to me "Patty, who do you think I am?"....instinctively somehow I knew he expected me to say something so I said you are God...He asked a second time, I replied a little more hesitantly since the 1st answer didn't seem to be right and said "umm The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the I AM...(I got it right this time for sure!)...then He asked a 3RD TIME!!! I stuttered and searched my memory of what I was taught about who God is and finally I said what do you want me to say...
He replied soooooo lovingly and tender and said "I am your Father, and as much as you love your daughter so much more do I love you that you can't comprehend it. As your daughter grows up and makes mistakes you will correct her, discipline her at times but never, ever, ever will you stop loving her because of her mistakes. And neither will I stop loving you just because you make a mistake. Allow yourself to be led of the spirit, repent daily and always forgive...as I will always forgive you. Seek Me daily, walk with me, talk with me, tell me what's on your heart. I AM YOUR FATHER!" So wow..
I was approximately 23 y.o. when this happened and it liberated me from condemnation. I now know I am truly saved! Amen!

WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this.

 

[Heart2Soul]

WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this.

You are very welcome!

 

[gideon123]

God constantly describes himself as a Loving Father in the Bible. Even when He does punish people, it is usually through discipline and not condemnation.

I don't see a focus on "hell' as a healthy approach to faith.
It seems more like people have personal issues with judgment in their lives, because because of bad role models from parents. Many Christians struggle with the idea of really being sure of their salvation. This is not necessary, God's promises are good.

Christianity should not be about 'living in constant fear'. It should be about walking towards the light. 1 COR 13