Things that make me question my faith

Bribarian · Mar 5, 2010

I know that God is very real. I know that good and evil are very real. I know the prophecy is accurate. I have come to learn these through life experience, prayer, and learning about myself, a very evil and wicked person at one point.

But I still have questions that plague me.

Many Christians would agree that a baby's death or a child's death is a free pass to Heaven. So is it better to die young and live an eternity in heaven? Rather than die old and have the chance to sin and sin again?

As for the mentally ill, slow, or handicapped. What is their fate? Where do you think God places them?

Before the Bible was worldwide, what happened to the people that had no contact with the bible? Say in Eastern Asia or Southern Africa. Heaven or Hell?

And now a truly disturbing question if your answer was heaven to the last question. Are people at a disadvantage for hearing the bible and having contact with christians, so being warned? Have the chance to repent yet choose not to and sin rather than not hearing anything about it....

These things were bothering me today. Wouldn't it be better to die young and live eternally in heaven ? Or to be as far from the book as possible. How could God punish you if you heard nothing of it?

fm107 · Mar 5, 2010

Hi Bribarian,

"Many Christians would agree that a baby's death or a child's death is a free pass to Heaven. So is it better to die young and live an eternity in heaven? Rather than die old and have the chance to sin and sin again?"

Christian's who live life can serve God, they can partake in his work i.e. spreading the good news of salvation. We can also worship God and learn so much about him through personal experience. A person who lives their life and does these things will be rewarded at the resurrection of the righteous whereas a new born baby would not have partaken in the work and therefore not receive a portion (or as big a portion) of the reward.

Luke 14:13-14
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Luke 18:29-30
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

Luke 20:10
At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

"As for the mentally ill, slow, or handicapped. What is their fate? Where do you think God places them?"

They still have eyes to see creation and ears to hear the gospel. If they are too retarted to understand the gospel then they can still see creation and understand that someone must have created it.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternalpower and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Psalm 19:1-4
1The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

At the end of the day, God is just and righteous. He is fair when he judges.

"Before the Bible was worldwide, what happened to the people that had no contact with the bible? Say in Eastern Asia or Southern Africa. Heaven or Hell?"

They could have still worshipped the God of creation. The proof of God is in creation - refer back to the last to scriptures I quoted.

Acts 10 is a good example of this.

"And now a truly disturbing question if your answer was heaven to the last question. Are people at a disadvantage for hearing the bible and having contact with christians, so being warned? Have the chance to repent yet choose not to and sin rather than not hearing anything about it...."

Yes, because God has not only reached out his hand through creation but also through the bible and through Christians. A person who has the benefit of all three telling him about God is more condemned than a person who has for example, before the bible was written could only have known of God through creation.

Think of it like this, you slap God's hand away once (through creation)
or you can slap it away three times (through creation, bible and Christians)

"These things were bothering me today. Wouldn't it be better to die young and live eternally in heaven ? Or to be as far from the book as possible. How could God punish you if you heard nothing of it?"

As I have said, creation testifies to there being a creator God. That alone is more than enough to save people yet men love their sins more and are too stubborn to want to face the truth.

I certainly hope my responses help you with your questions.

God bless.

heymikey80 · Mar 5, 2010

Bribarian said:
These things were bothering me today. Wouldn't it be better to die young and live eternally in heaven ? Or to be as far from the book as possible. How could God punish you if you heard nothing of it?

Because "what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." Rom 1:19-23

Everyone's responsible. We know right. We do wrong.

heymikey80 · Mar 5, 2010

Bribarian said:
Many Christians would agree that a baby's death or a child's death is a free pass to Heaven. So is it better to die young and live an eternity in heaven? Rather than die old and have the chance to sin and sin again?

As for the mentally ill, slow, or handicapped. What is their fate? Where do you think God places them?

Few Christians can find God saying it that way. Taking a human reason like that without God actually saying it would depend on who: God, or man?

Bribarian said:
Before the Bible was worldwide, what happened to the people that had no contact with the bible? Say in Eastern Asia or Southern Africa. Heaven or Hell?

The question isn't what they know about God, but how they rely on God. The Bible has a clear message, and there are people at a disadvantage of not having the Bible, even now. But reliance on God had an impact on Abraham, and he didn't have a Bible either.

Bribarian said:
And now a truly disturbing question if your answer was heaven to the last question. Are people at a disadvantage for hearing the bible and having contact with christians, so being warned? Have the chance to repent yet choose not to and sin rather than not hearing anything about it....

No. Those who live without God perish without God.

Bribarian · Mar 6, 2010

fm107 said:
As I have said, creation testifies to there being a creator God. That alone is more than enough to save people yet men love their sins more and are too stubborn to want to face the truth.

I certainly hope my responses help you with your questions.

God bless.

They certainly did, however if people never heard or saw the word of God, how would they know what sin actually is? Oh wait, you answered that.

So being exposed to Christianity actually puts one at a disadvantage for eternity? An argument I had with an atheist ended in this....that had he not known any christians he would have ended up in heaven because he could not have known what to do and what not to do...

Creation alone is proof of God, I agree with that, however it wouldn't explain what is and isn't a sin. So hypothetically one could live a life full of sin and still gain access to heaven had they not heard of the book? But did give thanks to a God in their own way.

Bribarian · Mar 6, 2010

heymikey80 said:
No. Those who live without God perish without God.

Let's say some people did believe in God, however it had nothing to do with Christianity's views and they followed their own rules.

This has happened all over the world for centuries.

I try to look at it as God has a plan for all these people too, who didn't have the opportunity to be Christian or understand the Bible, however, many would say if they didn't accept Christ then they are going to hell, regardless. It's sometimes hard for me to understand.

ChildOfGod97 · Mar 6, 2010

Bribarian said:
I know that God is very real. I know that good and evil are very real. I know the prophecy is accurate. I have come to learn these through life experience, prayer, and learning about myself, a very evil and wicked person at one point.

But I still have questions that plague me.

Many Christians would agree that a baby's death or a child's death is a free pass to Heaven. So is it better to die young and live an eternity in heaven? Rather than die old and have the chance to sin and sin again?

As for the mentally ill, slow, or handicapped. What is their fate? Where do you think God places them?

Before the Bible was worldwide, what happened to the people that had no contact with the bible? Say in Eastern Asia or Southern Africa. Heaven or Hell?

And now a truly disturbing question if your answer was heaven to the last question. Are people at a disadvantage for hearing the bible and having contact with christians, so being warned? Have the chance to repent yet choose not to and sin rather than not hearing anything about it....

These things were bothering me today. Wouldn't it be better to die young and live eternally in heaven ? Or to be as far from the book as possible. How could God punish you if you heard nothing of it?

I think that you are making a lot of assumptions about what Hell is, based on what people have told you, as opposed to what Scripture actually says.

You should do some research.

fm107 · Mar 6, 2010

Bribarian said:
They certainly did, however if people never heard or saw the word of God, how would they know what sin actually is? Oh wait, you answered that.

Bribarian said:
So being exposed to Christianity actually puts one at a disadvantage for eternity? An argument I had with an atheist ended in this....that had he not known any christians he would have ended up in heaven because he could not have known what to do and what not to do...

Creation alone is proof of God, I agree with that, however it wouldn't explain what is and isn't a sin. So hypothetically one could live a life full of sin and still gain access to heaven had they not heard of the book? But did give thanks to a God in their own way.

I was referring to before the bible was written. Nowadays, even in the most isolated parts of the world, you don't need to travel far to hear Jesus mentioned.

We do know what is and what isn't a sin because we all have a conscience. No matter what country you go to in the world, no matter what skin colour a person is or the language they speak, EVERYONE knows the universal moral laws of God which are written into our hearts (the 10 commandments). That is why everyone knows murder is wrong, lying is wrong, stealing is wrong etc. Our consciences either condemn what we do or agree what we do. If it condemns us then we are sinning.

Romans 2:14-15
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)

James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

fm107 · Mar 6, 2010

Bribarian said:
Let's say some people did believe in God, however it had nothing to do with Christianity's views and they followed their own rules.

This has happened all over the world for centuries.

I try to look at it as God has a plan for all these people too, who didn't have the opportunity to be Christian or understand the Bible, however, many would say if they didn't accept Christ then they are going to hell, regardless. It's sometimes hard for me to understand.

Jesus made it clear:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

LilLamb219 · Mar 6, 2010

I believe most if not all of your questions can be answered if you look to who God is and what He has done for us. WHO is God?? Is He loving? Mercifiul? Compassionate? Or do you see him as vindictive? Not caring? Hateful? WHO is God?

Well, if you read through the bible, you get a real feel for who He is. Don't read in just chunks and think you've understood it because you miss out on a great deal of things...things that need connecting.

God is holy, merciful, just, compassionate, loving. When putting those characteristics to the test of your questions...all those characteristics...you find that you are worrying about things that you should let God worry about. He is the one who cares for us. He is the one who gives us the gift of faith. He is the one who is just.

We tend to look at questions like you've posed through our own lens instead of the lens of God. They aren't bad questions!!!! It's just that, oftentimes, we cannot answer them and have to leave it up to God and know that the answers will not contradict his character.

Learn more about God and what He has done for us and your mind will be put more at ease.

Bribarian · Mar 6, 2010

We do know what is and what isn't a sin because we all have a conscience. No matter what country you go to in the world, no matter what skin colour a person is or the language they speak, EVERYONE knows the universal moral laws of God which are written into our hearts (the 10 commandments). That is why everyone knows murder is wrong, lying is wrong, stealing is wrong etc. Our consciences either condemn what we do or agree what we do. If it condemns us then we are sinning.

This isn't necessarily true. Murder and stealing have been a way of life for some people around the world.

fm107 · Mar 7, 2010

You would need to tell me what you are making reference to, I'm guessing war?

But just because something is a way of life as you put it, it doesn't mean mean to say it is not sinful, for most people, how they live their lives are sinful, e.g. getting drunk at weekends etc.

Bribarian · Mar 7, 2010

fm107 said:
You would need to tell me what you are making reference to, I'm guessing war?

But just because something is a way of life as you put it, it doesn't mean mean to say it is not sinful, for most people, how they live their lives are sinful, e.g. getting drunk at weekends etc.

My point was how would people with no access to the bible no "what sin actually was?"

Pre-bible or in parts of the world without access to the bible.

Johnnz · Mar 8, 2010

Paul faced this question in his day. His reply was:

Rom 2:12-16
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) NIV

There is what is known as natural law, something that most people throughout history seem to 'know'. Mere Christianity by C S Lewis is a very readable examination of that concept.

John
NZ

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