Would you still be a Christian without the incentive of Heaven?

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SAAchristian757

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I feel sorry for the ones who have an awful time of it hereon earth though. Through no fault of their own, I mean.
I would say that many have an awful time of it hereon earth.

>What better reason to think and act like Jesus and being rewarded with an abundant life full of blessings?

Really, this has not been my experience. I cringe inside when I read this.
 
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Godlovesmetwo

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If God asked me to go to Hell for Him, would I do it? Yeah, I pray I would have the courage to do that. Afterall, He did for me.
That's a great question actually. if we really loved someone, would we suffer eternal Hell for them?
 
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Godlovesmetwo

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0For me it was the realisation that the resurection was trus that made a difference.
I know what you're saying. its nice to know we've discovered the truth. The meaning of life. Jesus Christ is the way, truth and life.
 
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Anguspure

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I asked myself this question once: If God asked me to go to Hell for Him, would I do it? Yeah, I pray I would have the courage to do that. Afterall, He did for me.
Here's something that I have considered: If we have the righteousness of Christ and if and because of this we have the authority to forgive sin (or not) on earth, then would it be possible for us lay down our lives for the salvation of another as Christ has done? Could we, upon seeing that another person was to be cast into hell, step in and offer to be cast in ourselves? Would not this be the coup of eternity if the body of Christ itself was to also lay itself down for the sin of the world, vicarious of Christ and so present His Love again graphically as a gift to the world?
 
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Sea Horse

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That's a great question actually. if we really loved someone, would we suffer eternal Hell for them?

I would not , i would like Peter run away when they asked him if he knew Christ , maybe i would repent over time and die for him just like Peter but i dubt it , that's why i need Christ because i can't go to heaven myself , he did it for me .
 
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Godlovesmetwo

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Could we, upon seeing that another person was to be cast into hell, step in and offer to be cast in ourselves?
Interesting idea isn't it. A person might even be happy in Hell, :)despite the pain, but knowing that they sacrificed themselves for someone else out of love.
 
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Anguspure

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Interesting idea isn't it. A person might even be happy in Hell, :)despite the pain, but knowing that they sacrificed themselves for someone else out of love.
Or perhaps the power of the resurrection is in the death. The question is do we really trust the Just nature of God enough? Certainly our Saviour sweat blood thinking about the situation.
 
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Anguspure

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I would not , i would like Peter run away when they asked him if he knew Christ , maybe i would repent over time and die for him just like Peter but i dubt it , that's why i need Christ because i can't go to heaven myself , he did it for me .
You are an honest Horse my friend. I hate to say it but in myself I am the same. But then I shouldn't hate it, should I? Because my weakness brings all glory to Him.
 
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Sarah G

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That's a great question actually. if we really loved someone, would we suffer eternal Hell for them?

Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said that he would refuse heaven if gay people aren't allowed in. God bless him.

"I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place," Archbishop Tutu said at the launch of the Free and Equal campaign in Cape Town.
Archbishop Tutu 'would not worship a homophobic God' - BBC News
 
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Anguspure

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said that he would refuse heaven if gay people aren't allowed in. God bless him.

"I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place," Archbishop Tutu said at the launch of the Free and Equal campaign in Cape Town.
Archbishop Tutu 'would not worship a homophobic God' - BBC News
The thing is that God doesn't take gays any more than he takes heterosexuals or whatever other box.

What God takes into Heaven is Desmond and Anne, Charlie and Bob, Margaret and Jill etc etc etc, all X billion of us each individually on the grounds of what Christ Jesus has done for us and who find our identity in Him.

If we insist on finding our identity in things of the flesh then none of us belong to Him. Rather we should set our minds on the things of the Spirit that He has given us and find our identity in Him.
 
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Sarah G

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The thing is that God doesn't take gays any more than he takes heterosexuals or whatever other box.

What God takes into Heaven is Desmond and Anne, Charlie and Bob, Margaret and Jill etc etc etc, all X billion of us each individually on the grounds of what Christ Jesus has done for us and who find our identity in Him.

If we insist on finding our identity in things of the flesh then none of us belong to Him. Rather we should set our minds on the things of the Spirit that He has given us and find our identity in Him.
Perhaps you should write to Desmond Tutu and educate him on the matter.
 
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Anguspure

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Perhaps you should write to Desmond Tutu and educate him on the matter.
I met him once. My Grandmother introduced me when he came to Nelson. I think Archbishop Tutu would have a wonderful discussion with anybody because he is truly a humble man of God.
 
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RDKirk

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So does this mean that if there was no heaven, you would cease to follow Christ? That is the question of the thread.

"Follow Christ" to where, then? Where is Christ now? Dead in the grave or alive in heaven?

The concept of heaven is inextricable from the concepts of resurrection and eternal life, and without the resurrection there is no Christ. (1 Corinthians 15).

If there is no heaven, then Christ is just another dead man now in the grave who said some good things while he lived.

There are lots of dead men now in their graves who said good things while they lived. One could lead a sufficiently moral life with no more than Aristotle, if there is no heaven.
 
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Anguspure

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"Follow Christ" to where, then? Where is Christ now? Dead in the grave or alive in heaven?

The concept of heaven is inextricable from the concepts of resurrection and eternal life, and without the resurrection there is no Christ. (1 Corinthians 15).

If there is no heaven, then Christ is just another dead man now in the grave who said some good things while he lived.

There are lots of dead men now in their graves who said good things while they lived. One could lead a sufficiently moral life with no more than Aristotle, if there is no heaven.
But then, to press the point, if being moral wasn't your thing then why would you even bother with that?
 
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RDKirk

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I guess my purpose in starting this thread is to question our motivation for being a Christian. If we truly love God in a "selfless" way, we wouldnt expect any reward from Him.

Who came up with the "truly love God in a 'selfless' way" myth?

Not Jesus. Jesus never spoke in terms of there being no satisfactory end goal. Not ever.
 
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