Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?
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mmksparbud
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Yes---sort of, how can you be a Christian without a Christ? After life is possible only because there is a Christ. I would still prefer to live by the principles He taught---but if there was no Christ and no afterlife---whose principles would we go by? No---I'd rather continue in my steadfast believe of BOTH Christ and an afterlife. There would be no point in living otherwise. It would be just trying to enjoy what you can--it would be all so useless. The suicide rate would be outrageously high. Jesus is what gives meaning to my life. The hope of being with Him forever, to actually see and talk with Him is what makes life worthwhile. The renewed earth is something to really hope for--no death, no sin at all is what heaven is.
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GraceBro
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Being a Christian is to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit for eternity through my faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, if there is no afterlife, there is no Christianity. I would not have the choice to make.
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Absolutely.
The relationship I have with my Father, the confidence and security I live in is not based on what I hope to receive in return. It is it's own reward. That, and nothing else make any sense. To not see God in creation, to believe this all just came together out of chaos is the epitome of, for lack of a better word. stupid.
The relationship I have with my Father, the confidence and security I live in is not based on what I hope to receive in return. It is it's own reward. That, and nothing else make any sense. To not see God in creation, to believe this all just came together out of chaos is the epitome of, for lack of a better word. stupid.
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The whole basis of Christianity is to not suffer the second death and be unified with our Creator in the Kingdom of God. Christianity would not exist. As far as this life, the Kingdom of God is not of this world.
Blessings.
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Indeed we are as aliens and strangers in this world, this world is not our home and we are just passing through !
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Toro
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No, because if the atheistic view point were reality.... the here and now would be all there was
IF this were all there was, then it would mean Jesus was just a man, there would be no God so how could He be the son of a nonexistent deity?
There would be no reason to deny ones flesh IF the very one instructing us to do so did not exist.
Paul even says as much in 1 corinthians 15:19
If our hope in Him is for and in this life alone..... and there is nothing to be found at the end of this life.... anything sacrificed or denied.... is for nothing.
If the core of your question is "Would you still try to be a 'good person', by social standards... " yes.... but I already know if there was no Christ, no afterlife and no God.... the real changes that have taken place in me would not have taken place, so I would remain a thief, a liar, an adulter, an overly aggressive man that was at best a narcissist.
So, while I could function and not be a danger to the fabric of society.... without Christ change in my heart.... I would be the same wreck I was when I came to Christ. So what I would be in a hypothetical existence is meaningless, for it is at best speculation and wasted time.
IF this were all there was, then it would mean Jesus was just a man, there would be no God so how could He be the son of a nonexistent deity?
There would be no reason to deny ones flesh IF the very one instructing us to do so did not exist.
Paul even says as much in 1 corinthians 15:19
If our hope in Him is for and in this life alone..... and there is nothing to be found at the end of this life.... anything sacrificed or denied.... is for nothing.
If the core of your question is "Would you still try to be a 'good person', by social standards... " yes.... but I already know if there was no Christ, no afterlife and no God.... the real changes that have taken place in me would not have taken place, so I would remain a thief, a liar, an adulter, an overly aggressive man that was at best a narcissist.
So, while I could function and not be a danger to the fabric of society.... without Christ change in my heart.... I would be the same wreck I was when I came to Christ. So what I would be in a hypothetical existence is meaningless, for it is at best speculation and wasted time.
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QvQ
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It isn't the promise of tomorrow, it is the glory of God's love today.
The people who love me now and who I love now, perhaps there will be a time when I never see them again but I see them today and love them truly. That is the glory of thy sweet love remembered.
The Kingdom and Glory of God is Now...
Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, here on earth, God loves me!
Dwelling in the House of the Lord forever..is just icing on the cake.
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I see some responses equate ‘Christian’ or follower of Christ) with faith in God. While it is true that Christ/God was the vehicle by which God accomplished redemption. He Himself provided a sacrifice, Gen, 22:8 (Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together. )
Faith was in God before Christ’s sacrifice, This being a given, the conquering of death and eternal life was planned to those who believed prior the advent of Christ’s actual carrying out of the mission to save humanity on this physical plane. And as the forefathers place there faith and redemption in God then, I now place mine in Him, with or without mansions or streets of gold in some world where we live forever and can not conceive of.
1 Cor, 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2 Cor, 12:2. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man, whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
So while there may not have been the word, ‘Christian’ the truth of God’s creation and loving compassion for His creation would remain firm. As Christ said, ‘It is Finished.’
If we believe because we expect to be rewarded, are we not then workers, employees that have earned our pay. This is contrary to scripture which states, “By faith you are saved.”
Knowing the absolute truth and being in a relationship with it, Is the reward.
In Christ
Faith was in God before Christ’s sacrifice, This being a given, the conquering of death and eternal life was planned to those who believed prior the advent of Christ’s actual carrying out of the mission to save humanity on this physical plane. And as the forefathers place there faith and redemption in God then, I now place mine in Him, with or without mansions or streets of gold in some world where we live forever and can not conceive of.
1 Cor, 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2 Cor, 12:2. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man, whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
So while there may not have been the word, ‘Christian’ the truth of God’s creation and loving compassion for His creation would remain firm. As Christ said, ‘It is Finished.’
If we believe because we expect to be rewarded, are we not then workers, employees that have earned our pay. This is contrary to scripture which states, “By faith you are saved.”
Knowing the absolute truth and being in a relationship with it, Is the reward.
In Christ
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It's an impossible question, because without the resurrection there is no Christianity. So it's like saying if Christianity is untrue, would you still be a Christian?
I can say this much, even if all would be saved, believers and unbelievers, no matter religion, I would still be a Christian. It's not primarily my personal salvation that wants me to stay Christian, but the fact that Jesus has died for us, conquered death and was resurrected for our salvation. I can see no greater love, and no greater purpose for my life.
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I'm guessing that you mean something like, "Does this life, apart from the hope or promises concerning the afterlife, have enough to offer the believer to make it worth pursuing Christ?" Yes, most definitely.
If your question involves the actual scenario, the question is bogus.
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Navair2
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You mean, the world hating us like it hates our Saviour ( John 15:18 ), the suffering that goes along with belief ( Philippians 1:29 ), the trials and tribulations ( John 6:33 ) and the sadness when one realizes that family members will also persecute us ( Matthew 10:34-38 ) because we are "crazy enough" to believe in a Saviour that they can't see with their eyes?
I'm looking forward to the next life and being with Him, thanks.
Because He bothered with a worthless sinner like me, when He could have left me to His wrath and judgment...
" We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19.
I take great comfort in the fact that He loved me, even when I was dead in trespasses and sins ( Ephesians 2:1-7 ).
Most who profess Christ appear to think that, in my opinion.
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Would I still be a Christian if there was no afterlife. I think I probably would.
We all know what it feels like to go away on holiday. We spend many months planning it, thinking about it, and ensuring that, when the time approaches, we can get to our destination as quickly and conveniently as possible.
Here in the UK, most tourists hoping to spend their summer vacations in the sun soaked Mediterranean will opt for the cheapest, shortest flights. They want to get there with the minimum of expense and time. Fortunately for them, most tour operators provide flights from regional airports that can get them to their destinations in about a few hours.
Travelling by air, by far, the quickest route, they will most certainly get there easier, but the journey will be extremely boring and mundane. In comparison, if they took the journey by road, it would take far longer but perhaps be much more interesting and enjoyable. Travelling by road from London to Marbella, getting to the final destination would take many days longer, but it would hardly be uninteresting. You would probably get the chance to view the Eiffel Tower in Paris, marvel over fantastic scenery, and get the chance to meet and converse with interesting people and even learn a new language and culture!
Let's contemplate the worst case scenario. Our flight is cancelled. Our journey by road is frought with inclement weather conditions. Perhaps we are unsure how we will finally reach our destination. Yet during our journey, we have encountered new experiences, those which teach us a new perspective on life. New friends, new contacts, new knowledge, or even new coping strategies, when life is going well or when it becomes frustrated or perplexing.
Our journey through life is equally important as our future destiny. Where we go and who we become is the culmination of who we are, right here, in the present: our values, our beliefs, our hopes and dreams.
What about the afterlife? We hope for it and anticipate it. But in the meantime, that is in the future, and all we have now is the present. Let us make the most of our present situation and to make the very most of our opportunities to love God, to cherish our neighbour, and to always seek what is good and right. In our life as Christians, the journey is just as important as the destination. It moulds us and defines us for the people we really are.
We all know what it feels like to go away on holiday. We spend many months planning it, thinking about it, and ensuring that, when the time approaches, we can get to our destination as quickly and conveniently as possible.
Here in the UK, most tourists hoping to spend their summer vacations in the sun soaked Mediterranean will opt for the cheapest, shortest flights. They want to get there with the minimum of expense and time. Fortunately for them, most tour operators provide flights from regional airports that can get them to their destinations in about a few hours.
Travelling by air, by far, the quickest route, they will most certainly get there easier, but the journey will be extremely boring and mundane. In comparison, if they took the journey by road, it would take far longer but perhaps be much more interesting and enjoyable. Travelling by road from London to Marbella, getting to the final destination would take many days longer, but it would hardly be uninteresting. You would probably get the chance to view the Eiffel Tower in Paris, marvel over fantastic scenery, and get the chance to meet and converse with interesting people and even learn a new language and culture!
Let's contemplate the worst case scenario. Our flight is cancelled. Our journey by road is frought with inclement weather conditions. Perhaps we are unsure how we will finally reach our destination. Yet during our journey, we have encountered new experiences, those which teach us a new perspective on life. New friends, new contacts, new knowledge, or even new coping strategies, when life is going well or when it becomes frustrated or perplexing.
Our journey through life is equally important as our future destiny. Where we go and who we become is the culmination of who we are, right here, in the present: our values, our beliefs, our hopes and dreams.
What about the afterlife? We hope for it and anticipate it. But in the meantime, that is in the future, and all we have now is the present. Let us make the most of our present situation and to make the very most of our opportunities to love God, to cherish our neighbour, and to always seek what is good and right. In our life as Christians, the journey is just as important as the destination. It moulds us and defines us for the people we really are.
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happy traveller
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That's a good question! In truth, I'm sure I would. Simply because, every time I have gone my own way/erred only misery followed. I'm far happier, and have much more peace on this earth the closer I am to Jesus, and through him the Father. I would go so far as to say, I don't believe I could get through this life without Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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gym_class_hero
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if there was no afterlife there'd be no need for Jesus to die on the cross.
Absent Him dying on the cross, there is no Christianity. If I just want to be nice and obey some rules, I'd join the Boy Scouts.
Absent Him dying on the cross, there is no Christianity. If I just want to be nice and obey some rules, I'd join the Boy Scouts.
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