Does God's Law Only Apply to Believers?

[JoeinPA]

I am a believer and have noticed that non-believers seem to get away with alot more than I did in life...is ignorance bliss or will they undergo judgment someday too?

 

[Notion]

Luke 12:47-48 (KJV)

47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

The Law applies to everyone but those who do not know better are not punished as severely - their trials will not burn as hot, so to speak.

Furthermore, those who are not within the Church are to be left to God to try and to judge(punish) - it is up to him to punish them in this life - the Church is told to remain blameless. Matthew 5:43-48, Matthew 18:15-17, and 1 Corinthians 5:12-13

 

[Cearbhall]

I am a believer and have noticed that non-believers seem to get away with alot more than I did in life...is ignorance bliss or will they undergo judgment someday too?

What do you mean "get away with?" Do you mean that people don't seem to judge them as harshly, or that they seem to get lucky and avoid consequences?

 

[ThinkForYourself]

I am a believer and have noticed that non-believers seem to get away with alot more than I did in life...

Interesting, as a non-believer, I think Christians have it very easy in this department, and I think I get away with a lot less than you do.

If I do something wrong, I can't ask God for forgiveness and be done with it. I have to feel guilt, make restitution, and seek forgiveness from the person I wronged.

is ignorance bliss or will they undergo judgment someday too?

Again, I think you are way off the mark, there is no "bliss".

Unlike Christians, atheists don't get instantly absolved and put off their judgement until they die. They have to feel guilty until they make restitution and seek and receive forgiveness in their everyday life.

 

[Cuddles333]

Does God's Law Only Apply to Believers?

I am a believer and have noticed that non-believers seem to get away with alot more than I did in life...is ignorance bliss or will they undergo judgment someday too?

Certain parts of the Law of Liberty apply the Christian and other parts apply to those outside of Christ. Some things applying to the believer are Church duties, how to behave towards the brethren and New Testament rules concerning the Christian marriage and Christian divorce. It may look that non-believers get away with a lot...but in reality they are just digging themselves deeper into a spiritual hole. The Psalms talk about how it seemed that the ungodly just seem to prosper and have the world just go their way....while the righteous seem to become poorer and poorer and have trouble constantly. Psalms teach that the righteous must not become discouraged because their reward is waiting for them, and the unbelievers have already received theirs.

 

[JoeinPA]

Interesting, as a non-believer, I think Christians have it very easy in this department, and I think I get away with a lot less than you do.

If I do something wrong, I can't ask God for forgiveness and be done with it. I have to feel guilt, make restitution, and seek forgiveness from the person I wronged.


Again, I think you are way off the mark, there is no "bliss".

Unlike Christians, atheists don't get instantly absolved and put off their judgement until they die. They have to feel guilty until they make restitution and seek and receive forgiveness in their everyday life.

If you are truly athiest,then you wouldn't feel as guilty as they really don't seem to because they don't believe there is anyone to be accountable to.

 

[ThinkForYourself]

If you are truly athiest,then you wouldn't feel as guilty as they really don't seem to because they don't believe there is anyone to be accountable to.

Well, I'm an atheist. If you don't believe me, check out my posts.

And I am accountable. I am accountable to my family, my society, my fellow human beings.

Being a Christian, you probably didn't realize that Secular Morality is superior to biblical Morality.

 

[Strathos]

Does God's Law Only Apply to Believers?






Certain parts of the Law of Liberty apply the Christian and other parts apply to those outside of Christ. Some things applying to the believer are Church duties, how to behave towards the brethren and New Testament rules concerning the Christian marriage and Christian divorce. It may look that non-believers get away with a lot...but in reality they are just digging themselves deeper into a spiritual hole. The Psalms talk about how it seemed that the ungodly just seem to prosper and have the world just go their way....while the righteous seem to become poorer and poorer and have trouble constantly. Psalms teach that the righteous must not become discouraged because their reward is waiting for them, and the unbelievers have already received theirs.

True. Much like that Angry Beavers episode with the box tops (probably the weirdest analogy I've ever used, but it applies...)

 

[ThinkForYourself]

Does God's Law Only Apply to Believers?

Certain parts of the Law of Liberty apply the Christian and other parts apply to those outside of Christ. Some things applying to the believer are Church duties, how to behave towards the brethren and New Testament rules concerning the Christian marriage and Christian divorce. It may look that non-believers get away with a lot...but in reality they are just digging themselves deeper into a spiritual hole. The Psalms talk about how it seemed that the ungodly just seem to prosper and have the world just go their way....while the righteous seem to become poorer and poorer and have trouble constantly. Psalms teach that the righteous must not become discouraged because their reward is waiting for them, and the unbelievers have already received theirs.

Cuddles check out my post #4 in this thread.

As I point out, atheists get away with a lot less than Christians. We have to face our wrongs immediately, and have to face the person we wronged. Trust me, that's a lot more difficult than simply asking an invisible friend for forgiveness.

 

[Golden Yak]

If you are truly athiest,then you wouldn't feel as guilty as they really don't seem to because they don't believe there is anyone to be accountable to.

If you think the mark of a 'true atheist' is someone who doesn't feel any guilt, shame, or empathy for others, you are very mistaken.

A 'true' atheist is someone who does not believe in a God. So we can't think we're accountable to God, since we don't believe he exists. But we certainly know there are other people in our lives, and we are accountable to them.

There might well be some people who don't believe in God and who also don't feel guilty about wronging others.

Those people are called 'jerks'. They just happen to be atheist. You can be a jerk and a theist as well though.

And in my opinion someone who only feels bad about wronging people because they're worried they'll be punished for it later is less moral than someone who feels bad about wronging people because they regret the harm it has caused them, even if they're never expressly punished for it.

 

[TheBear]

I am a believer and have noticed that non-believers seem to get away with alot more than I did in life...is ignorance bliss or will they undergo judgment someday too?

If right before he died, Hitler repented of his sins through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, (not saying he did or didn't, but if he did), what would be his judgement? Conversely, how would a Buddhist or a Jain be judged?

 

[JoeinPA]

If right before he died, Hitler repented of his sins through Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, (not saying he did or didn't, but if he did), what would be his judgement? Conversely, how would a Buddhist or a Jain be judged?

This has often frustrated me as well...why should someone who converted at the last minute be allowed the same treatment as us who have been aware for a longer time? That's like the people that cut in line after we've been waiting all that time;

 

[Cearbhall]

If you are truly athiest,then you wouldn't feel as guilty as they really don't seem to because they don't believe there is anyone to be accountable to.

No, there are plenty of non-supernatural reasons to feel guilty. We're programmed to care for our young, for example, thanks to evolution.

(I'm an atheist.)

 

[Strathos]

No, there are plenty of non-supernatural reasons to feel guilty. We're programmed to care for our young, for example, thanks to evolution.

(I'm an atheist.)

Yet your icon says 'other religion'.

 

[Jade Margery]

Does Allah's law only apply to Muslims?

 

[ethicsguy]

I agree with GoldenYak in regard to the idea of judgement. Ethical and moral pursuits should be placed on a higher standard than simply as an aim in regard to final judgement. As a card carrying member of the human race you have a moral obligation to assist in taking care of each other. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Jesus, Confucius, and others) is a non-religious universal moral truth. Actually, by Christian standards you do not have to be moral. Divine Grace takes care of that situation. Unfortunately many Christians (subconsciously at the very least) know this and live less than desirable moral lives. I find the reverse in society is true moreso than your observation. The general population of Christians (non strong believers) appear to be less moral than the non-believers of the world.

 

[Tinker Grey]

This has often frustrated me as well...why should someone who converted at the last minute be allowed the same treatment as us who have been aware for a longer time? That's like the people that cut in line after we've been waiting all that time;

Oh, but see ... you'll have more stars in your crown.

 

[BL2KTN]

That's Jesus bling.

 

[Ken-1122]

If you are truly athiest,then you wouldn't feel as guilty as they really don't seem to because they don't believe there is anyone to be accountable to.

I am reminded of an instance when an associate of mine damaged my property, and she apologized but neglected to fix or replace my loss. A few months later she asked to borrow something from me again and when I refused citing the previous instance of her borrowing my property, she said" I said I was sorry! And God has already forgiven me for that; why can't you?

With such an "escape clause" in effect it seems theists don't have to feel guilty of anything.

Ken

 

[Cearbhall]

Yet your icon says 'other religion'.

Indeed it does.