My Judgment Day Defence Strategy

[doubtingmerle]

Yes. Obey God insead of trying to outwit him

And if I don't know what God wants? Then what?

 

[drich0150]

And if I don't know what God wants? Then what?

Ask, and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be open for you.

We ask through prayer, we seek in places like this and in scripture. we knock by repeating this process till we get what our heart truly wants.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Recently a poster commented on my Judgment Day Defence Strategy. That concept is a little odd to me, since I sincerely doubt that life after death is even possible. I therfore never expect to need to defend my life at a future judgement day in the afterlife. But suppose to my shock I someday find myself in that position. My defence might sound something like this:

I did my best to live a worthy life. I had no way of knowing what God or any other transcendent being asked of me, but I did know this:

1. I am human.
2. I am surrounded by other humans.
3. There is something very good about being human.
4. Humans have emotional and physical needs that are best fulfilled by working in cooperation with others.
​

Therefore, I have done the best I could to work in cooperation with others, caring for their emotional and physical needs, and working together with them to promote the best for all of us.
​

Do you have a better Judgment Day Defence Strategy?

I always think it is significant that the only time Jesus tells us exactly what Judgment Day looks like it is on the basis of how we treat "the least of these".

I do not, of course, believe that being a Christian places me on a better platform for when the day comes when the entirety of my life will be evaluated by my God and Judge. How and what Judgment Day will be like no one can say. What I am confident about as a matter of faith is that God is a good and merciful Judge, not a tyrant.

Something of a tangent perhaps, but I'm always reminded by what Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar says in his book Dare We Hope: that it isn't for the Christian to judge who will be in Hell, indeed the Church has no authority to declare that anyone specifically is in Hell; and rather the Christian ought be concerned with his or her salvation and trust in God for everyone else. That is, I am to regard myself the "chief of sinners" and "work out [my] salvation with fear and trembling" not out of self-loathing, but in being that in my humanity I know only myself, I am only capable of examining my own heart and soul. It is only God who can judge my neighbor to His good justice and great mercy.

Many other Christians both Western and Eastern have said similar.

Also, as perhaps a matter of anticipation to others' protests, I'm not suggesting there is no value in being a Christian, nor that salvation is ever in any way apart from Christ or that I can--in anyway--merit it. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone according to the work of Christ alone. For I am justified by the grace of God who creates in me faith by His Means through which I am reconciled to Him in Christ alone, who for our sake became flesh, died for our sins and rising again conquering the power of sin, death and hell. However, I must still stand before Him on some day only He knows and my life and all that I've done will be evaluated, revealed and made known--and this not to scare me, but I in part look forward to it; not as though I will have somehow earned His approval (I am well aware of my shortcomings in the light of God's justice and Christ's goodness) but because I trust that He is good and right and He alone can show me my life as it has really been. I don't hope in my own righteousness, but in the goodness, mercy and good justice of God who loves me--who loves the whole world.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[doubtingmerle]

Ask, and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be open for you.

If asking will give us the answer, why is it that those who ask are nowhere near to agreeing among themselves as to what God is saying to us?

 

[doubtingmerle]

I always think it is significant that the only time Jesus tells us exactly what Judgment Day looks like it is on the basis of how we treat "the least of these".

That certainly seems fair to me (provided the penalty for failing is commensurate with the crime. Eternal hell for stealing a cookie, as some have suggested, seems a little harsh to me.)

I do not, of course, believe that being a Christian places me on a better platform for when the day comes when the entirety of my life will be evaluated by my God and Judge.

Yes, I agree that believing a certain creed is not going to put one on a better platform if judgment comes.

Also, as perhaps a matter of anticipation to others' protests, I'm not suggesting there is no value in being a Christian, nor that salvation is ever in any way apart from Christ or that I can--in anyway--merit it. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone according to the work of Christ alone.

What you write when addressing the protesting Christians seems very different from the ideas that freely flow when addressing a skeptic.

I think perhaps, you see the benefit that the excursion away from the protesters brings.

 

[razeontherock]

Well according to Razeontherock (http://www.christianforums.com/t7526630-13/#post56667278), "As long as you are prioritizing documents, you will not be making room in your inner being for the Lord whom you presumably wish to approach."

Is Razeontherock correct? If so, why are you prioritizing docments?

Objection: out of context here.

 

[razeontherock]

If asking will give us the answer, why is it that those who ask are nowhere near to agreeing among themselves as to what God is saying to us?

This is a misrepresentation. Peoples of all walks agree on MOST things. Even within entirely different cultures and belief systems, by the time you get to the bottom of their rituals and practices, you see the same basic Truths.

 

[doubtingmerle]

This is a misrepresentation. Peoples of all walks agree on MOST things. Even within entirely different cultures and belief systems, by the time you get to the bottom of their rituals and practices, you see the same basic Truths.

Does God want us to defend our country in war? Christians strongly disagree.
Does God want people to be free to have abortions? Christians strongly disagree.
Does God allow Christians to use electricity? Christians strongly disagree.
Does God want people to freely express gay feelings? Christians strongly disagree.

So if people are going to tell me that I must do what God wants--or face a terrible judgment--then someone will need to figure out a good way to know exactly what God wants.

 

[drich0150]

If asking will give us the answer, why is it that those who ask are nowhere near to agreeing among themselves as to what God is saying to us?

One, how do you know that all who represent God as asking anything of Him besides their daily bread unless you compare what is said to what is written?

Two from the outside where you see disharmony, I can see the foundations of different denominations being represented. They have to be different because we are all different. There is freedom in Christ, even the freedom to worship Him in a conflicting way. Conflicting meaning, with one another's preferred accounts, not a conflicting biblical account. In short when we Go through Christ there are different paths we can choose from.

 

[Uncle Floyd]

If asking will give us the answer, why is it that those who ask are nowhere near to agreeing among themselves as to what God is saying to us?

Actually, we do agree. While atheists love to argue that Christianity is in chaos, they never seem to be able to explain why, if we can't agree, we all affirm the same creeds, confessions, and catechisms (and if not the creeds, confessions, and catechisms, themselves, then nearly always the tenets codified therein), preach the same Gospel, worship with the same hymns, go to one another's seminaries, preach and teach in one anothers' churches, etc.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

What you write when addressing the protesting Christians seems very different from the ideas that freely flow when addressing a skeptic.

I think perhaps, you see the benefit that the excursion away from the protesters brings.

In some sense I was addressing distinct things, and I maintain both at once that salvation cannot be found outside of Christ but do not maintain that salvation is impossible outside of Christianity. It's not theology that saves, but Christ.

I consider that an important line for me to walk, to neither compromise my faith nor deny the mystery of God's grace wherever and however it may operate. I can say where God's Means of Grace are--in His Word and Sacraments--but I cannot say where it's not.

To be quite frank, and I'm sure not a few will find this quite unsavory, I regard myself an agnostic universalist. That is, I don't only accept the possibility that all will be reconciled to God, but I hope and pray for that to be true. Which is, in a sense, to say that I refuse to believe that hope exists only on this side of the grave.

I think, in that vein, these words from St. Isaac the Syrian are appropriate,

"Let us not be in doubt, O fellow humanity, concerning the hope of our salvation, seeing that the One who bore sufferings for our sakes is very concerned about our salvation; God’s mercifulness is far more extensive than we can conceive, God’s grace is greater than what we ask for."

-CryptoLutheran

 

[doubtingmerle]

I maintain both at once that salvation cannot be found outside of Christ but do not maintain that salvation is impossible outside of Christianity. It's not theology that saves, but Christ.

Yes, it would seem to me that Christianity is not necessary to obtain "salvation".

I cannot see how God would be so limited that he cannot forgive sins unless somebody first kills his son. After all, you could forgive somebody without needing to put your son to death, couldn't you? If you can forgive without requiring your son to be killed, why can't God?

Even if it is true that God has this odd limitation that prevents him from forgiving unless somebody first kills his son, the deed has reportedly been done, so what does it matter if we believe it really happened?

Why not just go about living the best moral lives we can, and not force ourselves to adopt a certain belief out of fear that incorrect opinions about historical events send us to hell?

 

[lone soldier]

Tell him (God) "Jesus Christ" - that's the password.

 

[doubtingmerle]

Tell him (God) "Jesus Christ" - that's the password.

And you are not joking, right?

I can't understand how eternity would be resolved by memorizing a password.

 

[eugler]

Recently a poster commented on my Judgment Day Defence Strategy. That concept is a little odd to me, since I sincerely doubt that life after death is even possible. I therfore never expect to need to defend my life at a future judgement day in the afterlife. But suppose to my shock I someday find myself in that position. My defence might sound something like this:

I did my best to live a worthy life. I had no way of knowing what God or any other transcendent being asked of me, but I did know this:

1. I am human.
2. I am surrounded by other humans.
3. There is something very good about being human.
4. Humans have emotional and physical needs that are best fulfilled by working in cooperation with others.
​

Therefore, I have done the best I could to work in cooperation with others, caring for their emotional and physical needs, and working together with them to promote the best for all of us.
​

Do you have a better Judgment Day Defence Strategy?

If there is any justice in Judgment Day god will have to accept that. You do not mind if tell him the same!? I will take care not to stand too close to you in the line so it won't stand out.

 

[doubtingmerle]

If there is any justice in Judgment Day god will have to accept that. You do not mind if tell him the same!? I will take care not to stand too close to you in the line so it won't stand out.

Yes, lets hope if we will be judged, it will be based on justice and mercy, and not on whether we pick the right password.

 

[oi_antz]

Yes, lets hope if we will be judged, it will be based on justice and mercy, and not on whether we pick the right password.

I do think it is important that we remain honest in our regard toward Jesus and His message, that is unless you happen to believe you are going to judge Him one day. Too often I see non-believers dissing Christianity because they don't like the attitudes they have observed in a Christian specimen. I'm not sure the offender realizes that they are dissing the Lord of Lords, even when they use His name expletively. So I'm not sure whether the conscience is necessarily going to convict them when they stand to give answers to Him. Only God and the defendant are in a position to know that for sure.

 

[doubtingmerle]

Two from the outside where you see disharmony, I can see the foundations of different denominations being represented. They have to be different because we are all different.

Which does not answer the question as to what God wants us to do.

Does God want us to defend our country in war? Christians strongly disagree.

Does God want people to be free to have abortions? Christians strongly disagree.

Does God allow Christians to use electricity? Christians strongly disagree.

Does God want people to freely express gay feelings? Christians strongly disagree.

So with no agreement on such things, I would think adopting the path of doing our best to work together in a loving relationship with others is the best approach to morality, rather than trying to decode what God wants.

 

[doubtingmerle]

we all...preach the same Gospel, worship with the same hymns, go to one another's seminaries, preach and teach in one anothers' churches, etc.

And have different opinions on what acts are permissible by God.

That is the problem. If I am going to be told to do what God wants, and there is vast disagreement about what God wants, how can that help me?