Why does God send GOOD Non-believers to Hell

[Emmy]

Dear Capuano231. God is Love, and Jesus died for all, your brother too. I believe your brother is still young, and you keep praying for him. God woos us to the end, and Hell is only for Satan`s followers. Jesus gave us 2 Commandments, they contain all what God told us in the ten Commandments. 1) Love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. God made us in His image, God made us Good, but then in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve rather believed a lying Serpent, than God, our Heavenly Father. Adam and Eve were banished to Earth, and all men and women who came after. 2) The second Commandment, which Jesus gave us: Love our neighbour, all others, (friend or foe) love them as we love ourselves. God wants loving sons and daughters, Jesus kept telling us to Repent, to exchange our selfish and unloving character into: loving God, and loving each other. We have years to become better and better, we have Jesus, our Saviour, who promised us His Love, Joy and Peace, to share with each other. We also have God, who will forgive us each time we stumble or fail, IF we ask God to forgive us as we will forgive those who sin against us. God wants us back again, Capuano, and God will not force us, we can choose our own eternity: either with God, or going our own way, which will be without God`s Love or light. Keep praying for your brother, keep bringing him to the Lord, and see what God can do. Hell is Satan`s abode, without any love at all, Satan wants NOTHING to do with LOVE. I say this with love, Capuano. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[ziggy29]

I don't mean to sound flippant, but why would someone who does not believe in God expect that they should be invited into God's Kingdom?

Note I didn't specifically say they will go to Hell, unless Heaven and Hell are truly the only two possible destinations for the soul. There is certainly some theological debate about that point.

 

[Sir Wilshire]

I have always wondered about this. I have a brother, who is a Atheist. I pray and pray for him to accept Jesus but it just wont happen. He is a great person, like a lot of Atheists. Why would God send him to Hell? This isn't just for my brother, this is people in general.

Please give a good answer. I tryed to ask this on another site but all I got was "Jesus is our savior!" etc.. This sort of stuff doesn't help my faith.

Doing good things doesn't get you off the hook. In human courts, just because one has given a lot to charity and been really nice to the people one's around all the time doesn't mean one won't be punished for going and stealing money from a bank. Also, it should be noted that people get punished with hell because of their sins. By the time a person dies, they will have sinned thousands upon thousands of times. The quality of their punishment(eternal separation and shame) is also proportionate to the evil of their sins (Hitler will suffer more than others).

 

[razeontherock]

Wow, I'm duly impressed by this poster. This restores some confidence in humanity here, esp seeing the RC icon:

we are not able to look into each other's hearts. We're not able even to look into OUR OWN heart! I might say all my life that I'm Christian, yet perhaps God looks into my heart and sees that it's hard, then God looks into a self-called atheist's heart and sees that he has not been an atheist at all, he was only deceived into thinking he was an atheist.

I think we're thinking too monolithically when talking about atheists, we pretend that they are all lucid, convinced and persistent in denying God, while many of them are just denying a certain specific image of God, and it's not even always their fault... what if they were taught a wrong image?

they cannot accept the image of an old bearded man sitting on a throne,

an evil soul would choose not to join good and truth because he doesn't like them,

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son
John 5:22

 

[mattmaherstory]

I understand your frustration. Only God can soften his heart. Pray without ceasing!!!!

 

[Mandy_S]

I have always wondered about this. I have a brother, who is a Atheist. I pray and pray for him to accept Jesus but it just wont happen. He is a great person, like a lot of Atheists. Why would God send him to Hell? This isn't just for my brother, this is people in general.

Please give a good answer. I tryed to ask this on another site but all I got was "Jesus is our savior!" etc.. This sort of stuff doesn't help my faith.

The problem you are having is that your brother is not good..none of us are..There is only one good and that is God...You are not and I am not...Every single person is condemed because of their sin and if they choose not to accept the gift of grace that God has shown us, because God is just, that person must be punished for their wickedness. Whether someone believes it or not is irrelevant in the fact that we are all doomed to face God's wrath if we do not accept the way of escape...We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God..Keep praying for your brother and witness to him as much as he will allow.

 

[Hentenza]

Ok, folks. This area is not for debate and only Christians are allowed to answer the OP. I deleted several posts to clean the thread. If you don't see yours then now you know what happened to it. Please follow the posting rules of this forum. Thanks.

 

[Key]

OK, so his "pursuit" is eternal punishment, not his "goal."

In this scenario, his Pursuit would be Separation from God. Now, I would admit, that might not be his Intention (Yes I am tossing out a new aspect to this). His Intention might to be apathetic about it, however the direction you move in -by action or inaction- is your pursuit.

To use an example:

Using the Idea that No one might intend to Pursue Failure, but none the less people find that path in their life, in fact that seem to purse failure regardless, so how does this happen?

They are in effect pursing Failure unwittingly, because they are not activity Pursing Success, this they by inaction unwittingly (and I would go so far as to say unwillingly) Pursue Failure.

I am not sure if that made any sense, but if you want a great book on the subject, "The Power of Positive Thinking" really explains this in detail, how we can by default pursue what we do not want by not pursing what we desire.

As far as going to Hell is concerned, that would be a Goal because for all intents and purposes Hell counts as a tangible place, much in the same sense that it would be a goal to go to Giants Stadium, not a Pursuit.

I doubt he's done anything to merit hell. What do you think?

Not my place to Judge.

 

[Milk]

In this scenario, his Pursuit would be Separation from God. Now, I would admit, that might not be his Intention (Yes I am tossing out a new aspect to this). His Intention might to be apathetic about it, however the direction you move in -by action or inaction- is your pursuit.

To use an example:

Using the Idea that No one might intend to Pursue Failure, but none the less people find that path in their life, in fact that seem to purse failure regardless, so how does this happen?

They are in effect pursing Failure unwittingly, because they are not activity Pursing Success, this they by inaction unwittingly (and I would go so far as to say unwillingly) Pursue Failure.

I am not sure if that made any sense, but if you want a great book on the subject, "The Power of Positive Thinking" really explains this in detail, how we can by default pursue what we do not want by not pursing what we desire.

As far as going to Hell is concerned, that would be a Goal because for all intents and purposes Hell counts as a tangible place, much in the same sense that it would be a goal to go to Giants Stadium, not a Pursuit.

Not my place to Judge.

OK, so pursuit = separation from God (either intentionally, apathetically, or perhaps unwillingly) and goal = hell. I don't see how this translates to the real world. Obviously no one's goal is hell. I'm not sure about someone pursuing separating from God either. This language really seems ill-suited. Is a mormon or a muslim not pursuing God? Is their goal not heaven? It seems more accurate to say that someone is simply wrong about what they believed to be true.

 

[Key]

OK, so pursuit = separation from God (either intentionally, apathetically, or perhaps unwillingly) and goal = hell. I don't see how this translates to the real world. Obviously no one's goal is hell. I'm not sure about someone pursuing separating from God either. This language really seems ill-suited. Is a mormon or a muslim not pursuing God? Is their goal not heaven? It seems more accurate to say that someone is simply wrong about what they believed to be true.

I was under the impression that Muslim's and Mormons were Pursing Salvation.

In their case you would be absolutely correct, the issues revolve around Belief, IE: What they hold as True. and Goals (What they Hope to Achieve/Acquire) that come from that Belief.

To use another Real world example:

Three people decide to Pursue Wealth.

One of them Believe that Wealth is based on accumulation of money. (IE: Rich)

Another Believes that Wealth is Based on Knowldge and that unless you are infomred all the money in the world is pointless (IE: a Wealth of Knowledge)

The Last man believes that Wealth is Measured in the Love you have in Life, (IE: Family, Friends, Etc)

All three of them Would set vastly different goals to achieve their own Pursuit, that from the outside looking in, someone might have no idea that the three of them are pursuing the same ideal. In fact their goals could even be at odds with each other.

The First man would set goals on how to get rich, how to make more and more money and depending on tenacity would be willing to sacrifice both his learning and family for the acquisition of money gain.

The Second man would set his goals based on what he believes will give him the most information, what will make him the most worldly, and might view the first man as foolish for being willing to give up learning or worldliness in exchange for money.

The Last man, again, would set his goals based on what he holds true, willing to give up both money and vastness of self in exchange for the benevolence of family and friends, and in gladly doing so might view the other two men as misguided.

However, all three of them, would view at a man that would not Pursue Wealth as a man who is Pursuing Failure, Even if the three of them could not agree exactly on what Wealth really was.

I hope that helps, and I understand the confusion in all this, it took me a long time to get my mind around it as well, or maybe I just read too many self-help motivational books.

 

[Milk]

I was under the impression that Muslim's and Mormons were Pursing Salvation.

In their case you would be absolutely correct, the issues revolve around Belief, IE: What they hold as True.

I would say it always revolves around what people believe to be true. But I'm not allowed to post on this thread anymore. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Key]

I would say it always revolves around what people believe to be true. But I'm not allowed to post on this thread anymore. Thanks for your thoughts.

It has been an edifying discussion with you.

Thank you.

 

[Jazer]

He is a great person, like a lot of Atheists. Why would God send him to Hell?

God is a God of Righteousness and Justice. He only does what is good and right and proper and true. I believe that His scale is VERY accurate and people will get exactly what they deserve for what they have done and the choices that we make in life. This has some people shaking in their boots. But the good news is IF we repent then we can be washed and cleaned of all inequity so that we also can stand right before God. So if you know of good people that have done no wrong, then that is wonderful that they are able to stand right before God.

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’[b] For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (matt9)

 

[oi_antz]

Christianity is a spiritual matter involving the spirit of God and legions of angels who are either friends or enemies with God.

When you hear the Gospel message you have an opportunity to accept Jesus Christ or an evil spirit, thus you choose to be Christian or Anti-christian. Unfortunately by choosing not to accept Jesus Christ your heart is hardened and you fall victim to thought manipulation by the evil spirits making it harder and harder to accept Jesus. After wandering for a long way on the wrong path, we will usually come to a sticky situation where we need to repent and seek forgiveness and we can be transformed into a Christian.

None of us can judge another as God can, He looks to the heart and there is nothing hidden that He cannot see. So The Lord knows whether your brother is capable of turning to Christ and because of this you should treat him as a brother in Christ and correct him when he demonstrates a dangerous level of disillusionment, but accept that he has not had sufficient life experience to accept Jesus.

I think if someone dies before accepting Jesus then God will examine their heart in context of every opportunity they have had in which they declined Jesus, and according to their state of mind at the time, it is possible that given the right argument your brother will accept Jesus. In fact, every Christian should agree with that: if you have the right facts then it will be a no-brainer decision to accept and trust Jesus as your adjudicator to God.

 

[Miss Elly]

I have always wondered about this. I have a brother, who is a Atheist. I pray and pray for him to accept Jesus but it just wont happen. He is a great person, like a lot of Atheists. Why would God send him to Hell? This isn't just for my brother, this is people in general.

Please give a good answer. I tryed to ask this on another site but all I got was "Jesus is our savior!" etc.. This sort of stuff doesn't help my faith.

Praying for your brother, that he may find the truth. All of us are born into sin thanks to Adam and Eve and we need a way to be reconciled to God. If it wasn't important to God that people accept the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross, then why did he have to leave his heavenly kingdom and become a man to suffer and die for mankind? Because there was not another way acceptable to God. God is holy, he cannot bear sin, but he loved us. It's all about Jesus and whether your brother wants to believe on him as his savior. Our righteousness is as filthy rags before God, no matter how "good" a person is. We need the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from sin. I know you are troubled about your brother and about other "good" people and their final destination. Let go and let God be the judge, he only can judge justly in righteousness.

 

[texastig]

I have always wondered about this. I have a brother, who is a Atheist. I pray and pray for him to accept Jesus but it just wont happen. He is a great person, like a lot of Atheists. Why would God send him to Hell? This isn't just for my brother, this is people in general.

Please give a good answer. I tryed to ask this on another site but all I got was "Jesus is our savior!" etc.. This sort of stuff doesn't help my faith.

God doesn't send anyone to Hell. They send themselves by not believing.

 

[salida]

Read this:
Are you a good person? www.livingwaters.com/good/

Being good or bad natured has nothing to do with it.

God doesn't send people to hell- people send themselves there.

 

[morgan4445]

Dear Capuano. I really hope you find this post because I think you will find it comforting. Jesus spoke the Greek words Gehennna Fire in the NT. This is a garbage dump outside of Jeruselum. It's true, but don't take my word for it. Prove it thru scripture. Google "Gehenna Fire" and spend several hours studying this topic. You will be pleasantly surprised. God wants you to know the TRUTH instead of man-made pagan beliefs that portray Him more evil and sadistic than Hitler!! God is not soft on sin and ppl will be punished with the second death if they don't repent and accept Jesus, but He's JUST, NOT CRUEL. Also another place to go to start your study is www.thetruthabouthell.org/ God bless and I really hope you spend some time studying His word how it was written in it's original language. The truth shall set you free.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I have always wondered about this. I have a brother, who is a Atheist. I pray and pray for him to accept Jesus but it just wont happen. He is a great person, like a lot of Atheists. Why would God send him to Hell? This isn't just for my brother, this is people in general.

Please give a good answer. I tryed to ask this on another site but all I got was "Jesus is our savior!" etc.. This sort of stuff doesn't help my faith.

I wonder if it would be helpful for you to study the subject in your bible? It seems to me that the fate of unbelievers is eternal death, not eternal life in torment. We all will die physically. Those who haven't received Christ (along with many who have never heard of Christ) will be raised in the millenial period of the reign of Christ on earth. Ezekiel states that they will be given God's spirit (plus a 100 year lifetime in which to experience life on earth without the presence of Satan). They will most certainly be raised whole and healthy. I think that would be a pretty good deal for your brother. He gets to enjoy the 'pleasures' of this life (pleasures that we deny ourselves) and he gets a great chance to accept Christ in the millenium.

 

[morgan4445]

Oldwiseguy. I'm so glad you posted about the hope for unbelievers in the millenium. I failed to mention that part. It is true and is in scripture. It brings me much comfort because I too have non-christains in my family. What traditional christainity teaches is not biblical. Ppl dont go to heaven/hell when we die. The bible and Jesus are very clear about the state of the dead. They are asleep until Jesus returns. Only God has immortality. The whole theme of the bible is how God is going to restore this earth back to how it was in the beginning, before Adam and Eve sinned. The New Earth with God's kingdom/government ruling through Jesus Christ. If we are judged right at death, then what is the point in the resurrection? And if heaven is the christains destination, what is the purpose of God's promise of a new earth, home of righteousness? The book of Isaiah is full of prophecies of God's coming kingdom. I wish so bad mainstream christianity would teach the truth of God's Word instead of teaching traditions of men. Makes me wonder what God thinks. I cannot believe preachers, who would have to know this stuff, don't teach their congregations this.