Why

[TristanCross]

I just think a temporary hell makes more sense and is more fair to everybody.

>God commands man not to sin, for He is perfect
>Man sins against God
>Mankind inherits the consequences of sin, spiritual death and blindness and an inclination towards sin
>In other words, man chose to go against God
>God died on the cross to free us from the consequences of sin, that we may finally come to Him and experience theosis

Are you saying that it isn't fair that God punishes us humans, who deliberately sin against God and deserve punishment for it?

Was it fair that God had to die on the cross? No. God's mercy wasn't fair to Himself. He had EVERY RIGHT to crush us the second we sinned. HOWEVER, God loves humans and wishes for all of them to be saved. Unfortunately, not all will be saved. WHY? Because MAN chooses he doesn't want God by his free will. It is not God that wants to send man to hell, but man that chooses hell.

Why did God give us free will? Because He doesn't want to force us to love Him. He wants people to TRULY and GENUINELY love Him as He truly and genuinely loves us.

These are not hard concepts.

By the way, Orthodox Christians believe that those in Hades, the temporary abode of the dead, people can pass from the "hell" part and into the "heaven" part through the prayers of the faithful on Earth. This is why Orthodox Christians pray for the dead. Nothing is final until the Final Judgment. Until that judgment, God may have mercy on those in "hell".

 

[TristanCross]

Your destiny is not determined until you are dead.
While still you live, you have the ability to repent.

I will never attain theosis. My only hope is the prayers of the faithful while I am in Hades.

 

[Protoevangel]

In Orthodoxy, the source of Heaven and Hell are the same: God. Those who lived for God will be warmed by the Lord's presence, while those who sought after worldly things and were selfish will be tormented by His presence. In the end, it is man's own fault if he experiences hell. Also, being Orthodox or a Christian at all does not guarantee salvation. My own destiny is hell.

For more information, look up "Eastern Orthodox Christian Theology" on Wikipedia and scroll down to the "Hell" section.

You've got a lifetime to change that, and a God who did EVERYTHING to bring you home. Fear, but don't despair.

 

[TristanCross]

You've got a lifetime to change that, and a God who did EVERYTHING to bring you home. Fear, but don't despair.

This will not change. I am worldly, and I will never experience the peace of theosis.

 

[choirfiend]

I will never attain theosis. My only hope is the prayers of the faithful while I am in Hades.

Well, that's rather making a mockery of all that God does for you, isnt it? His mercy won't be enough for you, you're that bad of a sinner?

We are to "keep our minds in hell and despair not," not "judge for God whether we're going to heaven OR hell."

Keep that in mind throughout your catechumenate and please bring these feelings and opinions to the counsel of your priest.

 

[Dorothea]

This will not change. I am worldly, and I will never experience the peace of theosis.

If you've been baptized and have the seal of the Holy Spirit, and He is working in you and you are cooperating with Him, you CAN AND WILL change and be transformed toward a closer union with God.

 

[TristanCross]

It is impossible. Do not doubt me. There is no hope. If I went to confession and died a minute later, I would still be damned. Even after my baptism, if I were to die immediately, there would be no such hope of theosis.

 

[Antony in Tx]

you really need to talk to your priest TristanCross. God loves you as much as He loves any. You are capable of learning to let His love reach you.

 

[TristanCross]

you really need to talk to your priest TristanCross. God loves you as much as He loves any. You are capable of learning to let His love reach you.

Christ demands too much of myself. I can not follow Him. Sorry.

 

[MariaRegina]

Christ demands too much of myself. I can not follow Him. Sorry.

Tristan,

You will remain in my prayers.

Do not give up. To quit the struggle is to give in to the devil. Yes, it is hard, but Christ will make our burden light. We must trust in Him.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son and Word of the Living God, through the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother and of all the angels and saints, have mercy on Tristan and save him.

 

[MariaRegina]

Tristan,

I just looked at your profile and realized that you are a catechumen.

During my catechumenate, I found myself in a very difficult position. I almost gave up like you are doing. I went to see my priest, cried a lot, and went and ate a huge cheese burger (even though it was a Friday during Great Lent). You see, the priest knew that I had become anemic and so he dispensed me from the fast.

Trust in God, and please do go see your priest.

Things are not as impossible as they seem.

With Christ, nothing is impossible.

 

[ArmyMatt]

what Maria said

 

[TheCunctator]

Christ demands too much of myself. I can not follow Him. Sorry.

Christ won't give up, so you shouldn't either.

Be at peace, brother, we all go through such periods.

Pax Christi tecum

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

I just think a temporary hell makes more sense and is more fair to everybody.

What do the Scriptures say? Good going though, Muslims believe something similar that as you pay your penalty, you will be let out of torment, maybe you should try Islam??

 

[SoulFoodEater]

I will never attain theosis. My only hope is the prayers of the faithful while I am in Hades.

Tristan, you must not see things in such a negative light. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

But what you also must most especially understand, is that we cannot do anything ourselves in order to acquire the Holy Spirit (which in turn gives us theosis), it is a gift of God, given to us in order to comfort, heal, and to give us heavenly wings... but above all, to give us His eternal Peace and Love which surpasses understanding. 16 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
(Hebrews 4:16-1 NKJ)

It is written: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them
(Ephesians 2:8-10NKJ)

"By Grace you have been saved through Faith", this means that we just need to make ourselves available to Christ's Grace so that His power can enter us... This is what gives us salvation - the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.

What you must also understand is that Jesus does not give us His commandments for no purpose. Jesus, the Divine Son of God, came to give His commandments which are, in their very nature, LIFE-GIVING and HEALTH-GIVING...

This is true... Jesus is the physician of our souls, the Holy Spirit is the medicine, and the Church is the hospital. If you don't stay in the hospital and receive the medicine, then you will die forever.


Watch this video to understand what it is exactly that Jesus came to do for humanity. To heal it:

‪THE PROBLEM & CURE FOR HUMANITY #.1/3‬‏ - YouTube

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

It is impossible. Do not doubt me. There is no hope. If I went to confession and died a minute later, I would still be damned. Even after my baptism, if I were to die immediately, there would be no such hope of theosis.

I am not sure if this is the message of any Christian denomination nowadays. It never was in the Orthodox Church. Look everyone is trying to tell you about that HOPE WHICH IS IN OUR FAITH here, you sound depressed, do something about it, if there is no hope for you, then why do you keep repeating the same thing over here? Indeed there would be no hope for anyone without God's graceful work on the Cross, He saved and He will save us. Go talk to your priest. Stop being depressed over it.

 

[Protoevangel]

It is impossible. Do not doubt me. There is no hope. If I went to confession and died a minute later, I would still be damned. Even after my baptism, if I were to die immediately, there would be no such hope of theosis.

Honestly, I have never, seen such arrogance.

Of course, though, maybe you are so much worse than I and everyone here has ever been. You are so bad that God Himself is powerless before you and your ULTIMATE badness.

Christ demands too much of myself. I can not follow Him. Sorry.

Are you worried about your pot smoking? Don't.

Of course there are legal and moral problems there, but don't let this, or anything similar make you dispair.

Let me relay a short story to you:

The Monk Who Never Judged Anyone In His Life
This monk was lazy, careless, and lacking in his prayer life; but throughout all of his life, he did not judge anyone. While dying, he was happy. When the brethren asked him how is it that with so many sins, you die happy? He replied, “I now see angels who are showing me a letter with my numerous sins. I said to them, ‘Our Lord said: Judge not and you will not be judged (Lk. 6:37). I have never judged anyone, and I hope in the mercy of God that He will not judge me.’” And the angels tore up the paper. Upon hearing this, the monks were astonished and learned from it.
- St. Nikolai Velimirovich, Prologue

Strive to be like him. Don't judge others, and don't dispair for your soul.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Tristan gives me hope being the wicked sinner I am... May God have mercy on us all...

 

[TristanCross]

Are you worried about your pot smoking? Don't.

I don't smoke pot anymore. But, that isn't the problem. I simply can not follow the commandments Christ has given and thus, I obviously won't attain theosis.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

I don't smoke pot anymore. But, that isn't the problem. I simply can not follow the commandments Christ has given and thus, I obviously won't attain theosis.

How about trying? Does God not know our shortcomings? The question is "can't" or "won't"?