Freethought & Rationalism Archive

CJD · 09-02-2005, 06:53 PM

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Originally Posted by Johnny Skeptic

What do you mean by vindicated? What would the penalty be for doing only a minimal amount of good works? Will any Christian end up being sorry that he didn't do more good works?

By "vindicated" I mean "shown to be right with God." In effect, so Paul and others, the resurrection will be part and parcel of this vindication. Further, I don't suppose we can say one will be "sorry," though it does seem like the "rewards" will be varied, maybe just as the "judgment" will be varied. :huh:

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Regarding doing a lot of good works, a professing Christian lady once told me that all that she wanted to do was to get her foot in the door to heaven, and that that would be good enough for her? Do you believe that she will go to heaven?

First, I am in no way able to comment regarding a professing Christian's eternal state. But I would say, she's not getting those ideas from any of the apostles.

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Regarding "it's not conceived of in quantifiable terms," it most certainly is as far as Jesus is concerned.

But as I said, not in terms of the merit system conceived of in Rome.

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Let's assume that there are three general categories of Christians, 1) committed, 2) moderately committed, and 3) nominally committed.

Does … not … compute …

It's an entire way of life …

Johnny Skeptic · 09-02-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJD

By "vindicated" I mean "shown to be right with God." In effect, to Paul and others, the resurrection will be part and parcel of this vindication. Further, I don't suppose we can say one will be "sorry," though it does seem like the "rewards" will be varied, maybe just as the "judgment" will be varied.

What Paul and the others thought is irrelevant. Over the last 2,000 years many Christians have had many notions that were absurd according to current fundamentalist Christian beliefs. All that matters is what one day "will" happen. Should Christians be concerened that the rewards will be varied?

It is interesting to note that had Paul been born 100 years earlier, he would probably have followed Judaism or a pagan religion, both of which would have been poor choices indeed.

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