HelenM

Actually that's not what all Christians believe, Bree.

You speak only of some Christians (generally known as 'Arminians').

Others believe that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ (Romans 8) and nothing can snatch them out of God's hand (John's gospel) - nothing means nothing and so their own sins after being saved cannot 'unsave' them.

Christians who believe this way tend to say that other people who claim to be Christians and yet seem to sin more than they think is possible for Christians, never really were 'saved'.

With all due respect, you need to check your facts on Christianity before you can assert that a Christian who sins is now hell-bound.

love
Helen

sighhswolf

Helen knows her stuff. The particular branch of the tree of christianity that I once believed in
would say to you that as long as you confess you sins and ask for forgiveness, you will/should not fear hell.
That doesnt mean you will escape all punishment,
but it does mean that you will still be welcomed
to a heavenly reward, even with your sins.
The only unpardonable sin is the very one that I have committed, the sin of "disbelief".
The branch I was a part of already has one of my feet in the fire........and the other on a bannana
peel...

Wolf <img src="graemlins/boohoo.gif" border="0" alt="[Boo Hoo]" />

JL

Seeker wrote:


But wouldn't ignoble be a more accurate description of their motivations? Whether in the presence of God or flat out ceasing to be, neither results in the dead pining away for their lost life. While an afterlife may venerate and immortalize our loved ones in the minds of the living, it stops short of any altruistic motivation. It makes it possible for us to go on. So our lives will not be in vain.

But who knows. Heaven exists as a psychological truth for Christians, so a judgement from their viewpoint on their 'creation' of an afterlife is a moot point.

Whadaya do?

Edited for concessions.

[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: JL ]</p>

Bree

I'm really sorry, Helen. I was basing my information on personal experience which obviously was with Christians who believed something out of the general "norm" - I didn't mean to make such a generalisation and I will take more care with my words in the future.

Thanks for not jumping down my throat, at any rate. I opened myself up wide for criticism.

Femme Savante

Wolf said,
Ooooohhh! Excellent quote from Dune, Wolf. And remember, the gom jabbar is always at your neck. . . . That's what I call true courage.

"Fear is the little death, fear is the mind-killer." I will allow this fear to pass through me. And when it is past, I will look back and see where it has gone. (Paraphrase from Dune.)

M.L.