Apocolips

Hola!

To people who are "born again", did you reach this decision because you truly loved God and wanted to change, or merely a desire to escape hell? If people do this to escape hell, are they not being sincere to God? Or by believing, is this good enough for God Almighty?


Senor

Evoken

I think this is a fair question.

For myself, I do not buy into the Pascal Wafer stuff, if you just follow God for the sake of scaping hell then you do not really believe in God. There are many people who cling to God just for this reason and many so called "Christians" who go by the "once saved always saved" mentality.

God is love and our relationship with him should be based on that instead of fear. I try to love God by following his word the best I can but not only for the hope of a reward in an after life but for actual results in this life.

Amlodhi

Hi senor,

Let's answer a question with a question: How many Christians do you think there would be if:

1. There was no promise or expectation of an eternal, blissful reward in heaven.

2. There was no promise or expectation of divine assistance in this physical life.

3. There was no threat or expectation of anyone suffering eternal torture in hell.


IOW, how many people, do you think, would go around praising God if there were no expectations, or fear of, any of these conditions?


Amlodhi

Warthur

Ah, but Amlodhi: how much more valuable, precious, and sincere would their faith be then!

After all, if the reason you worship god, or at least the factor that tips the balance for you, is bribes in this life and/or the afterlife (1 and 2) and/or the threat of terrible consequences if you don't toe the line (3), your faith isn't especially sincere is it?

Amlodhi

I agree, Warthur. It would be as valuable and precious as unobtainium, and just as rare.


Amlodhi

Golix

I would like to add one more to Amlodhi's List:

How many Chritians would there be if it had not been forced upon the peoples of Europe by their (then) absolute Rulers, who then, after about 500 years of indoctrination, forced it upon the rest of the world?

As for becoming "born again", I suppose some people do it purely to become electable after years of unabashed cocaine-abuse!

Evoken

Wow, amazing how you guys destroy a topic that could have gotten some good answers.

Amlodhi

Well, I agree, IAsimisI. But I learned a long time ago that, there is the answer that sounds good; and then, there is the real answer.


Amlodhi

trendkill

-I see no reason why it should be assumed that the reasons someone comes to believe something are necessarily the same reasons they continue to believe it afterwards.

-Even if someone does believe out of fear, it's not at all obvious that God doesn't want this state of affairs. Why would God teach people about Hell if he didn't want them to be afraid of it? If you believe in a God that only wants relationships of love and not of fear, it seems incongruous to also believe in a God who makes threats.

Evoken

I see, then why instead of posting those questions don't you post the real answer?