But that didn't quite happen.
After doing my usual 'Facebook run' today I came across a very interesting post my friend was tagged in. It seemed to be one of his friends engaging him in a debate about various things in Christianity. So after reading through his many questions, I got interested to do a reply myself as well.
As my church has been holding & encouraging us to go to quite a few events in the area of apologetics lately, I thought it'd be a good start in engaging in the debate myself. So I ended up writing a good 700 word Facebook comment.
Before I share it, I noticed the guy putting forth the questions was very keen to spot out the flaws in Christianity & to disprove it's truth. He also used quite a few swear words so I've rephrased his questions.
I hope that this may give you a bit of insight on some non-Christian's views on Christianity. Also, if you feel if I've could have addressed some of the issues better in another way, feel more than welcome to make a comment.
So here we go.
Wouldn't everyone who was destined for hell just quickly repent their sins as God is of course ever-forgiving?
I agree, God is ever-forgiving, but God is also perfect & cannot tolerate sin. Having salvation isn’t just about repentance; in fact the most important part to it is personally accepting that Jesus did open a path to God for you, despite your sinfulness. And also to accept Him into your heart so that He may change you to be like Him.
So in this view, someone who, like you said ‘repents quickly’ before they die sounds like someone who’s just accepting their wrongs to try & make it right with God. It might be very genuine, full of remorse, but they’re basically doing nothing in terms having salvation. As everyone is already forgiven (God is ever-forgiving), all they are missing is to accept that fact, & to ask Jesus to come into their life with a heart willing to lay down everything in their life for God’s purpose. Yes, they may be able to do that easier, as they don’t have much of a life left, but don’t you think that after living such a sinful life, it’d be pretty hard to suddenly want to enjoy the complete opposite in heaven for the rest of eternity?
Once you are in hell can you not repent and ask for God’s forgiveness? If He was this loving and ever-forgiving such that the Bible says, wouldn’t hell be very empty and thus wouldn’t there be no need for hell?
Do you really think that is possible? Think about it.. Even for a newborn baby, the first instinct it probably has is to love it’s mother, who gave it life.
Also If an infant/baby was to die would they not go to hell as they are not aware of religion and what Christianity is in the first place?
The Bible does say, that we were all made in the image of God. So being born into this broken world, completely innocent, I believe that they would be accepted by God.
If you are to look at the story of creation and the fall of man in a teenage mind sense it would be; Adam and Eve are living together, Eve meets a Talking Snake, Talking Snake tells Eve to eat an Apple from a "Forbidden tree", Eve eats Apple, God says **** you all, God punishes man-kind and takes away their right of immortality and a bunch of other *(stuff). Does it sound stupid to you? It does to me, simply because it is plain stupid.
Yes, I agree with you. A lot of the stories in the Bible sound very stupid in today’s context, especially some extreme ones such as Elijah being taken straight to heaven by a flaming chariot.
But the Bible is words spoken directly by God, so it is truth. It may not be truth such as we read a science textbook, which is full of facts about our physical world. We’ve got to understand that the Bible is truths about how we should live. The Bible is also a living book & a way God speaks to Christians (or maybe even non-Christians sometimes) directly. Though when reading it, we must do so willingly, & longing to know God better with the help of the Holy Spirit. So if you try to read it just like an ordinary book, it’s bound to be just that.
I hope this may have given you some insight.
Godbless~
I agree, God is ever-forgiving, but God is also perfect & cannot tolerate sin. Having salvation isn’t just about repentance; in fact the most important part to it is personally accepting that Jesus did open a path to God for you, despite your sinfulness. And also to accept Him into your heart so that He may change you to be like Him.
So in this view, someone who, like you said ‘repents quickly’ before they die sounds like someone who’s just accepting their wrongs to try & make it right with God. It might be very genuine, full of remorse, but they’re basically doing nothing in terms having salvation. As everyone is already forgiven (God is ever-forgiving), all they are missing is to accept that fact, & to ask Jesus to come into their life with a heart willing to lay down everything in their life for God’s purpose. Yes, they may be able to do that easier, as they don’t have much of a life left, but don’t you think that after living such a sinful life, it’d be pretty hard to suddenly want to enjoy the complete opposite in heaven for the rest of eternity?
Once you are in hell can you not repent and ask for God’s forgiveness? If He was this loving and ever-forgiving such that the Bible says, wouldn’t hell be very empty and thus wouldn’t there be no need for hell?
No, as I’ve said before, you’ve already been forgiven, & you’ve already been given a lifetime to realize there’s so much more to life that you truly need a Savior.
But also, the Bible does say God cannot tolerate sin – sin is the separation from God. But when sin entered into the world & we humans decided to be parted with Him, He couldn’t let us be with Him in paradise for all of eternity anymore. So there wasn’t a need for hell, but since we’ve all been so infected with sin making us want to turn away from Him, there had to be a place away from Heaven. Really, it’s a place for people who are unwilling to turn back to God & to let sin take over to ‘enjoy themselves’ away from God for the rest of eternity.
If one has not done a single bad deed or a single good deed in their life. What happens?
But also, the Bible does say God cannot tolerate sin – sin is the separation from God. But when sin entered into the world & we humans decided to be parted with Him, He couldn’t let us be with Him in paradise for all of eternity anymore. So there wasn’t a need for hell, but since we’ve all been so infected with sin making us want to turn away from Him, there had to be a place away from Heaven. Really, it’s a place for people who are unwilling to turn back to God & to let sin take over to ‘enjoy themselves’ away from God for the rest of eternity.
If one has not done a single bad deed or a single good deed in their life. What happens?
Do you really think that is possible? Think about it.. Even for a newborn baby, the first instinct it probably has is to love it’s mother, who gave it life.
Also If an infant/baby was to die would they not go to hell as they are not aware of religion and what Christianity is in the first place?
The Bible does say, that we were all made in the image of God. So being born into this broken world, completely innocent, I believe that they would be accepted by God.
If you are to look at the story of creation and the fall of man in a teenage mind sense it would be; Adam and Eve are living together, Eve meets a Talking Snake, Talking Snake tells Eve to eat an Apple from a "Forbidden tree", Eve eats Apple, God says **** you all, God punishes man-kind and takes away their right of immortality and a bunch of other *(stuff). Does it sound stupid to you? It does to me, simply because it is plain stupid.
Yes, I agree with you. A lot of the stories in the Bible sound very stupid in today’s context, especially some extreme ones such as Elijah being taken straight to heaven by a flaming chariot.
But the Bible is words spoken directly by God, so it is truth. It may not be truth such as we read a science textbook, which is full of facts about our physical world. We’ve got to understand that the Bible is truths about how we should live. The Bible is also a living book & a way God speaks to Christians (or maybe even non-Christians sometimes) directly. Though when reading it, we must do so willingly, & longing to know God better with the help of the Holy Spirit. So if you try to read it just like an ordinary book, it’s bound to be just that.
I hope this may have given you some insight.
As we continue to live our lives, I pray that we may all continue to earnestly seek God in our lives & be willing to & passionately defend our faith whenever the opportunity arises.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, - 1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, - 1 Peter 3:15
Arise - Flyleaf
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