Ask A Protestant Christian II

[timtofly]

This thread is for all of you who understand your belief in regards to the Christian Church as represented by those who have seperated from the Church that is Rome or Eastern in Orthodox. It is not a debate forum, so post are either questions or doctrinal views related to those questions.


If you hold an opinion, it would be considerate to answer as IMO. Use of established doctrine is ok including from Moses to Paul to Luther to your own opinion. You do not necessarily have to use or believe the Bible, however the Church was founded Upon Christ, The Word Who Became Flesh, thus being contradictory in your views considering Scripture may well be contradictory.

Now open for questions.

 

[timtofly]

So the question then arises, why should my lack of knowledge of salvation be worthy of damnation if my most earnest internal sense compels me to accept the naturalistic worldview?

IMO, there is knowledge of salvation and that knowledge comes from hearing God's word, and the calling is done through the Holy Spirit. Acting on the knowledge you do have is the first step.

 

[GamezRule]

Where is heaven?

 

[Perfection]

IMO, there is knowledge of salvation and that knowledge comes from hearing God's word, and the calling is done through the Holy Spirit. Acting on the knowledge you do have is the first step.

I don't believe such knowledge exists, and thus will not persue it. Why should this damn me to hell?

 

[Arakhor]

Heaven is the everlasting and all-encompassing embrace of God when all his children return to achieve eternal union with him.

 

[Hitti-Litti]

What makes you believe that out of the nearly 7 billion people on Earth, you're on the right path?

 

[bhsup]

Where is heaven?

Most likely Lagrange point L3, which is why we cannot see it, but Elijah was still able to fly there.

Serious answer, it's probably some sort of transcendental realm separated from our physical universe.

 

[Perfection]

What is it like? Is it like Fiftychat? Do you get to play Uno?

 

[bhsup]

I sincerely hope it isn't like #fiftychat! That place corrupts me! You can probably play uno if you like...

 

[RedRalph]

Do you believe the spread of Protestantism is responsible for China's economic miracle?

 

[GhostWriter16]

What makes you believe that out of the nearly 7 billion people on Earth, you're on the right path?

Well, Christianity is different, and I've seen it change lives. Most religions teach some sort of good works to achieve Salvation. Now, some believe God MAY have mercy and let a formerly bad person into heaven, such as Islam (IIRC) but in general, these religions teach Salvation by works. I suppose Catholicism is tricky as it teaches works salvation in some sense, but also requires faith in Jesus Christ, and they consider that the more important of the 2.

Christianity teaches faith alone. That is the critical difference.

 

[SG-17]

Most likely Lagrange point L3, which is why we cannot see it, but Elijah was still able to fly there.

Serious answer, it's probably some sort of transcendental realm separated from our physical universe.

Your first answer makes more sense than the second.



Why do you need to accept Jesus? Why isn't the only requirement for "salvation" to be a good person? What happened to all of the people who were born after Christianity was invented, led good lives, but were never exposed to the religion? People in the Americas and East Asia for example? Does God just not care?

 

[timtofly]

I don't believe such knowledge exists, and thus will not persue it. Why should this damn me to hell?

IMO Persuing a negative will not damn one to hell. Refusing to persue anything may.

What makes you believe that out of the nearly 7 billion people on Earth, you're on the right path?

IMO It is possible that China may be a key here.

Do you believe the spread of Protestantism is responsible for China's economic miracle?

IMO China may be producing more of the Church today than any other Nation.

Your first answer makes more sense than the second.



Why do you need to accept Jesus? Why isn't the only requirement for "salvation" to be a good person? What happened to all of the people who were born after Christianity was invented, led good lives, but were never exposed to the religion? People in the Americas and East Asia for example? Does God just not care?

I would say that history is out there that would say Christianity was not invented. Every one has been exposed to God and God is not willing that any should perish, but humanity chooses to do so.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Why do you need to accept Jesus? Why isn't the only requirement for "salvation" to be a good person? What happened to all of the people who were born after Christianity was invented, led good lives, but were never exposed to the religion? People in the Americas and East Asia for example? Does God just not care?

Well, many have received special revelation, and I am open to the possibility that those that never had an opportunity in this life may be treated differently than those who had an opportunity and declined to take it.

"Being good" can't save anyone any more than a murder can be saved from a life behind bars because he didn't kill people on most days.

 

[Perfection]

Why is it just that one should receive eternal damnation for ones crimes? I mean the punishment should fit the crime, right? What is so egregious about our daily life to make us deserve this fate?

 

[Arakhor]

Christianity teaches faith alone. That is the critical difference.

Protestant Christianity, you mean. You already noted that Catholicism also has works-based salvation.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Why is it just that one should receive eternal damnation for ones crimes? I mean the punishment should fit the crime, right? What is so egregious about our daily life to make us deserve this fate?

Basically, God looks at things through different eyes than we do. To God, letting a sinner into Heaven who's sins have not been paid for would be like letting someone who killed someone while driving under the influence go free without any payment.

I know the logical questions this brings, but to be Honest, I am not God and so I can't really answer them. If you threw a specific question at me, I could speculate, but it would just be speculation.

Protestant Christianity, you mean. You already noted that Catholicism also has works-based salvation.

Well, yeah, Catholicism has faith and works, and while I certainly think Catholics can be saved, I think they are missing a big portion of what the gospel is about. Basically, as long as they have faith, I don't think adding works will damn them, but I do think its bad theology (Note, this is Ask a Protestant, I'm allowed to say this, I'd rather not argue in this thread.)

I guess Islam is like Catholicism in that sense (Faith + works = Salvation) but remember, in my opinion, the purest form of Christianity is not Catholicism. While Catholicism is Christianity, it is imperfect Christianity. And so its going to lose some of the uniqueness that Protestant Christianity has. Its still genuine because it still acknowledges Christ as having died for their sins, which in itself does make it different from other religions.

In most religions though (Judaism, Hindusim, Buddhism, exc.) benefit is gained by good works alone. Usually, faith doesn't matter in these religions. It may help a bit, but the supreme importance of faith in Chrsitianity makes it different from most religions out there. Faith ALONE for Salvation makes Protestant Christianity different than any religion out there, including other Christian groups.

 

[Perfection]

Basically, God looks at things through different eyes than we do. To God, letting a sinner into Heaven who's sins have not been paid for would be like letting someone who killed someone while driving under the influence go free without any payment.

Well it seems to me that exacting some payment might be justifiable, but you claim the payment is eternal damnation. Why couldn't a more reasonable payment be exacted?

 

[GhostWriter16]

Well it seems to me that exacting some payment might be justifiable, but you claim the payment is eternal damnation. Why couldn't a more reasonable payment be exacted?

Well first of all, we have to establish what exactly Hell is. I do not believe it is a burning cauldron where God enjoys himself gleefully at the expense of billions of souls. Indeed, God wishes all men to come to him. That most do not makes him incredibly sad.

Hell is "Outer darkness" it is separation from God. Now, can a mass murderer be released into society? No, he must be imprisoned (Note, he could be executed, but I'll get back to that point. Also, a few people would advocate that even a mass murderer get parole. However, this point is ALSO applicable to my point, and these people are in the minority.) So, Heaven is God's Glory. Letting any sin into Heaven would be like letting a mass murderer live free in society.

Now, I promised I'd mention parole. Well, parole is conditional upon turning away from crime and being sorry for it. In the same way, God's mercy is conditional upon repentence. Then why can't someone repent after death? Well, we are totally depraived. On Earth, God graciously allows us to see. In Hell, we will be in "Outer Darkness." We will not desire to be with God, we will hate him. In fact, for such an obstinate person, perhaps Hell is a less painful option than forcing them to live in Heaven against their will when they hate God (I am not saying I know this to be true, but I certainly think its plausible.)

Now, I also promised I'd reference execution, and yeah, on Earth its an option. Execution would coincide to annihilation in this case, and the only reason I know this isn't going to happen to the damned is the Bible teaches it will not happen. Perhaps a Soul is not truly able to be killed. Perhaps God simply chooses never to kill a soul. Whatever. For whatever reason, a soul can't be destroyed. So what option does this leave? The person MUST be exiled to Hell. The punishment will be mental, not physical, and passive, not active. The punishment is separation from God. But for sinful man who hates God, what can be done? Force him to live in Heaven? That would no doubt be torture as well.

 

[timtofly]

Why is it just that one should receive eternal damnation for ones crimes? I mean the punishment should fit the crime, right? What is so egregious about our daily life to make us deserve this fate?

Free Will may not be free.

Well it seems to me that exacting some payment might be justifiable, but you claim the payment is eternal damnation. Why couldn't a more reasonable payment be exacted?

If Jesus was that reasonable payment, And one did not have to work for it, then the work/payment would be in giving up ones will to that of God's Will.