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What's the True Message Of Christianity: Love Or Hellfire?

Are Christians more or less divided into two camps (see OP)?


  • Total voters
    20

roli

Born Again,Spirit Filled
may said:
i think it is more like Good news ,And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come..... matthew 24;14

Understanding of course the whole gospel has to do with sin law,rightousness,holiness,judgement,repentance,hell confirmed by miracles,signs and wonders
The good news is that Jesus paid the price for our sin with His blood redeemed us from the law of sin and death,eternal torment and everlasting fire commonly known as hell,otherwise we would still be in sin and separated from God.
 

Todd

Rajun Cajun
Sunstone said:
It sometimes seems to me that Christians have often been divided into two camps: Those who think the essential message of Christianity is love your neighbor, yourself and your God, and those who think the essential message of Christianity is you're going to hell if you don't accept Christ as your lord and savior.

I think a little of both. My God is a loving God, but he also wants everyone to follow him. He is a jealous God only wanting us to worship him and no other. He also provided a way for all to be saved from hell without sin getting in the way. From a Christian perspective, this is only through Christ. That being said, he does want you to love your neibor as yourself. I believe both of the items you mention above, although I tend to gravitate towards loving your neibor rather than telling them constantly that "you're going to hell if you don't accept Christ". People seem to respond better to true love.

Are Christians really divided into these two camps to some extent? If so, to what extent?

Yes, I believe many if not most Christians are divided into these two camps you mention. I really don't know to what extent, but I have seen many preachers preach one or the other and that's there only main topic in their church.

Of the two camps, which is truer to the Christianity practiced by the early Christians?

A little of both. You see throughout the scriptures, the love of Christ, but you also see the correction that God provides to those that disobey which included not following him.

Of the two camps, which is the dominant or majority position among Christians today?

Love. I think most try to focus on the Love of Christ rather than the punishment. I know from personal experience, that I don't like authority and tend to rebel from it, but I know I've always gravitated towards love or true caring. All I'm trying to say with this is that most Christians goals are to see someone saved through Christ and Love is typically the best way IMO.

Are the two camps in some way compatible, or are they basically incompatible?

Yes, they are compatible, because both tend to believe the same thing. It's just that one decides to focus on one topic instead of the other.

Does the division of Christianity into these two camps represent a deeper division of people into optimists and pessimists?

Not really. Like I said before, it's a matter of focus. From what I have been told, is that I'm a pessimist, although I typically talk about the Love of Christ rather than the Punishement of not following Christ.

Of the two camps, which is truer to what Jesus preached?

Love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This chapter talks about the gifts of the spirit, but as you can see from this passage, Love seems to be the greatest. The whole chapter talks a lot about Love. You can read the whole chapter here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=13&version=31
 

Halcyon

Lord of the Badgers
I reckon those Christians who favour the OT are more hellfire, and those who favour the NT are more love, is that a fair comment?

Is the Christian message of love wishy washy feel good nonsense, as was suggested to me recently by yet another young Christian fundamentalist in my town?

Only if it is pacifist.
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

If you can give an example of Jesus injuring someone, then i will accept Jesus didn't want his followers to be pacifist.
 

SunMessenger

Catholic
Sunstone said:
It sometimes seems to me that Christians have often been divided into two camps: Those who think the essential message of Christianity is love your neighbor, yourself and your God, and those who think the essential message of Christianity is you're going to hell if you don't accept Christ as your lord and savior.

Are Christians really divided into these two camps to some extent? If so, to what extent?

Of the two camps, which is truer to the Christianity practiced by the early Christians?

Of the two camps, which is the dominant or majority position among Christians today?

Are the two camps in some way compatible, or are they basically incompatible?

Does the division of Christianity into these two camps represent a deeper division of people into optimists and pessimists?

Of the two camps, which is truer to what Jesus preached?
Of the two camps, which is truer to what Jesus preached? By answering this part of the question first it sort of made the other parts self explanatory.


Love is the answer . Jesus Is Love...


Be Well and God Bless...
 

Ðanisty

Well-Known Member
Sunstone said:
Are Christians really divided into these two camps to some extent? If so, to what extent?
I believe so. I've met a lot of Christians and this seems to be the big differentiating factor.

Sunstone said:
Of the two camps, which is truer to the Christianity practiced by the early Christians?
I honestly have no idea...I would imagine both of these camps evolved from something that probably practiced both idealogies.

Sunstone said:
Of the two camps, which is the dominant or majority position among Christians today?
Hellfire is the dominant position, but not the majority. Most Christians I've met really do care more about love that punishment. The hellfire group is more dangerous though and much more vocal.

Sunstone said:
Are the two camps in some way compatible, or are they basically incompatible?
I would say incompatible.

Sunstone said:
Does the division of Christianity into these two camps represent a deeper division of people into optimists and pessimists?
I don't think it has anything to do with optimism and pessimism. If it represents a deeper division, I would say that division is between people who take things at face value and people who question everything.

Sunstone said:
Of the two camps, which is truer to what Jesus preached?
Jesus preached love. The hellfire really doesn't have anything to do with Jesus, in my opinion. That mostly comes down to God and his wrath.
 

may

Well-Known Member
roli said:
Understanding of course the whole gospel has to do with sin law,rightousness,holiness,judgement,repentance,hell confirmed by miracles,signs and wonders
The good news is that Jesus paid the price for our sin with His blood redeemed us from the law of sin and death,eternal torment and everlasting fire commonly known as hell,otherwise we would still be in sin and separated from God.

(Romans 10:15) How, in turn, will they preach unless they have been sent forth? Just as it is written: "How comely are the feet of those who declare good news of good things!
(Isaiah 52:7) How comely upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, the one publishing peace, the one bringing good news of something better, the one publishing salvation, the one saying to Zion: "Your God has become king!"​

(Matthew 9:35) And Jesus set out on a tour of all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news of the kingdom and curing every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity. .............yes this heavenly kingdom that Jesus is now king of , is the way to peace on earth , and it must be made known
(Mark 13:10) Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first.


(Daniel 2:44) "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite;​


(Matthew 6:10) Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.​

(Matthew 10:7) As YOU go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’................... that kingdom is now well established since 1914 in the heavens. yes and Jesus is the king of that kingdom. only Gods heavenly kingdom will accomplish true peace on the earth. thrilling times indeed that we are living in.
 

Æsahættr

Active Member
I think it's an ambiguous question because I'm sure all parts of Christianity believe that love is the true message, simply that they differ as to how they define love. I don't personally believe that a loving God who sends people to eternal punishment is consistant, but I think for the majority of Christians it is, so no, I don't believe there are two clear camps.
 
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