a question i have about christian beliefs

may · Mar 16, 2006

darkwaldo said:
What if the missionary spreading the word of god wasn't convincing enough? How can a benevolent and understanding god send people to hell when the missionaries who answer his call can't convince people that he exist.

(Romans 10:18) Nevertheless I ask, They did not fail to hear, did they? Why, in fact, "into all the earth their sound went out, and to the extremities of the inhabited earth their utterances
(Matthew 24:14) 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.
(Mark 13:10) Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first. ................Jehovah God will have the witness about his kingdom made known to his satisfaction, then the end of manmade goverments will come
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 Daniel 2;44

darkwaldo · Mar 16, 2006

may said:
(Romans 10:18) Nevertheless I ask, They did not fail to hear, did they? Why, in fact, "into all the earth their sound went out, and to the extremities of the inhabited earth their utterances
(Matthew 24:14) 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.
(Mark 13:10) Also, in all the nations the good news has to be preached first. ................Jehovah God will have the witness about his kingdom made known to his satisfaction, then the end of manmade goverments will come
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 Daniel 2;44

I don't think this answered my question. How could a benevolent and understanding god send the people to hell. Think about what benevolent and understanding mean. They don't really apply to god in this situation.

Scuba Pete · Mar 16, 2006

darkwaldo said:
How could a benevolent and understanding god send the people to hell. Think about what benevolent and understanding mean. They don't really apply to god in this situation.

Look at the story of the prodigal son: the younger son CHOSE to leave the father. We also choose and God honors our decisions.

Just like my kids. They want their freedom and whine about having to pay for their own gas. Go figure!

sojourner · Mar 16, 2006

NetDoc said:
Look at the story of the prodigal son: the younger son CHOSE to leave the father. We also choose and God honors our decisions.

Just like my kids. They want their freedom and whine about having to pay for their own gas. Go figure!

This example is a parable, and parables don't seek to speak to the head, they seek to speak to the heart. The crux of the story isn't that the father allowed the son to leave. The point of the story isn't about the sanctity of free choice. In order to understand this parable, we have to look at the whole story.

What really happened here? Yes, the father did allow the son to leave home, and he respected that decision. But what did the son do? The son went his own way, ignoring what the father had taught him. The son got himself into a real mess, and came to the realization that it wasn't the world's fault, but hs own fault. He came to the startling reality that returning to the father and to the father's ways was the only real choice he could make, in the end.

And what happened at the end of the story? Did the father wait, tapping his foot impatiently and glancing at his watch every other minute, with a "just wait till you get home" kind of attitude? Did he ignore the son until the son came knocking on the door, pleading with the father for entry? No! The father waited anxiously by the door, watching for the son. And the father saw the son from far off and ran to meet him with open arms. He didn't even give the son a chance to own up and apologize.

Did the son desrve to be welcomed back, after causing his father so much money and pain? No! But the father wecomed him back with full familial standing.

This isn't a story about God allowing us to have free choice. It's a story about God's infinite patience. It's a story about how God draws us in to God's self. It's a story about grace. It's a story about how we always use our choice to get ourselves into trouble, and that the reality is that God is always there for us.

may · Mar 17, 2006

darkwaldo said:
I don't think this answered my question. How could a benevolent and understanding god send the people to hell. Think about what benevolent and understanding mean. They don't really apply to god in this situation.

there is no hellfire , so God wont be doing it , but there is death, which is the opposite of everlastinglife , he offers us everlasting life but if we dont want it that is our choice,

author@ptgbook.org · Sep 3, 2006

according to the bible, and christian beliefs, you need to repent of your sins, and accept jesus christ as your savior to be allowed into heaven. or else you are going to hell.
but, there are millions, even billions of people in this world, say, in some jungle in africa, or even just people living in places like india or china. they have never had the chance or might not have even heard of Jesus Christ, or the bible.
So are they all going to hell?

I believe the Bible teaches that God has a plan that will provide every person who has ever lived an opportunity to accept Christ and be saved.

A mistake many Bible students make is assuming this present life is the only time for salvation. This does not explain how an all-powerful God would allow most of the billions of people on earth in China, India, and many other countries, as well as the millions who lived and died before the birth of Jesus Christ, to miss out on salvation because of chance and circumstances of birth.

But the Bible does explain it. Ezekiel 37:1-14 gives the prophecy of the valley of dry bones. God explains that there will come a time when all Israel will be resurrected from their graves back to physical life. This will not be the resurrection to immortality that true Christians look forward to because the Israelites pictured by the dry bones were never converted Christians. Rather it is a resurrection back to mortal physical life. Notice that flesh is put back on their bones and they have to breathe air in order to live again.

And in this same passage, God explains that He will put His Holy Spirit in them, in other words, they will become converted. Other scriptures show that God will write His law in Israel's hearts and will remember their sins no more.

Does this only apply to Israel and not gentile nations? The Bible says that God does not show partiality (Acts 10:34-35). In the passage about the dry bones, the context is Israel because God had not yet revealed that salvation will be opened to gentiles, but that detail of God's plan is revealed in the New Testament. So the majority of humans that have lived and died without ever having a chance to become Christians will be resurrected and will have their chance at that time.

At this time, God only calls and reveals His truth to a minority of the human race. This is why Jesus said that no one could come to Him unless the Father draws that person to Christ (John 6:44). Those who become Christians in this life will be in the resurrection to immortality when Christ returns to the earth (1 Corinthians 15:50-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:15). This is called a "better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35) and the "first resurrection" (Revelation 20:4-6).

But in time God will resurrect everyone who has lived and give everyone a chance to know the truth and accept Jesus Christ and become converted and saved. And at that time those Christians resurrected to immortal life in the first resurrection will be there to help teach with Christ those who are in this second resurrection.

groovyable · Sep 29, 2006

The rightious and unrightious will be ressurected for judgement day (Act 24:15) on the paradise earth psalm 37:11 + Matthew 5 : hamster : sorry had to add the rocking hamster!

may · Sep 30, 2006

groovyable said:
The rightious and unrightious will be ressurected for judgement day (Act 24:15) on the paradise earth psalm 37:11 + Matthew 5 : hamster : sorry had to add the rocking hamster!

Hi, yes this is what the bible teaches , i think it will be great to be resurrected on to a paradise earth , all of those starving children that have died in this world now, will have a great big welcome back party with lots of good food . yum yum and they can give the glory and praise to Jehovah God and his son our king Jesus christ.
The Bibles description of Paradise is truly breathtaking.
Never again will millions starve.Isaiah 25:6.
[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."Revelation 21:4.......... bring it on matthew 6;9-10

groovyable · Oct 4, 2006

Hey, a quick question for the LDSers...

Why dont you guys drink alcohol ? it has been puzzeling me, because didnt Jesus turn water into wine, didnt he drink wine at the last super? Doesnt the Bible teach that a bit of wine is good for the blood ?

Many Thanks

xxx

SoyLeche · Oct 4, 2006

groovyable said:
Hey, a quick question for the LDSers...

Why dont you guys drink alcohol ? it has been puzzeling me, because didnt Jesus turn water into wine, didnt he drink wine at the last super? Doesnt the Bible teach that a bit of wine is good for the blood ?

Many Thanks

xxx

There are a few threads dedicated to this theme that I'm sure you can search for, but here is the cliffsnotes version:

Go ahead and read the revelation where we are told not to: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/89

Simple terms - it says "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of bconspiring men in the last days". While I'm not entirely sure what this means, it seems that it is to protect us from getting addicted, and having alcohol as a springboard for worse things (maybe).

Like I said, search for the words "Word of wisdom" here on the forum and I'm sure you'll come up with some good threads to read

may · Oct 5, 2006

groovyable said:
Hey, a quick question for the LDSers...

Why dont you guys drink alcohol ? it has been puzzeling me, because didnt Jesus turn water into wine, didnt he drink wine at the last super? Doesnt the Bible teach that a bit of wine is good for the blood ?

Many Thanks

xxx

I am glad that the bible teaches us that we can have a nice glass of red , it is most benefical yum yum
(Ecclesiastes 9:7) Go, eat your food with rejoicing and drink your wine with a good heart, because already the [true] God has found pleasure in your works.

groovyable · Oct 5, 2006

SoyLeche said:
There are a few threads dedicated to this theme that I'm sure you can search for, but here is the cliffsnotes version:

Go ahead and read the revelation where we are told not to: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/89

Simple terms - it says "In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of bconspiring men in the last days". While I'm not entirely sure what this means, it seems that it is to protect us from getting addicted, and having alcohol as a springboard for worse things (maybe).

Like I said, search for the words "Word of wisdom" here on the forum and I'm sure you'll come up with some good threads to read

Thanks for the link

Yet it contredicts the Bible and what Jesus did, (no disrespect) are do Latter Day Saints believe that the Book Of Mormon is more erm... powerful and outdoes the Bible? Yet i'l look into it more, thanks very much.

x x x

groovyable · Oct 5, 2006

may said:
I am glad that the bible teaches us that we can have a nice glass of red , it is most benefical yum yum
(Ecclesiastes 9:7) Go, eat your food with rejoicing and drink your wine with a good heart, because already the [true] God has found pleasure in your works.

Isnt it nice to have a nice glass of wine and the odd pint of guinness, the Bible doesnt teach its ok to get drunk, yet its ok to have a bit of it. :kat::giraffe::badger:

xxx

shema · Oct 5, 2006

ssa5757 said:
hello. my mother is very religious. and it bothers her that i am not as religious has her.
i would like to share her christian beliefs, but there are things that i just cant accept or understand.
one the most important questions i have, that i simply can not think about, is, what is going to happen to the rest of the worlds population?

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.
Matthew 7:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 7

what i mean, is that according to the bible, and christian beliefs, you need to repent of your sins, and accept jesus christ as your savior to be allowed into heaven. or else you are going to hell.

But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.
Matthew 7:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)

but, there are millions, even billions of people in this world, say, in some jungle in africa, or even just people living in places like india or china. they have never had the chance or might not have even heard of Jesus Christ, or the bible.
So are they all going to hell?

And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.
Matthew 24:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)

I certainly dont think they deserve such punishment. and if anything, i feel horribly sorry for some of them, they spent all their lives in devotion to a false god(s), doing no harm to anyone, or committing no sins except that of not accepting Jesus Christ.
what is going to happen to them?

so I think everyone will have a chance to here the good news. especially with all of our faithful missionaries.

This is what i find the most hard to accept is christianities lack of explanation for the population of our world, and its other religions. i dont think that anyone born in another country, accepting its religion that is not christian should go to hell.
So can anyone explain what is going to happen to the rest of the world?

And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37-39 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)

Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [ concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Acts 17:10-12 (in Context) Acts 17 (Whole Chapter)

this is one of the main reasons i have a very hard time accepting christianity is that it offers no explanation to this question.
ok thxs for reading my post

basicly all the answers you will ever need concerining the dictorine of Jesus can be found in the bible. I pray that God leads his spirit to you.

may · Oct 5, 2006

groovyable said:
Isnt it nice to have a nice glass of wine and the odd pint of guinness, the Bible doesnt teach its ok to get drunk, yet its ok to have a bit of it. :kat::giraffe::badger:

xxx

yes that is what the bible teaches
Wine and its proper use are not censured, but drunkenness and lack of self-control are Scripturally prohibited and condemned. A nice glass of spanish red is just the job slurp slurp ....now where is my glass.

shema · Oct 5, 2006

may said:
I am glad that the bible teaches us that we can have a nice glass of red , it is most benefical yum yum
(Ecclesiastes 9:7) Go, eat your food with rejoicing and drink your wine with a good heart, because already the [true] God has found pleasure in your works.

I think some of wine was fermented and some was not,

may · Oct 5, 2006

shema said:
I think some of wine was fermented and some was not,

Jesus drank fermented wine because
self-righteous religious leaders in Jesus day criticized him for occasionally drinking wine.
Said Jesus: "John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, but you say, He has a demon. The Son of man has come eating and drinking, but you say, Look! A man gluttonous and given to drinking wine!" (Luke 7:33, 34) What would have been the point of contrast between Jesus drinking and Johns not drinking if Jesus had merely been drinking nonalcoholic grape juice? Remember, it was said of John that he was to "drink no wine and strong drink at all."Luke 1:15.

SoyLeche · Oct 5, 2006

groovyable said:
Thanks for the link

Yet it contredicts the Bible and what Jesus did, (no disrespect) are do Latter Day Saints believe that the Book Of Mormon is more erm... powerful and outdoes the Bible? Yet i'l look into it more, thanks very much.

x x x

No more than the fact that at one time it was forbidden to eat pork and another it was okay.

shema · Oct 7, 2006

may said:
Jesus drank fermented wine because
self-righteous religious leaders in Jesus day criticized him for occasionally drinking wine.
Said Jesus: "John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, but you say, He has a demon. The Son of man has come eating and drinking, but you say, Look! A man gluttonous and given to drinking wine!" (Luke 7:33, 34)

may said:
What would have been the point of contrast between Jesus drinking and Johns not drinking if Jesus had merely been drinking nonalcoholic grape juice?

exactly... his point was, Either way these people will not accept the will of God no matter whose mouth its coming out of.

may said:
Remember, it was said of John that he was to "drink no wine and strong drink at all."Luke 1:15.

so to separate the two must mean that that wine in particular was not a strong drink. But Grapes were/are expensive. and mostly rich people ate grapes.

may · Oct 8, 2006

shema said:
exactly... his point was, Either way these people will not accept the will of God no matter whose mouth its coming out of.

so to separate the two must mean that that wine in particular was not a strong drink. But Grapes were/are expensive. and mostly rich people ate grapes.

i think you have missed the point i was making, you are right to make the point that it doesnt matter what Jesus was doing they would not have believed any way. but the contrast here was that Jesus was drinking intoxicating wine, not just grape juice that John the baptist drank. so as you mentioned , some people will not eccept the will of God at all.

a question i have about christian beliefs

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