Yet another question *sigh* about Christianity and homosexuality, hell, judgment, punishment, etc.?
First, my apologies for the length, but bear with me, please. Thank you.
A series of questions, please answer what you are able. I'm just trying to make sense of some things which users usually give contradictory answers to.
According to Christianity:
1. Does a homosexual who is a faithful Christian -- and yet who continues to engage in homosexual acts -- go to heaven or hell? Please, keep this simple. Yes or no?
2. Why the term "judgment?" What exactly does this mean? If a person has accepted Jesus as his savior and is accepted into heaven, why the need to judge? What is being judged? Isn't acceptance pretty much the end of it?
3. Punishment. If one does not accept Jesus as savior, then he is sent to hell. That is his punishment. Correct? So why all the judging to determine punishments?
I ask because some of the answers to the linked question were confusing.
I always thought that entrance into heaven was as simple as accepting Christ as savior, and if that's the case I really don't understand where the judging comes in.
4. Are there different degrees of punishment and reward? Or is it a sort of "one size fits all" kind of thing?
I ask this sincerely because I am often confused by the conflicting responses questions receive, and I appreciate the time you take to answer clearly, and with knowledge.
Thank you.
2008-10-16T15:26:23Z
Sean...no offense taken.
2008-10-16T15:28:23Z
Steadfast, if you all can't agree on things within your own religion, how do you think it is for those of us who are not Christians?
Maybe the conflicting details are part of the reason some of us find your religion impossible to believe.
2008-10-16T15:30:25Z
Sherri...the person above you had time, and used approximately twice as many characters as you did. Enjoy your 2 points. :)
2008-10-16T15:33:04Z
Jayden's mommy...Isn't hell eternal?
And why wouldn't a homosexual who has accepted Christ go to heaven? Murderers who accept Christ as their savior do (according to answers on the linked question).
2008-10-16T16:25:02Z
Jayden's Mommy...thank you.
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ2008-10-17T09:39:16Z
Favorite Answer
Being homosexual has absolutely nothing to do with heaven or hell.
While there is much confusion on this topic, there really needn't be.
Homosexuality (the practice of) is sinful. There is no grey area about this in the Bible.
Here is where the problem comes. People wrongly believe that some sins are worse than others. This is not scriptural in any way.
All sins are equal. If I judge a homosexual and tell them that they are going to hell I have just screwed myself because I just messed up big time. I have no right to sit on God's throne and be your judge.
You were totally correct when you said, "I always thought that entrance into heaven was as simple as accepting Christ as savior . . . "
For the believer, (one who has done what you said above) the sins we commit after have nothing to do with Heaven and Hell. That means: greed, gluttony, pride, violence or any other sin (including sexual sins).
What sins do at that point is damage the relationship with God. We live our lives in a way that pleases him because he died to take our punishment. When we sin after that we kind of rub in his face like an ungrateful child that he will take us back.
Just like we don't cast aside our children when they are self centered neither does our father cast us aside.
1. Most likely would go to Heaven. As I've heard "all sin is equal in God's eyes", so unless someone telling a little white lie would send them to Hell, i'm sure a gay Christian would be fine. 2. "Do not judge less you wish to be judged" - Matthew 7:1 "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" - John 8:6. Those two quotes show Christians are NOT suppose to judge, so they're as sinful as a non-believer. Do you mean why God must judge? I do not know, and I am sure no one does. 3. Who knows. The Christian God is a confusing one. 4. I would assume it would be "one size fits all", but Christian philosophy varies between individuals. For some, acceptance of Jesus saves you, for others that is simply the first step to redemption.
1. If the a person is saved they will go to Heaven. 2. There are two judgments. One for Christians for the sins we committed after we were saved. (rewards for the things we did right are then too, and then we enter in to Heaven) One for lost people for the sins they committed while being lost. (they'll then be cast in to Hell.) 3. Entering Heaven is as simple as accepting Jesus as your Savior. Judgment for the saved involves the works whether they're good or bad being either things that can be laid at Jesus feet in praise or burned as worthless. Punishment is not involved in the judgment for a christian. Jesus died and took all of our punishment. 4. There are different types rewards mentioned in the Bible a christian can receive. For example there's a martyr's crown, a crown of life, and a crown of faithfulness. All these rewards will be laid at Jesus feet by the recipeints though because He's the only one worthy of any praise, honor, or glory! Punishment for the lost not accepting Jesus Christ as Savior is Hell.
1. I wish I could answer this question with a simple yes or no. A "faithful Christian" submits his will to God's. A "faithful Christian" does not blatantly disregard ANY PORTION of scripture. When you ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, that means complete submission.
2. Christians do have different rewards in Heaven. I am NOT an expert on this, but we receive different crowns based on our service to God.
3. At Judgment, because an unsaved person's sins are not covered by the Blood of Christ, they will be shown everything they are guilty of. It isn't simply acceptance or non-acceptance, it is being held responsible for all the ways you have fallen short of God's expectations for your life.
4. "Punishment" is hell ,separation from God. We do receive different rewards in Heaven. If I can contact a fellow church member of mine who knows a little more about eschatology than I do, I'll elaborate.
No offense but, there are 2.1 billion of us, i would assume you would know by now that the only things ALL of us agree upon are that God exists, Christ is the son of God, He died for our sins, and he was resurrected, everything else varies.
Just like if you took all of the muslims together, they wouldn't all agree on the same things, same with hindus and so on.
Edit: Conflicting details? there are conflicts in everything known to man, Science, Health, Economics, Government, everyone thinks they're right and everyone has a different way, when was the last time we had a diet that was healthy and made you look like a sex bomb? it's never existed because there are so many conflicting views and no one seems to know what is right, the only things Christians know to be completely true for all are... God Created man, Christ has died(for our sins), Christ has risen, Christ will come again.