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You don't have to love me, but...?
Imagine a father telling his son this. "You don't have to love me, but if you don't, you will have to find somewhere else to live. And if you open the door to leave, the only place you'll find is on fire!"
Then the boy opens the door, rather bravely, and doesn't see any flames at all. There's just the smell of fresh-cut grass and a yellow butterfly flitting about.
This, to me, is part of the problem of free will in much of Protestant Christianity. First of all, the ultimatum of love me or burn is not much free will. I guess it's technically a choice, but it's not much of one. And second, the evidence for a hell is scant and controversial even in the Bible. So when we look around, we see the grass and the butterfly. If there's eternal flames waiting, shouldn't a loving God make himself more clearly known, and warn us more directly of the dangers? And why does he need the love of the creatures he made? Is he lonely?
Just some thoughts and questions.
@auntb93: "shouldn't a loving God make himself more clearly known, and warn us more directly of the dangers? And why does he need the love of the creatures he made? Is he lonely?" (that's three questions!) ;)
7 Answers
- ?Lv 48 years agoFavorite Answer
There is a huge line between Christians and Atheists. I'm Christian and don't see how people don't see the evidence all around that God is real....but Atheists, looking at the same thing, can't see how people can believe in a god......so this is a hard question to answer with it making an impact on your stance. From a Christian standpoint, what separates God from man is perfection/sin. God made us to live with Him, but man chose to disobey and live in sin separate from God. It's not a "love me or burn in Hell" thing. If that were the case, we all would have been destined for Hell as soon as the first sin happened. Where there is sin, there can be no perfection. We needed a way for that sin to be canceled so we can live once again with God....which is where Jesus comes in.....again, this is a Christian standpoint, so I'm not surprised if atheists think what I just wrote is a ridiculous statement made by someone who has been brainwashed for years
- 8 years ago
God is the God lof Love. He gave us a free will to choose Him(GOD) or Satan(DEVIL).
God personally wants you to come to Him and feel his love and He also wants you and I and everyone to love Him. Not because He is lonely! ( THAT IS NONSENSE). Hey doesn't your father want you to love Him, just as the way he loves you? It's the same case, my Friend!
However, since God loves us very much, He doesn't force everyone pf us to obey and worship Him. Because if He did that, that's not love. He gave us the choice to choose God or Satan.
By choosing God, you have to do something. That is, trust sincerely in Jesus Christ and OBEY His words and commands in the Bible. And Love Him with all your heart, all your sould and all your mind.
Also, throw away every single one of your personal disires and do the will of God. For example, if you have been a porn addict, you have to give up that and other things of this life and do things which are pleasing to God.
By choosing Satan, you will enjoy a life of "short-lived" personal pleasure but eventually you will end up in eternal damnation, HELL.
And you said,"If there's eternal flames waiting, shouldn't a loving God make himself more clearly known, and warn us more directly of the dangers?". And my answer to this question is, YES!!!
God does reveal himself ( not physically or directly of course) but He has revealed himself ENOUGH for us to know that there's eternal Hell awaiting for us if we don't follow Jesus Christ. The evidence?
Isn't it obvious? It's the Bible, my friend. It is not a FICTION. If it is, why would so many people spend so much money, time and energy to make somehting that's inclusive of so many words and paper and even publish it and even translate in many, many languages. Just to fool people? Are they that pathetic? And please don't say "YES".
If you want to feel God more, plese open your hard heart and be willing to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour SINCERELY. ONLY then will you get the Holy Spirit to fill you up and you will have faith and not stumble. God still loves us. God loves even those who mock God saying that it's a fairy-tale and man made story just to comfort themselves when they die. God loves everyone.
And I also love you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen
- 8 years ago
They believe in a god so powerful and magical that he mysteriously makes sense of this without anyone being able to understand how. So they don't have to give a straight answer; pretty convenient. God is always right since he's the dictator.
- RobertoLv 58 years ago
Welcome to intelligent thoughts that don't often receive intelligent answers. Most of religion doesn't really follow a logical path but does follow a blindly obey or be punished path. And cue the host of believers who are just deliriously happy that they have been able to generate enough faith/delusion in their imaginary friends to wander about life pissing everyone else off with it.
- God's FatherLv 58 years ago
@e02: "A person can be more loving if he or she says the rosary carefully every day with love and trust."
No one cares about your crap pointless obsessive impulsive superstitions. Go and say the rosary 3 million times, before next coming back.
- auntb93Lv 78 years ago
Terrific imagination. Well written comments. But is there a question in there somewhere?
- ?Lv 48 years ago
..."You don't have to be rich
To be my girl
You don't have to be cool
To rule my world
Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with
I just want your extra time and your".... !!
