When I first encountered this atheist graphic, I experienced a moment of heart sickness because there are Christians out there who actually think like this.
I see this kind of horrific mindset every time someone who claims to follow Jesus of Nazareth (whom many people believe is the divine Son of God) almost gleefully tells gay people or atheist people that they’re going to burn in hell.
it’s almost as if they think God WANTS some people to burn. Not only is that a sickening thought, it’s also wrong, wrong, wrong.
Here’s the truth, according to the original-source biographies of Jesus and writings by His earliest followers:
- God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost, but have eternal life.
- God is being patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change their ways and stop sinning.
- God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth.
Does any of this sound like God is holding a lighter, just itching to turn you into a screaming torch?
These ancient quotes point to an important bottom line: every person on this planet has done wrong and failed to do right. No exceptions. And this is serious business because according to Jesus, God is perfect and that’s His standard for judging all of humanity.
When this life is finished, one of his earliest followers wrote that every one of us will appear before God and have to somehow explain away all the wrong things we’ve done and the right things we’ve failed to do.
I guarantee you it’s not going to go well. But God offers a solution: Jesus. When Jesus was found guilty of ridiculous, trumped-up charges and crucified on a Roman cross, that death paid the penalty you and I would have to pay for our moral crimes. He took our punishment on His shoulders.
I call that an extraordinary, life-changing gift. And that gift is available to EVERYONE. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done (or not done). As author Philip Yancey put it so well in What’s So Amazing About Grace, “God gave up His own Son rather than give up on humanity”.
How can you get in on this gift? Just accept it. That’s all.
When you believe that Jesus took the penalty for your moral crimes and decide you want to follow Him, He’ll come into your heart and start a life-long process of making you the person God created you to be. And when this life ends and you stand before God, the only thing God will see is His Son’s perfection.
Are you interested? Yes or no, post your thoughts below and let’s have a conversation.
Frank's Cottage 
How is it possible that your god allowed himself to be executed and thus ”paid for moral crimes” and yet you believe humans will still have to stand in front of Jesus (your god) and ” (I guarantee you) it’s not going to go well.”
Personally I have always believed Trinitarianism to be a church construct, as it does not appear anywhere in the bible, not as far as I have been able to ascertain.
If this is not the case, can you explain it to me, please? I’ll be honest, a few others have tried but they seemed not to properly understand it themselves and it just got more confusing.
I ask also because I came across a Christadelphian yesterday during some dialogue on a blog I follow. This is a Christian sect I had never heard of before, and they flatly reject the Trinity and this bloke apparently also says it is made-up by the Church.
Can you explain it, Frank and maybe offer some insight why the Christadelphians differ so much from you and other Christians?
Thanks for your comment. It’s possible for people to still stand in judgement before God if they reject the gift of Jesus – His life and ministry, his sacrificial death on the cross and glorious resurrection. When people accept that gift, God doesn’t see any of the bad things they’ve done and the good things they’ve failed to do. He only sees His Son’s perfection.
As for the “trinity” (the idea of one god who is three distinct persons, all united in purpose), Frank’s Cottage doesn’t really delve into this subject because it’s outside the mandate of the website. The closest is this blog: http://wp.me/p2wzRb-8w. For a much deeper exploration of the trinity, I suggest you visit http://www.carm.org or http://www.ReasonableFaith.org.
Finally, I don’t know anything about Christadelphians, so I can’t offer any insight on any position they might have.
I thought that you are a trinitarian – which you seem to be, surely it is a measure of one’s integrity in this regard that you know exactly what you are talking about, Frank?
Exactly how does Jesus allowing himself to be crucified absolve humanity’s sin?
And if humans still have to face judgement from your god, Jesus, why did he supposedly die for your sins in the first place?
I can be a “trinitarian” without understanding everything about it. I can also drive a car without understanding how an internal combustion engine functions. That said, the blog is not about the trinity, so I’ll move on.
For those who believe in Him and trust Him, Jesus paid the penalty for all the wrong things they’ve done and will ever do, and for all the right things they’ve failed, and will fail, to do. Strikes me as a pretty simple concept.
People who believe in Jesus and follow him do NOT have to face judgement from the Creator of the universe because He sees those people as He sees His Son: absolutely perfect. Man, that’s some kind of good news! 🙂
Are you interested? Yes or no
No.
No problem. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Good post, Frank. I see you have attracted some “friends,” though.
Hi Frank. To answer that question, “not really interested.” Why?
Because for several decades now I have not been able to get clear, straight answers, consensus answers, for my THREE simple primary questions, from all the many (thousands of?) various “Christian” church-staff, ministers or priests, bishops, deacons, elders, evangelists, missionaries, etc, etc, et al, I have repeatedly asked. Which has always bothered me: Why isn’t there just one single church or group of Jesus-followers called, for example, “The Way” like they were called in the 1st and 2nd century CE? ONE CHURCH, one simple message/creed would be so, so, SO EASY!
My other two simple questions?
#2 How specifically does God speak to YOU?
#3 How do you know John 14:6 is unequivocally true?
But alas, after 2,000+ years, there is STILL no consensus, no unity in Christianity. If anything there is only MORE division, more confusion, more every imaginable different churches and messages/creeds/doctrines everywhere around the globe. 😦
Nevertheless, thank you sir for asking.
Thanks for you comments. Let me do my very imperfect best to respond:
1. This world shows us that the Creator *loves* diversity. That diversity shows up among followers of His Son, who interpret the Bible in different ways. All us followers are also very imperfect, that means we will misinterpret sections of the Bible, emphasize some parts above others (often to fulfill an agenda) and then battle each other over it all. We’re gloriously imperfect.
Thankfully, we’re also forgiven and in our imperfect ways, we’re trying to allow Christ into our hearts and minds to make us more like Him.
2. God speaks to His followers – and to others, as well – through the Bible, through our prayers and through people & events. Ever received a ‘wake-up call’ to change your habits, friendships, career path, etc.? From my perspective, that’s likely from God.
3. John 14:6 is from one of the four Bible biographies of Jesus’ physical life on earth. In this excerpt, Jesus tells people “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” I know this is true because other parts of the Bible show Jesus in a similar light — as being the one, true gateway to eternal life in Heaven. (For those who want to look up stuff, type John 3:16 or Acts 4:12 into Google.)
Thanks Frank for your considered response. I will add it to my long, long growing databank of many various answers. To be perfectly honest, and respectful too, your answers are ALSO different, with (noticeable?) degrees of variance in exegesis, purpose, and modern meaning.
This long journey of questions to “Christians” I’ve had does make me see the enormous benefits of one Pope, one Church, with one single authority of God on Earth. However, sadly I have found way too many holes and contradictions even inside the RC Church to give them/it any serious consideration either.
Thanks again Frank. All the best to you.
No doubt, it would make physical life on this planet easier to have one church and one leader. But I’ve seen enough of life to know that, given humanity’s glow-in-the-dark imperfection, one church and one leader would likely become horribly corrupted by the temptations offered by our culture. Indeed, we’ve seen sickening evidence of that just in the Roman Catholic church. 😦
All that said, Professor, serious Christians do recognize just one leader and just one authority: Jesus Christ. When people keep their eyes fixed on Him, an unbelieving world sees the best of Christianity. I need to be praying about this, that I will keep my mind and heart focused on Jesus so that when folks like you interact with me, you experience a humble, winsome ambassador for the Truth. 🙂
If Frank has a problem with me extending the hand of fellowship, I am sure he will tell me.
I never have a problem with people who are mature and respectful — and discuss what they’ve read in the blog, rather than trying to shift the conversation to another topic. 🙂
Yes. There are those who actually don’t even read the posts they comment on but fire off a list of questions that they won’t ever accept the answers to. Some especially want to divert attention from posts such as this which address the simplicity of salvation. Folks hate simple salvation Frank as it removes all excuses
@ Wally
As this post involves Hell and eternal torture, do you beleive that those who are non Christians will all ultimately spend eternity in Hell, Wally?
Hi Ark: We have had that conversation a multitude of times. You never accept my answers and simply respond with atheist sermons, thus proving my comment true.
When I first encountered this atheist graphic, I experienced a moment of heart sickness because there are Christians out there who actually think like this.
This is what you beleive isn’t it, Wally?
You have always said in one way or another that non- believers, such as me, will spend eternity in Hell being tortured.
So how do you respond to Frank, who considers this is an absolute horror to suggests your god would never do such a thing?
Is Frank correct or is he wrong?
Which is it, Wally?
Ark: You have failed to understand. Frank and I do not disagree on this. Nice try, though.
Yes, you do. You believe non-believers will burn in hell ( or the lake of fire or whatever term you prefer) for eternity.
Frank doesn’t not believe this.
I hope you are not going to start telling lies again just to save face, Wally?
No. Frank and I agree here. You just don’t read things you comment on.
I always read.
ALWAYS.
And I have read what you have posted on this topic.
For the record . I did not write that your god will send me to hell, I merely stated that you believe as a non-believer (in Jesus of Nazareth ) that I will spend eternity in the fires of Hell. So be cautious the way you reply.
To reiterate, Wally: You firmly believe I will spend eternity in the fires of Hell.
Yes. I absolutely believe those who reject his offer of salvation will spend eternity separated from Him in Help. I have never denied that.
I also absolutely agree with Frank that no Christian should take joy in that.
Frank and I agree on the premise of this post.
When you say ”separated” am I correct in stating that you mean Hell – the inferno, Lake of Fire or whatever you wish to name it – as was created for Satan and the demons.
Ark: In my comment, I said precisely what I meant. Read it.
Sorry , Wally, there was typo and you wrote Help. I just wanted to clarify.
Your understanding of Hell is the eternal torture in a fiery pit version is this right?
Ark: Read my lips. My comment stands as is. Lol
I see. And do you agree with Frank that all people including gay and atheist people will have to stand before Yaheweh?
My comment stands exactly as i wrote it, minus the typo.
What about gay Christians? Will they be burning in Hell too, Wally?
Lol. Comment stands. As written.
yeah, but Frank is quite specific, so I was just wondering if you reckon gay Christians fall into this group of damned firewood.
Do you think a homosexual can actually be a Christian, Wally?
Ark
Per God’s Word only one thing will not be forgiven and that is the final, irreversible rejection of Gods offer of salvation.
Hence my comment stands as written
So unlike Frank, you believe if a gay, lesbian, transvestite or even a … Manchester United Supporter is a Christian they can still get not heaven, yes?
That Jesus is okay having queers in heaven with him?
Ark: You are a despicable liar. Frank’s reference to gays was not to condemn them. You know this. I am done with you on this.
He singled gays out, why?
Why not just say atheists?
He might as well have said ”vegetarians”.
And why would I lie? Frank wrote what he wrote.
I did not alter it or change it in any way.
Anyone and everyone can follow Jesus of Nazareth. There are absolutely NO restrictions. Here are stories I wrote about two very, very broken people who, incredibly, became Jesus followers:
http://wp.me/p2wzRb-5g
http://wp.me/p2wzRb-ko
The ironic thing is, this very characteristic, which makes following Jesus unique and extraordinary, is the very thing that makes some of the opponents of Jesus so angry. Those folks seem to hate the fact that God can and will forgive the very worst of human behaviour.
For me, God’s willingness to forgive every person and every behaviour, through His Son’s sacrificial death, is one of the main reasons I decided to follow Jesus.
I think you hit an important point Frank. Some are morbidly offended by the level of forgiveness offered. Also, in case you have not noticed they separately want us to condemn people.
If we prove we are haters then we provide an excuse for them to reject Jesus under the pretense of rejecting Christians.
Not only that, but the desire to divide Christians is immense. Hence the harping on a supposed disagreement between you and I here, Frank.
[…] Original post @ https://frankscottage.blog/2017/07/01/from-sickening-thought-to-beautiful-truth/ […]
There is destructive fear of God, and then there’s beneficial fear of God. The first is the kind of fear one faces by the fact that one needs to surrender one’s own treasured sin, one’s self-sufficiency (a delusion), and in a very real sense, one’s own freedom.
But with the realization that such freedom and pride is a false and deceptive concept which deeply enslaves, one is partially freed from delusion.
The true freedom is the next step: an embracing of God as a child once again, and fellowship with Christ Jesus, His son, our Brother. In doing so we again become “slaves” in one sense, as a child is a “slave” (ie. obedient) to a parent, but also children of the true, all-loving, all-knowing, omnipotent and omnipresent God, in which our ultimate and eternal freedom lies. And the Holy Spirit is given to us to empower us toward that freedom, here on earth and eventually to our future freedom from all fear and pain in Heaven.