Can God only do GOOD works?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God CAN do whatever he wants. I believe that he chooses to do what is ultimately good though we humans may not understand it.

Tsunamis and hurricanes and starving babies are hard to understand as being a part of the plan of a loving God. But there is a devil and apparently God doesn't have control over him.

The "ultimate good" is heaven - for those who believe in god.

This isn't related to your posts but you wouldn't happen to live in Maryland would you? And reply a lot to craigslist ads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God CAN do whatever he wants. I believe that he chooses to do what is ultimately good though we humans may not understand it.

Tsunamis and hurricanes and starving babies are hard to understand as being a part of the plan of a loving God. But there is a devil and apparently God doesn't have control over him.

The "ultimate good" is heaven - for those who believe in god.

And what is the ultimate good for atheists who have improved humanity? saved babies from dying, helped depressed people heal, ignited an academic spark in a kid who tried to drop out

hell?

Atheists have chosen not to believe in God, so their ultimate good for the many useful things they may have done on earth is limited to whatever satisfaction they get from doing these things while they are alive. They think that when they die, that's the end -- not just for them, but for everyone. Christians think the atheists will be surprised when they wake up on Hell.

Not all Christians think that way -- some on this forum think good atheists go to heaven with all the other good people, but there is nothing in the Bible or Christian doctrine to support that notion. The path to salvation is through accepting Christ. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God CAN do whatever he wants. I believe that he chooses to do what is ultimately good though we humans may not understand it.

Tsunamis and hurricanes and starving babies are hard to understand as being a part of the plan of a loving God. But there is a devil and apparently God doesn't have control over him.

The "ultimate good" is heaven - for those who believe in god.

This isn't related to your posts but you wouldn't happen to live in Maryland would you? And reply a lot to craigslist ads?

Neither -- why do you ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God CAN do whatever he wants. I believe that he chooses to do what is ultimately good though we humans may not understand it.

Tsunamis and hurricanes and starving babies are hard to understand as being a part of the plan of a loving God. But there is a devil and apparently God doesn't have control over him.

The "ultimate good" is heaven - for those who believe in god.

This isn't related to your posts but you wouldn't happen to live in Maryland would you? And reply a lot to craigslist ads?

Neither -- why do you ask?

Because all their ads get responded to by a christian spreading the word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God CAN do whatever he wants. I believe that he chooses to do what is ultimately good though we humans may not understand it.

Tsunamis and hurricanes and starving babies are hard to understand as being a part of the plan of a loving God. But there is a devil and apparently God doesn't have control over him.

The "ultimate good" is heaven - for those who believe in god.

This isn't related to your posts but you wouldn't happen to live in Maryland would you? And reply a lot to craigslist ads?

Neither -- why do you ask?

Because all their ads get responded to by a christian spreading the word.

This is a religion blog, so it's appropriate here. Also many divergent beliefs are discussed here, not just Christianity. There are non-religious people here too and people from other religions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God CAN do whatever he wants. I believe that he chooses to do what is ultimately good though we humans may not understand it.

Tsunamis and hurricanes and starving babies are hard to understand as being a part of the plan of a loving God. But there is a devil and apparently God doesn't have control over him.

The "ultimate good" is heaven - for those who believe in god.

And what is the ultimate good for atheists who have improved humanity? saved babies from dying, helped depressed people heal, ignited an academic spark in a kid who tried to drop out

hell?

Atheists have chosen not to believe in God, so their ultimate good for the many useful things they may have done on earth is limited to whatever satisfaction they get from doing these things while they are alive. They think that when they die, that's the end -- not just for them, but for everyone. Christians think the atheists will be surprised when they wake up on Hell.

Not all Christians think that way -- some on this forum think good atheists go to heaven with all the other good people, but there is nothing in the Bible or Christian doctrine to support that notion. The path to salvation is through accepting Christ. That's it.

No one can prove what happens after death -- or no one HAS proved it, but using all other life forms as an example, it's logical that humans' lives come to the same, final end. However Christianity teaches that humans have eternal souls. There is no way to prove that either. No one has come back from the dead to verify it. Still, people continue to believe. Such is the power of religious belief. People may not follow all or even most of the rules of their religion, but they believe that they have souls and that they will go to heaven when they die.

[Anonymous]

Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

So if Jesus came to redeem those who believe in him, how can people who don't believe in him go to heaven?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

So if Jesus came to redeem those who believe in him, how can people who don't believe in him go to heaven?

They can't.

And then there are those who don't even know about him.

all going to hell - all of them, despite their squeaky clean lifestyles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

So if Jesus came to redeem those who believe in him, how can people who don't believe in him go to heaven?

They can't.

And then there are those who don't even know about him.

all going to hell - all of them, despite their squeaky clean lifestyles

According to Christian doctrine, yes, though, as mentioned earlier, some Christians don't believe that. Some liberal churches don't actively teach it anymore. It doesn't fit with modern thinking about fair treatment, but it doesn't change why Christ died. Nothing can change that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

So if Jesus came to redeem those who believe in him, how can people who don't believe in him go to heaven?

They can't.

And then there are those who don't even know about him.

all going to hell - all of them, despite their squeaky clean lifestyles

That's not what we're taught in our Christian religion. Just so you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

So if Jesus came to redeem those who believe in him, how can people who don't believe in him go to heaven?

They can't.

And then there are those who don't even know about him.

all going to hell - all of them, despite their squeaky clean lifestyles

That's not what we're taught in our Christian religion. Just so you know.

Correct -- some liberal Christian denominations teach that good atheists and people of other non-Christian religions can go to heaven, but that's clearly not what Jesus taught and not why His Father sent him here. Some, not all, modern-day Christians have watered down their religion to make more sense to them in a modern world, where good people are, or should be, rewarded with eternal life simply for for being good. But Christianity is very clear that all that is needed to get into heaven is claiming Christ as your savior. The worse criminal can enter the kingdom of heaven if they ask to be forgiven of their sins, no matter how heinous, and accept Jesus. The best atheist cannot go to heaven, because they refuse to do this.

Some liberal Christian denominations are watering down their beliefs to keep modern liberal people engaged in the good works of the church and to keep it financially afloat. Can't blame them for that. They can't deny the simple teachings of Jesus, however. In the end, it's believe or burn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion is chance.

You were born into a Catholic family - chance. You were born into a Protestant family. You met the man of your dreams, and he decided to convert to Judaism for you.

It's not about a god coming down and change your views. Whoever was around you from a young age on shaped your beliefs.

Had you been born in Iran, you might be a non-Muslim, but chances are you'd be a practicing Shi'i Islam.

chance
geography
upbringing

So which god is the REAL god, by the way?

Christians know -- even Christians who think good atheists go to heaven (and probably good Muslims and Jews too) believe that Jesus is the son of God who came to redeem us.

Yes.

So if Jesus came to redeem those who believe in him, how can people who don't believe in him go to heaven?

They can't.

And then there are those who don't even know about him.

all going to hell - all of them, despite their squeaky clean lifestyles

That's not what we're taught in our Christian religion. Just so you know.

Correct -- some liberal Christian denominations teach that good atheists and people of other non-Christian religions can go to heaven, but that's clearly not what Jesus taught and not why His Father sent him here. Some, not all, modern-day Christians have watered down their religion to make more sense to them in a modern world, where good people are, or should be, rewarded with eternal life simply for for being good. But Christianity is very clear that all that is needed to get into heaven is claiming Christ as your savior. The worse criminal can enter the kingdom of heaven if they ask to be forgiven of their sins, no matter how heinous, and accept Jesus. The best atheist cannot go to heaven, because they refuse to do this.

Some liberal Christian denominations are watering down their beliefs to keep modern liberal people engaged in the good works of the church and to keep it financially afloat. Can't blame them for that. They can't deny the simple teachings of Jesus, however. In the end, it's believe or burn.

Burn huh? For how long?

Does the bible teach that the soul is eternal, indestructible, or does it teach that it can be destroyed? Forget what religions teach...what does the bible say?

Start here...Matthew 10:28...which is part of Christ teaching...

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Destroy both body and soul in hell?

Rev 20:14

..."The lake of fire is the second death"

There are a whole lot of other verses that support death as the end result...you can find them easily...and I know religions teach that separation from God is what that second death is...but how does that line up with all other mentions of death? What are the wages of sin?

Wouldn't a just God simply promise life or death eternal? Isn't eternal death a more just punishment for those who either never had the chance to believe and follow Christ as well as those who did and chose not to?