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Original poster

How to advise newly-Christian friend who thinks that only Christians can go to heaven

312 replies

poguemahone · 12/07/2009 20:34

A friend has recently become a Christian, and is very happy and excited about the whole thing.

She's having a bit of a tough time, however as she's getting into conflicts with people who don't share her beliefs. In particular she holds that only Christians will go to heaven. She's traveling in a non-Christian country so I can only imagine upset for everyone concerned.

We knew each other years ago when she was a lovely sweet girl but a bit wild, and she recently sought me out, probably because I've always been a Christian. She's keen to pick my brains on things like this, and I'm feeling a bit of pressure to get the advice right.

I've told her that:

  • I believe people of all religion and none can go to heaven if they're good people.
  • Although Christianity makes utter sense to me intellectually and emotionally, not everyone has been exposed to the same (cultural) background as me.
  • God's fair if nothing else, so for example to discount millions of people who've never heard of Jesus, would just be unfair. (Likewise for people who've not seen great examples of Christians, who're happy with their own religion etc)

But she's asking for more info and I'm really no expert on this. Any advice?

OP posts:
abraid · 13/07/2009 20:45

Divine Truth is revealed through the centuries, not only through the Bible.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 20:45

I did read it and was pleased by it

glad to know that there are some evangelical Protestant loons hardliners too and not just people saying that about Catholics

jabberwocky · 13/07/2009 20:46

OMDB, I think we are being quite ignored on this thread

Overmydeadbody · 13/07/2009 20:48

yes jabberwokky, I think we are!

Poor brainwashed things

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 20:50

I agreed with every word you said OMDB - I don't think anyone should condemn people for not believing in the make believe faith I do

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 20:51

My brain is dirty I'll have you know

doesn't need washing though

Overmydeadbody · 13/07/2009 20:51

Good Laurie!

I respect everyone's right to believe in whatever they want, but I don't respect religion itself, if that makes sense.

Overmydeadbody · 13/07/2009 20:52
LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 20:53

I don't respect religion - religiosity has caused wars and hatred forever.

I do respect other people.

lou031205 · 13/07/2009 20:53

Loons? I can understand OMDB, hc & jw - they don't believe in God. But 'Christians' who don't believe in the sufficiency of Christ, and think that He isn't necessary to get to Heaven? That is a sad thing. How the Enemy is loving this.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 20:57

Look Lou, are you deliberately misunderstanding

Yes, Jesus is necessary to get to heaven. The difference is him dying saved YOU from having to do anything. No good works, ONLY grace.

Yes, he is sufficient. More than you.

And don't bother concerning yourself with the enemy - he is small and weak, human evil is much more of a problem.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 20:59

He died for everyone not just you and a few others who think they are worth more than anyone else, that they are somehow special.

You're not special, you're a fucked up little human just like the rest of us those you think you are condemning to hell.

Overmydeadbody · 13/07/2009 21:02

Yay Laurie, you go girl. Tell it like it is.

lou031205 · 13/07/2009 21:03

Laurie, read the Bible.

"The difference is him dying saved YOU from having to do anything."

Should read

"The difference is him dying saved YOU from having to do anything... EXCEPT Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord & Saviour"

Those 9 words put us worlds apart.

I am leaving this thread, because the last thing I am willing to do is participate in in-fighting.

Northernlurker · 13/07/2009 21:03

Laurie - it isn't 'religion' which has caused wars etc - it's living in a fallen world.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 21:10

NL - No, religiosity (not religion) causes wars, and religiosity is people holding fixatedly to what they think is the truth and then going out and bashing some physically or metaphorically with it. Some people get very aerated with their religiosity thinking their way is the only way - I'm not sure killing or raping others is living a fulfilled or godly life but there are plenty of Christians who have carried out those acts in 'holy' wars.

lou - it's not about receiving him as Lord and Saviour it's about accepting grace and forgiveness. Other religions accept forgiveness.

Reallytired · 13/07/2009 21:26

If you decide to reject Jesus then you have rejected Heaven. God respects your decision.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 21:31

DH has just pointed out to me something I forgot to say (he's a preacher so he's allowed to remind me )

Hell is not a bad thing for the non-believer, there's no whippings, burning flesh, some giant guy called Bubba taking you roughly from behind.

Hell is living without God. That is unimaginable to Christians but to those on this thread and all around the world who aren't Christians some of them are getting along just fine.

DD is not a Christian (she's fostered) and she has been fostered by some vehemently religious people so for now she's turned off.

Life is not hell to her, it's normal, loving, full of great things.

It's only to Christians that it would be hard living without God.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 21:36

obviously Christians think people would have a more enjoyable/fulfilled life if they had Jesus but you can still be happy without it.

I wouldn't dream of presuming that someone was unhappy without God. I should only concern myself with how I live.

lou031205 · 13/07/2009 21:45

OK, I couldn't ignore that.

When we step into eternity, we will be fully aware of God. We will not be human in our thoughts & knowledge. We will 'know' Him. It will be awful to be apart from God. Non-Christians do not miss God because they do not know what it is they are missing.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 21:55

Yes, and when they step into eternity (which I don't really believe in but I realise many Christians do so I'm using your points of reference) they will not know what they are missing.

Unless you actually believe that non-believers will step into eternity, see how amazing he is and then God turns round and says sorry mate, you can't come in

I think what's more likely is:

  1. they don't know what they're missing now, they are perfectly happy the way they live, they die.

or

  1. they don't know what they're missing now, they go to eternity, see it's great and God says come in.

Personally, I think life is about NOW. Only people who are scared of death or are having existential crises worry about heaven.

I only think it's awful to be apart from God because I am a Christian and I'm sure that if there's an eternity and (according to you) we fully know God in it, that he invites everyone in.

lou031205 · 13/07/2009 22:00

I'd just love to know what version of the Bible you are reading

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 22:06

Well, I'd like to know why you cling literally to a book that you don't understand.

Look, it's really simple. Christians think people who live without God are in hell - since lots of people clearly live happy lives hell is not so bad to them.

It's only to us who couldn't/wouldn't live without it do we see and live differently.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/07/2009 22:09

You're really misunderstanding the message - why are you only concerned with eternity - do you really have this idea that heaven is madly better than here?

I think the present, living now is the only life I'm interested in. And I live happily with God now.

I don't give a toss about an afterlife.

BunnyLebowski · 13/07/2009 22:29

Echoing the sentiments of the few sane people on this thread I have never been happier to be an atheist than I am reading this bilge.

You sad brainwashed fools debating the list of criteria for getting into an imaginary club run by a big bearded dude. And smugly condemning those of us who don't follow your dogma.

We live, we die, we become worm food. The best any of us can do while we're alive is live a full happy life and be a good person. And guess what? We don't have to be weak minded drones blindly living our lives by the word of an ancient piece of fiction to do that.

And a thought for you before I depart this thread. All you ardent christians who are so sure you're following the right religion? It's all a geographical accident of birth. If you'd been born in India you'd be hindu, in Iran you'd be muslim and you'd believe that that religion was the one true path.

Ridiculous.