I agree about all you said mischelle. To better put it i refuse to believe that God codemns people who dont believe in him either for traditional reasons (ie in a middle eastern traditional country) or for their own reasons and still trying to live a life with love and compassion on their behalf and caring for their families.
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In 1 Peter 4 we read that God stands ready to judge both the living and the dead … “For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.”
[my own emphasis added at the end of v.6]
To me, that speaks pretty conclusively about populations from other eras or geographies that had no chance to encounter the good news while they lived. And though verses such as the above are not many, this one is by no means isolated. Both Peter and Paul thought this way.
I would caution against attempting to “resolve issues” by simple verse counts - turning any decision into a contest of which column (‘pro’ or ‘con’) has the longer list of references. That treats the bible as some sort of flat book of factoids - many paradoxical or contradictory when read as such - that needs to be resolved by a verse count. A much more faithful way to read the Bible as a Christian is to read it as a whole - giving special attention and privilege to the New Testament, and even the highest privilege of all to the life and teachings of Christ presented in the four gospels, letting His spirit guide you toward faithful obedience. Obedience to the guidance of that Spirit as known through the gospels is our highest need - the one thing that will direct us to all necessary truth and that is our salvation. After that, you are able to “set aside” or not be disturbed by apparently contradictory verses that put some in a tizzy, caricaturing God as a moral monster or a tyrant that makes the average person look [actually be] more righteous in comparison. Anyone or any thing that would have you believing evil of God you can reject out of hand as something that, at best, simply awaits clarifying understanding, or at worst, needs to be scorned and rejected as a devilish doctrine. Whatever verses call us toward (and these are by no means isolated only to the New Testament) … things like gentleness, tenderness, mutual affection, mercy, yes - even ‘tough love judgement’ sometimes - but always with the object of restoring your brother - all these things we are called to do … God does them even better. Perfectly in fact. The more I read scriptures, the more God’s saving character, God’s passion for redemption comes to the foreground, and the more his alleged austerity, his alleged eternal hate toward many fades away as a tottering doctrine based more on us trying to fashion a god patterned after our own vengeful sentiments rather than us seeking to be fashioned after God - to be perfect as He is perfect. Even though plenty of passages can be found to fill the ‘vengeful god’ side of the ledger, seek instead the Spirit revealed in the gospels, and the truly good news brought by that Spirit. Only then do we begin to read the bible aright.
[It needs to be added that the above is not a simplistic formula such as “anything found in a gospel always ‘wins’.” There are plenty of words straight from Jesus’ mouth that, taken in isolation (or with no recourse to deeper understanding or contextual or literary considerations), would add to the ‘moral monster’ side of the ledger, and conversely there are plenty of necessary and clarifying understandings to be gleaned from Paul, other apostles, and even from the old testament. All I’m saying is that, we should be steeped in all of the recorded words of Jesus and his followers to help shape that same spirit within us as an overall guiding principle for who God is. And that Spirit is what guides us toward a loving and righteous God that reaches out to all of us, and to reject the moral monster god who would in no way be worthy of any worship whatsoever.]
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In point of fact, or refusal to believe something does not make what we disbelieve wrong. I have often said that If God is a Klingon War God, then we must deal with him AS a Klingon War God. Our beliefs about this or that do not change the nature of God anymore than one’s beliefs about me change who I am.
In my mind, the above is a bit of wishful thinking, as if the universe really cared what we refuse to believe. A Christian Scientist acquaintance in college refused to believe that disease was anything but an illusion. He was welcome to that belief if that was what he wanted, but his refusal said nothing about reality.
Edited to add. sorry about the typos. I am still very week after the worst reaction to my chemo drugs I have ever had. and I am still weak
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Thanks for the response gbob.I am sad that you have to go through this.I really hope that you recover from this.I will pray for your recovery.May God strenghten you both in spirit and body .
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Thanks Nick, My healing will come from the next world. I have had this for 17 years and have outlived 3 prognostications of my death-working on my fourth. I am content. God has shown my more stuff in the last 3 years than I think I ever learned in my 50 years as a Christian.
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Hi Nick. Here are some scriptures and backstory.
What you’re struggling with is epistemology. How you know what you know. It’s simplest to assume the worst, most conservative, most literal, most negative interpretation as the majority here do.
I assume the best.
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Hi Klax. Thanks for your story. What im in though its somewhat like a middle ground. I dont think all people will be saved especially those who will not repent. But it troubles me that good people that are unbelievers will be codemned. Thanks for the verses as well.
I feel for you Nick. I presume you come from a Greek Orthodox background? That you’re still in that culture? In Greece itself? If I may ask?
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I actually come from an pantheistic background. Over the years then it evolved to atheism. Only recently im a christian. Not a full orthodox. Im half protestant half orthodox
Thank you Nick. No wonder you’re conflicted!
Those are not the real issues for me. But I also think (1) is incorrect, for the only reason I believe in hell is because I see it in the world created by people. And as for (2), whether God created people to do or be something is beside the point, since it is very very clear that in Bible, that God does not get what He wants (read Genesis 6) – that is the result of free will. Unlike many human beings drunk on power and control, God appears to be quite able to accept things that do not go the way He would prefer. This is not to say that He will do nothing to improve things. But there definitely appear to be limits (required by the nature of love, I think) on what He will do.
Instead I think the real issues are as follows.
- Will God force people to live and be has He wants them to or not. Well all you have to do is look at the Bible and world to see crystal clear that God does not do any such thing.
- Is it inevitable that people will change for the better? I see no evidence whatsoever of any such thing and plenty of evidence for the complete opposite, that people are quite capable of stubbornly clinging to their evil no matter how miserable it makes them. It is almost as if they are addicted to their own misery.
Well i dont know why you assume that. It ks because i believe that the ones doctrine “fill” the doctrines of the other?
What i mean by this is that i dont believe in saints and some other doctrinal and non doctrinal teachings of the church. I however dont believe in some protestant doctrines as well like their liturgy and their “music” lets say😂
Plus your story kinda sums up my situation now. Although my priest in my church does know of my beliefs and hes not reporting me or anything over and such. Hes fine with it. I truly admire him. But if i engage in a conversation with my other parishioners they will hand me over to the local bishop or whatever and excommunicate me. Not that this is serious but i will be sad if the priest lose his place in our church
In an Orthodox church I presume. It’s wrong, but not surprising. Protestantism is beyond the catholic pale. It takes the worst of the ancient Western church and runs with it. Oil and water my friend. And Greek fire! Don’t rock the boat.
Yes is our local church. But what and why is wrong?
That you feel at risk of excommunication for your conflicted beliefs. You can’t serve two masters Nick. You can’t bring alien ideas in to your fellowship and hope to survive. Just talk to the priest every now and again. Lonely are the brave.
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Ohh yeah. Its not like they will not listen. Im sure some of them will have some similar beliefs too (although very rare) But the majority of them will become hostile. The priest i speak to is very acceptable thought. Thanks .Plus i dont think i serve two masters . The orthodox church although the most old of all the denominations has accepted other ‘themes’ either traditional from ancient greece or other stuff that i think they are not needed and not to be associated with christianity
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No you don’t, and you cannot. You must choose. Choose what fits best in your external life. Never mind your inner life. It’s the same for me and my wife. And confess the conflict to your priest. Orthodoxy isn’t damnationist. That’s a good thing.
For me doctrines is a manmade think. You know to gain power and influence over groups. I have spoken about my beliefs to the priest and hes fine. Not the universalism thing though