Just a Theory

[Solar]

Lets assume we are all judged when we die as to what our fate holds.
I have a theory on this, I don't believe God judges us so much on the evil we commit, rather the good we accomplished, where our hearts lied in the process.

Take a child born without the ability for empathy, he tortures everything he encounters, not because he's evil, but because he lacks the ability to understand it's wrong.
He dies at an early age, does God blame the child for his actions, or does he blame the parents for their inaction's?

Take a child in the Middle East raised to hate, threatened with his own and the lives of his family if he doesn't commit heinous acts, even though he tries to fight them, he fails in his efforts and kills hundreds.

Does he go to Hell? I just don't think so, I doubt it, I think we are judged on how much good we achieved in our short time on the planet, how much evil we averted in it's attempt to wrong others.

Yes, I believe there is a special place in Hell for many, I just don't think it's as cut and dried as we've been led to believe.

[walkstall]

Lets assume we are all judged when we die as to what our fate holds.
I have a theory on this, I don't believe God judges us so much on the evil we commit, rather the good we accomplished, where our hearts lied in the process.

Take a child born without the ability for empathy, he tortures everything he encounters, not because he's evil, but because he lacks the ability to understand it's wrong.
He dies at an early age, does God blame the child for his actions, or does he blame the parents for their inaction's?

Take a child in the Middle East raised to hate, threatened with his own and the lives of his family if he doesn't commit heinous acts, even though he tries to fight them, he fails in his efforts and kills hundreds.

Does he go to Hell? I just don't think so, I doubt it, I think we are judged on how much good we achieved in our short time on the planet, how much evil we averted in it's attempt to wrong others.

Yes, I believe there is a special place in Hell for many, I just don't think it's as cut and dried as we've been led to believe.

My God is a awesome loving God.   

[Solar]

My God is a awesome loving God.

Yep, that's how I see it as well.

[je_freedom]

Romans chapter 2 says that God takes one's environment into account when judging.
It says that, if one has never had the opportunity to hear and obey the gospel,
then God will judge that one according to whether or not he obeyed his conscience.
At various places in the gospels, Jesus says that,
from those to whom much has been given, much is expected.
Still, one is far more likely to be saved BY the gospel than APART from the gospel
- which, by the way, is the only thing that can genuinely civilize the world.

[Solar]

Romans chapter 2 says that God takes one's environment into account when judging.
It says that, if one has never had the opportunity to hear and obey the gospel,
then God will judge that one according to whether or not he obeyed his conscience.
At various places in the gospels, Jesus says that,
from those to whom much has been given, much is expected.
Still, one is far more likely to be saved BY the gospel than APART from the gospel
- which, by the way, is the only thing that can genuinely civilize the world.

Thank you, that lends credence to my beliefs.

[kroz]

hhhmmm..... I probably would not embrace this type of thinking that has been posted.

First of all, my God IS a loving God..... but He is also a JUST God.

I think we all believe that He has made himself known to man through His creation.... as Romans chapter one explains.  Therefore, NO man has a legitimate excuse for denying God.

The real issue is ..... are we seeking God and willing to embrace Him wherever He meets us?
Will we come to Him on His terms?  And what are His terms?

We ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.   None of us can do enough good in this world to warrant acceptance into heaven.  Entrance is NOT based upon our works.  Entrance is based purely on the fact that we have trusted in the power of Jesus' atoning blood to "cover" our sins and present us as sinless to God.  Only the blood of Jesus can cover our sins and make us acceptable to God and His heavenly kingdom.

So, what good are our good works?  Scripture says they will all be burned up unless they were done through the power of the Holy Spirit which indwells Christians.  So, if they are not burned up, what good are they?

There is a hierarchy in Heaven.  Scripture says that we will reign with Him.  What does that look like?  Scripture doesn't tell us how it works but it alludes to the fact that there will be positions of power in Heaven.  The most humble and obedient janitor on earth may be in a position of power in heaven.  That is where our obedience on earth comes into play in heaven.  We receive "crowns" or rewards for our faithfulness.  You may think it doesn't matter to you about any rewards if you just manage to "get in", but I assure you that you will not be thinking that way once you arrive there!

Also, Jesus taught that there were degrees of punishment in hell.  "Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees...... for you will be given a more severe punishment in that day."

Salvation and condemnation are not based upon our deeds.  Our relationship with Jesus Christ is what determines our eternal destination.  He is the door.  We cannot get there without Him.   Once there, our deeds are judged and we are treated accordingly.

So, don't get too hung up on doing good on earth until you have first received the saving blood of Jesus Christ in your heart.  THEN your good deeds will account for something for eternity.

In the end, all humanity will be recompensed justly by God.

What about the heathen who never heard about God?  Even the heathen knows about God (through creation) and can seek Him. 

I know a Cambodian woman who told me that when she was young she knew that the source of flying birds and growing plants was not the deity that her mom worshipped with her idol of Buddha.  She said she shook her fist in the air and said, "I don't know who you are but I want to know you."

Many years later, after the killing fields and death of her husband and children, she ended up in an internment camp in Indonesia with other boat people.  That is where she met my family.  We came to the camp every week and taught them about Jesus Christ.  She tearfully accepted Jesus into her heart and was baptized.  And she told us this story as her testimony.

My point is that God does reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him.

[carlb]

Exactly kroz. People create their own gods in their heads when they reject, or don't know Jesus or understand God's Plan for Man. We were born to be KINGS AND PRIESTS in His Kingdom when He returns.

[walkstall]

Exactly kroz. People create their own gods in their heads when they reject, or don't know Jesus or understand God's Plan for Man. We were born to be KINGS AND PRIESTS in His Kingdom when He returns.

Hmm...  So that's what we are being good for.   

[kroz]

Hmm...  So that's what we are being good for.   

No, not at all.

We are obedient because we have a heart to please God.  We pray and ask the Spirit of God to direct our path and make us sensitive to the things that God would have us do.  This is a daily effort to be pleasing to the God of our salvation.  We don't do it for rewards per se.  We do it because we have a loving relationship with our Father in heaven....... just as children on earth desire to please their fathers.

BTW, we cannot be good all the time.  We continue to sin even as believers but the Spirit quickens our hearts to an awareness of our sin..... and we seek to do better. 

[zewazir]

Certainly in the Final Judgement, God will take into account each person's background, knowledge, and abilities.  However, in the modern world there are darned few excuses left available for those who continue to deny the Lord.

My preacher talks repeatedly about "Do the right thing for the right reason."  Doing good in order to "earn" salvation is doing the right thing, but for the wrong reason. It is simply not POSSIBLE for one to "EARN" their way to salvation.  If it were, we would have no need for Christ to come to Earth as Man, sacrifice himself on the cross for our sins, and rise again to give (yes GIVE) us salvation.

Doing the right thing for the RIGHT reason means we become followers of Christ, and in doing so, we try our best (though, of course, imperfectly) to do as Christ commanded us - including treating our fellow human beings with love, compassion, generosity, etc. (ie: good works)

In short, we do good works, NOT to "earn" salvation, but because good works is what our Lord expects of us as His disciples. Good is done, as scripture advises us, with no expectation of reward, hence negating the idea of earning salvation. Good works comes from the desire to be as Christ like as we can be, out of our love for the Lord.

[kroz]

Well said, zewazir.

What does zewazir mean?

I do take exception with your "darned few excuses left for those who continue to deny God".  There are absolutely NO excuses.

[red_dirt]

God also has a "sea of forgetfulness,"  for us to throw our past mistakes into. If He can forget them, we ought to be able to.

[kroz]

God also has a "sea of forgetfulness,"  for us to throw our past mistakes into. If He can forget them, we ought to be able to.

I am sorry to take exception to that, red.

God does not forget.  He is omniscient...... knows everything.

However, the blood of Christ covers our sins.  God only sees Christ when he looks upon believers.  We are totally baptized into Christ.  We are purified by the blood of Christ.  We have nothing to fear.  We are sinless in the eyes of God.

[zewazir]

I do take exception with your "darned few excuses left for those who continue to deny God".  There are absolutely NO excuses.

Mental deficiency?

[carlb]

Hmm...  So that's what we are being good for.   

Why do you call yourself "good"? There is none good except your Father who is in heaven -- Jesus

I don't understand the condescending " eyeroll"

The REASON Man is born is to become literal Sons &Daughters of God. KINGS and PEIESTS in the Kingdom of God

A Son of God does "good" because he is taking on the nature of his Father in heaven because the Spirit of Christ dwells in him.

THAT is why a Christian "does good"