How Can A Christian Be Afraid of Death?

If you're a strong enough believer, then you wouldn't be

RobboElRobbo

This is exactly what I'm saying. Being afraid of death=Not a 100% believer, you do have doubts.

Well, from what small bit I've learned, it's that God is infinitely powerful and we are supposed to have a love/fear relationship with him, right? It's just a human fear of infinity and as soon as we stop fearing him it's putting a limit on him

RobboElRobbo

There has never truly existed a "love/fear relationship". It's one or the other. If your parents are loving, you will obey them because you love them and want to make them happy. If your parents are abusive, you will obey them because you fear them and want to avoid pain. In both cases, you obey them, but the reasons behind your actions are very, very different. As John says in his letter, there is no fear in love, and likewise, there is no love in fear. The moment you begin truly fearing someone is the moment that you begin to stop truly loving that person.

God wants us to love him, not fear him (again, in the sense we understand "fear" today).

(And as a side note, I think people miss what it really means to love God. God doesn't need anything from us; we can't possibly directly give him something. We can, however, love the creation whom he loves. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40b))

[QUOTE="bbkkristian"]

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]

Also if you are a 100% believer in jesus christ or whatever, why are you spending your time on a video game forum or whatever? If I was a 100% believer in any religion, I would devote my entire life to it. How is it that someone can be a 100% believer in a religion and not devote their whole life to it since a human life only lasts for around 70-80 years but paradise in heaven is eternal?

ColdP1zza

You're missing the point. I believe in Jesus Christ 100%. Doesn't mean I am reading the Bible every second of my life.

I am not afraid of Death, I am afraid of DYING. The pain part of it.

Your missing mypoint. If your are a 100% believer, you don't have to devote your life to christianity, but why would you not? Do you not want an assured place in heaven, I"m sure you sin. This is just a short existance so why not devote it to god so that you can live in paradise eternally?

[QUOTE="bbkkristian"]

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]

Also if you are a 100% believer in jesus christ or whatever, why are you spending your time on a video game forum or whatever? If I was a 100% believer in any religion, I would devote my entire life to it. How is it that someone can be a 100% believer in a religion and not devote their whole life to it since a human life only lasts for around 70-80 years but paradise in heaven is eternal?

ColdP1zza

You're missing the point. I believe in Jesus Christ 100%. Doesn't mean I am reading the Bible every second of my life.

I am not afraid of Death, I am afraid of DYING. The pain part of it.

Your missing mypoint. If your are a 100% believer, you don't have to devote your life to christianity, but why would you not? Do you not want an assured place in heaven, I"m sure you sin. This is just a short existance so why not devote it to god so that you can live in paradise eternally?

I'm not really getting your point. Getting on a video game site for example. Why would that have anything to do with eternal paradise?

[QUOTE="jeremiah06"]Wait so anyone claiming to be religious can't have time to enjoy themselves? Those 100% devotees are usually the one's who become extremist. God never asked us to devote 100% of our time to him. He wants us to live righteously. Even Jesus had a day job...ColdP1zza

Again, you don't have to, but why would you not? Human life is such a short existance, why not spend it devoting your life to god so that you will for sure have go to heaven?

Any action done with the motivation in one's heart of attaining a quid pro quo benefit for oneself is corrupted to the core, and is exactly why Jesus told us not to worry about ourselves and our needs so much. You can't buy your way into heaven; it doesn't work that way.

[QUOTE="VideoGamerNerd"]

Just because people are Christians and love and believe in God, does not mean they fear nothing, we are still only human. Though we are not found of the idea of death (Who is?) , that does not make us look forward to being with God in Heaven any less. :)

And just because people are Christians, doesn't mean they can't do anything besides what they are called to do. We can still live. :P :)

Why are you not fond of the idea of death? I would await death with bated breath, if I believed that it would lead to eternal paradise?

how can you people still believe in a god who deliberately created us just to let us sin and let billions of people burn in hell for eternity (if you still believe in that)

how can you people still believe in a god who deliberately created us just to let us sin and let billions of people burn in hell for eternity (if you still believe in that)

Krelian-co

People aren't afraid of death per se, it's the feeling of life slipping away and out of you that's disturbing.

Death is a transition point...it's what occurs prior to that which makes a person apprehensive.:)

[QUOTE="Krelian-co"]

how can you people still believe in a god who deliberately created us just to let us sin and let billions of people burn in hell for eternity (if you still believe in that)

VideoGamerNerd

Would any truly sane individual choose eternal torment and agony over an eternity of bliss and contentment?

No offense intended, but I have never understood how people can honestly believe that someone would truly "choose" to go roast forever in hell. It seems fundamentally... well, odd.

Fear of death is pretty much instinct. Not easily alterable, even if there is no reason to fear it.

[QUOTE="VideoGamerNerd"][QUOTE="Krelian-co"]

how can you people still believe in a god who deliberately created us just to let us sin and let billions of people burn in hell for eternity (if you still believe in that)

Would any truly sane individual choose eternal torment and agony over an eternity of bliss and contentment?

No offense intended, but I have never understood how people can honestly believe that someone would truly "choose" to go roast forever in hell. It seems fundamentally... well, odd.

I'm just wondering, how is it possible for a strong believer in catholicism or christianity be at all afraid of death? Isn't being afraid of death admitting you don't fully believe in your religion? ColdP1zza

Or...... you could be afraid of hell.

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Random text for the religious folk.

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Random text for the religious folk.

Dystopian-X

Random text for the religious folk.

Dystopian-X

Fear of leaving things unfinished. Fear of leaving loved ones hurt because you are gone.

God gave us free will. We have freedom do what we want and still try live a Chirstain life. You're not any less of a Christain if you like shooting hoops with friends or posting on a videogame forum.

Well, I don't know that I'm good enough for Heaven. ;)harashawn

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="VideoGamerNerd"] He gave us a choice to fallow, and believe in him. What kind of God whould he be if he made us like slaves, with no free will? I certainly woulden't want to fallow a God like that. Now would you?VideoGamerNerd

Would any truly sane individual choose eternal torment and agony over an eternity of bliss and contentment?

No offense intended, but I have never understood how people can honestly believe that someone would truly "choose" to go roast forever in hell. It seems fundamentally... well, odd.

Wait, what? I thought you just asserted that that was the case. :P

I am the opposite. I wonder why it is that Atheist fear death.clayron

The uncertainty that comes from that position?

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]

[QUOTE="jeremiah06"]Wait so anyone claiming to be religious can't have time to enjoy themselves? Those 100% devotees are usually the one's who become extremist. God never asked us to devote 100% of our time to him. He wants us to live righteously. Even Jesus had a day job...GabuEx

Again, you don't have to, but why would you not? Human life is such a short existance, why not spend it devoting your life to god so that you will for sure have go to heaven?

Any action done with the motivation in one's heart of attaining a quid pro quo benefit for oneself is corrupted to the core, and is exactly why Jesus told us not to worry about ourselves and our needs so much. You can't buy your way into heaven; it doesn't work that way.

Devoting your life to god is not buying your way into heaven, its loyalty.

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]

[QUOTE="VideoGamerNerd"]

Just because people are Christians and love and believe in God, does not mean they fear nothing, we are still only human. Though we are not found of the idea of death (Who is?) , that does not make us look forward to being with God in Heaven any less. :)

And just because people are Christians, doesn't mean they can't do anything besides what they are called to do. We can still live. :P :)

VideoGamerNerd

Why are you not fond of the idea of death? I would await death with bated breath, if I believed that it would lead to eternal paradise?

I don't see how that is scary at all. Sounds like an adventure to me.

[QUOTE="clayron"]I am the opposite. I wonder why it is that Atheist fear death.SgtKevali

The uncertainty that comes from that position?

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Random text for the religious folk.

Dystopian-X

That picture is the exact point I am making. Christians say they trust in god and that god has a plan for them, etc but its stuff like that that shows their lack of faith.

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]

Again, you don't have to, but why would you not? Human life is such a short existance, why not spend it devoting your life to god so that you will for sure have go to heaven?

ColdP1zza

Any action done with the motivation in one's heart of attaining a quid pro quo benefit for oneself is corrupted to the core, and is exactly why Jesus told us not to worry about ourselves and our needs so much. You can't buy your way into heaven; it doesn't work that way.

Devoting your life to god is not buying your way into heaven, its loyalty.

You asked, "Why not spend it devoting your life to god so that you will for sure have go to heaven?" The answer is as I said above: doing something because it will ensure you will go to heaven misses the whole point, and is not something that God would be very pleased with.

Also if you are a 100% believer in jesus christ or whatever, why are you spending your time on a video game forum or whatever? If I was a 100% believer in any religion, I would devote my entire life to it. How is it that someone can be a 100% believer in a religion and not devote their whole life to it since a human life only lasts for around 70-80 years but paradise in heaven is eternal?

ColdP1zza

One can be a "100% believer" in Jesus Christ and still have hobbies.

However, I do agree with the point you are making. If one truly believes that all things in this life will pass away and we can "save up" for the future then why not do so? Where I disagree is that one can very much do eternal good through seemingly insignificant things.

I not afraid of death itself, but now I am a christain, what Im afraid of is that all the crap that I have done is going to get me into alot of trouble when I finially do die. That might be what alot of people are afraid of, that there is a possiblity in their minds that they have done something that not even god can forgive or that they have done something that they are not yet ready to repent for.

You asked, "Why not spend it devoting your life to god so that you will for sure have go to heaven?" The answer is as I said above: doing something because it will ensure you will go to heaven misses the whole point, and is not something that God would be very pleased with.

GabuEx

I have to agree completely. I find the idea of being belief for the purpose of personal gain almost contradictory.

[QUOTE="clayron"]I am the opposite. I wonder why it is that Atheist fear death.SgtKevali

The uncertainty that comes from that position?

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="RobboElRobbo"]

Isn't it sinning to say that god is very forgiving? That's limiting him, and we're supposed to fear him aren't we?

RobboElRobbo

At the time when the Bible was written, there was little to no differentiation between the concepts of "fear" and "reverence". If we are truly to understand that we are to fear God as we understand the word today, then how is this reconcilable with 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Only tyrants demand fearful obedience. If God were such a tyrant, then why would anyone even want to go to heaven to be with such an entity?

Well, from what small bit I've learned, it's that God is infinitely powerful and we are supposed to have a love/fear relationship with him, right? It's just a human fear of infinity and as soon as we stop fearing him it's putting a limit on him

I'm a Christian. I wont spend my time here to convince people that they are wrong. But, one thing about faith is giving your heart and soul to God is living in His will, letting Him be your owner. Building faith in God takes time through our lives of trust, belief and applying what we learn from lessons in the bible into our lives. There are some Christians who try to make it seem like they're perfect(or people that think that), but the truth is that we have problems and we sin like everyone else. It doesn't mean I'm sinless, I just try to sin less. But going into the subject of death, as I mentioned earlier about living in God's will, if I was to die, it would be because God knows it's my time to be with Him in heaven because my work on Earth is done. Although I don't know how I'll die, I'm not worried because I know it's in God's hands.

[QUOTE="MurasakiYugata"]

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]Also if you are a 100% believer in jesus christ or whatever, why are you spending your time on a video game forum or whatever? If I was a 100% believer in any religion, I would devote my entire life to it. How is it that someone can be a 100% believer in a religion and not devote their whole life to it since a human life only lasts for around 70-80 years but paradise in heaven is eternal?ColdP1zza

Given how short our time is on Earth, I'd prefer doing something entertaining than devoting my time to a God I'll supposedly get to spend the rest of eternity with anyway. Personal space, man.

But then you probably won't get into heaven that way? Well that is, if your christian.

My impression was that all you had to do was accept Jesus Christ into your heart and repent for your sins to be let into the kingdom of heaven. The way you actually lead your life other than that is irrelevant.

My impression was that all you had to do was accept Jesus Christ into your heart and repent for your sins to be let into the kingdom of heaven. The way you actually lead your life other than that is irrelevant.

MurasakiYugata

Well the way you lead your life is pretty much indicative of whether you were actually sincere or not in your repentance. I will grant though that many Christians tend to make it out to be as though one can just say a bunch of words and go through a set ritual and then you're set. It's not what you do; it's why you do it and where your heart is.

am hearing some awsome post here.

[QUOTE="MurasakiYugata"]

My impression was that all you had to do was accept Jesus Christ into your heart and repent for your sins to be let into the kingdom of heaven. The way you actually lead your life other than that is irrelevant.

GabuEx

Well the way you lead your life is pretty much indicative of whether you were actually sincere or not in your repentance. I will grant though that many Christians tend to make it out to be as though one can just say a bunch of words and go through a set ritual and then you're set. It's not what you do; it's why you do it and where your heart is.

You mistakenly separated Christians and Catholics in the title...as a Catholic, I AM a Christian.

I would not categorize my view of death as "afraid". It is not something I invite, but when it is my time I have faith that I know where I'm going.

[QUOTE="ColdP1zza"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Any action done with the motivation in one's heart of attaining a quid pro quo benefit for oneself is corrupted to the core, and is exactly why Jesus told us not to worry about ourselves and our needs so much. You can't buy your way into heaven; it doesn't work that way.

GabuEx

Devoting your life to god is not buying your way into heaven, its loyalty.

You asked, "Why not spend it devoting your life to god so that you will for sure have go to heaven?" The answer is as I said above: doing something because it will ensure you will go to heaven misses the whole point, and is not something that God would be very pleased with.

Okay, so if christians don't do everything the bible tells them to get into heaven, why do they worship god?

TC, you just don't seem to understand how people work... If I devoted my entire life to studying and making money I could probably be rich. If I devoted my entire life to making music I could probably be a professional musician. If you believe in heaven, yes the logical thing to do is to work on building up "eternal riches" (as the Bible says), but the fact is ALL humans delaying gratification... it's why college students party, it's why we have credit cards. As for fearing death? People become attached to their surroundings. I'd fear moving to my own private island in the Bahamas if none of my friends, family, and possessions were coming with. Meinhard1

The problem with your argument is that those are all earthly endeavors. If you devote your life to studying and making money, you'll only have that money for a few dozen years and the same goes for the musician thing. Heaven is on a whole different level than that, because it lasts forever.

As for your thing about the bahams, you are completely twisting everything around. Here's a better scenario: Would you fear moving to your own private island if your parents* were going to be with you already among with millions of other people* as well as a number of older relatives*** and then after a few years everyone else you know would be coming over there anyways****

*Who in this case you have to assume you love very much and worship because they are representing god in this case.

**All of the angels/other people in heaven

***Relatives who died before you

****Everyone dies someday

If there is no God, then death would be merely a ceasing of existence, with nothing to fear.If you fear death, yet believe that God does not exist, then you are being irrational. Then again, maybe you uncertain whether death is the end of your existence. Are you ready to die TC ?gubrushadow

I'm not ready to die because I am far too young for that. I currently believe that there is nothing after you die.

Although when I am older and near the time when I am going to die, I don't think I'll be afraid, I'll probably just feel regret/remorse for whatever I did or didn't do in my life.

[QUOTE="gubrushadow"]If there is no God, then death would be merely a ceasing of existence, with nothing to fear.If you fear death, yet believe that God does not exist, then you are being irrational. Then again, maybe you uncertain whether death is the end of your existence. Are you ready to die TC ?ColdP1zza

I'm not ready to die because I am far too young for that. I currently believe that there is nothing after you die.

Although when I am older and near the time when I am going to die, I don't think I'll be afraid, I'll probably just feel regret/remorse for whatever I did or didn't do in my life.

I'm a Muslim not a Christian but the concept is the same. Its because you don't have a guarantee that yo will actually go to heaven instead of hell. Because we still sin as humans and because we believe that God can either forgive us or punish us, the possibility of going to hell is still there.GazaAli

Which brings you to the second point I made in my first post. If one truly does believe in heaven, why not completely devote your relatively short existance on earth to God so that you are guaranteed a place in heaven?

You mistakenly separated Christians and Catholics in the title...as a Catholic, I AM a Christian.

Atheos-Arkhaios

That is actually very debatable.

[QUOTE="GazaAli"]I'm a Muslim not a Christian but the concept is the same. Its because you don't have a guarantee that yo will actually go to heaven instead of hell. Because we still sin as humans and because we believe that God can either forgive us or punish us, the possibility of going to hell is still there.ColdP1zza

Which brings you to the second point I made in my first post. If one truly does believe in heaven, why not completely devote your relatively short existance on earth to God so that you are guaranteed a place in heaven?