A Serious Question For Protestants Only

David Sklansky · #1 01-08-2006, 05:27 AM

There's this elderly professor of chemistry at Boston University. A wonderful chap who goes out of his way to do what he, and most people, think is right, and is quick to help his fellow man. His knowledge of science does nothing to lessen his fervent belief in God. On the contrary it just puts him more in awe of something that could do such wondrous deeds.

He is sure that God created the Universe. He is sure that God infuses souls into humans. He is sure that God loves us. He believes that no man actually deserves an afterlife with God because of his sinful nature but he thinks that God is merciful and will at least sometimes allow those who believe in him, love him and do good works to enter his kingdom. He hopes he gets lucky but doesn't expect it.

He believes in the values and morals of Christianity. He thinks the teachings of Jesus are spot on and everyone should adhere to them.

But Jesus himself he puts in the category of Moses. Not for any philosophical reason. He doesn't feel there are any bad repercussions if Jesus was the son of God. He doesn't passionately disbelieve in the resurrection. He just thinks it didn't happen. Based on his knowledge of science, history or whatever. Exactly why isn't important except to say again that it isn't some deeply held conviction that he feels is important to have. It is simply because his thoughts tell him that the divinity of Jesus, and the parts of the bible that proclaim it are, for some reason, in error.

Again though, he agrees with Christian moral teachings, follows them, loves God, and basically feels about God almost exactly the same way that Christians feel about the God-Jesus combination. Except that he is pretty sure that Jesus was merely a great teacher.

This guy has no chance of escaping hell if he can't change his thoughts?

BCPVP · #2 01-08-2006, 05:43 AM

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This guy has no chance of escaping hell if he can't change his thoughts?

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Exactly.

diebitter · #3 01-08-2006, 05:50 AM

Okay, he believes in God, right. Jesus is God, according to orthodox protestant teaching.

So of course he won't go to hell.

Do you see why?

godBoy · #4 01-08-2006, 06:14 AM

I don't think this person would go to hell.
Jesus said the greatest command was to love God.
He also said if you love me you will obey my commands.
I think if you love God you belong to Him.

pkrNinja · #5 01-08-2006, 07:05 AM

[ QUOTE ]
There's this elderly professor of chemistry at Boston University. A wonderful chap who goes out of his way to do what he, and most people, think is right, and is quick to help his fellow man. His knowledge of science does nothing to lessen his fervent belief in God. On the contrary it just puts him more in awe of something that could do such wondrous deeds.

He is sure that God created the Universe. He is sure that God infuses souls into humans. He is sure that God loves us. He believes that no man actually deserves an afterlife with God because of his sinful nature but he thinks that God is merciful and will at least sometimes allow those who believe in him, love him and do good works to enter his kingdom. He hopes he gets lucky but doesn't expect it.

He believes in the values and morals of Christianity. He thinks the teachings of Jesus are spot on and everyone should adhere to them.

But Jesus himself he puts in the category of Moses. Not for any philosophical reason. He doesn't feel there are any bad repercussions if Jesus was the son of God. He doesn't passionately disbelieve in the resurrection. He just thinks it didn't happen. Based on his knowledge of science, history or whatever. Exactly why isn't important except to say again that it isn't some deeply held conviction that he feels is important to have. It is simply because his thoughts tell him that the divinity of Jesus, and the parts of the bible that proclaim it are, for some reason, in error.

Again though, he agrees with Christian moral teachings, follows them, loves God, and basically feels about God almost exactly the same way that Christians feel about the God-Jesus combination. Except that he is pretty sure that Jesus was merely a great teacher.

This guy has no chance of escaping hell if he can't change his thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

Paul the apostle said that if Jesus has not risen from the dead, then our faith is worthless and we are still dead in our sins. If Jesus has not been raised from the dead, then the Christian has no hope at all, and thus Christianity fails altogether.

And furthermore, if one denies the ressurection of Jesus, he denies a great portion of the New Testament which speaks about the ressurection. At which point is a person qualified to determine which parts of Gods word are real and which are not??

And to equate Jesus with Moses is a grave error. I would hope I can state this without an elaborate explanation, but if need be, we can delve further into this as well.

Phil153 · #6 01-08-2006, 07:14 AM

Welcome back David. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

BluffTHIS! · #7 01-08-2006, 08:13 AM

I'm not going to answer since this is a question that doesn't apply to me as a catholic, but I would like to point out there is a better example than the one you use in a member of the protestant clergy, namely Bishop Shelby Spong, the retired Episcopal bishop of Newark.

IronUnkind · #8 01-08-2006, 09:20 AM

How about someone sane, like Marcus Borg?

KipBond · #9 01-08-2006, 11:51 AM

He goes to hell:

John 3:
16| "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17| For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18| Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

Acts 4
10| It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11| He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' 12| Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Romans 10
9| That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

siegfriedandroy · #10 01-08-2006, 01:56 PM

isnt spong an atheist?