Reader Poll - Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?

[Bob]

New topic.

Should you force your children to attend church against their will?

[

Thanks for the post (but perhaps it should have been a new topic?).

My answer: yes, as part of the parental responsibility in raising children.

Parents have a responsibility to teach their children to Love God and Love Their Neighbors, even though they may not understand or appreciate why. (Otherwise, fallen children grow up to be adults who behave like animals!)

Children need to be obedient to their Christian parents, until they are old enough to make informed decisions. There are many rules parents will have that children will not understand (or simply rebel against). “Why must I do that? Why can’t I do that?”
Parents must remain firm even as they love their children.

Blessings.

 

[wooddog]

That's an interesting response.
The question was whether you would be a Christian if there was no afterlife.

No afterlife doesn't preclude a Christ, just an afterlife.

But you are responding to something here.
I guess if there was no Christ, that would be a way to God.

[

What is a Christian? Why was eternal life a promise if you believed?

 

[wooddog]

Thanks for the response.

It sounds like an obvious conclusion, but would you also embrace the various holidays, culture, etc.? Would you abandon all of the New Testament?

By the way, Sikhs are also monotheistic, but again, you might not find their culture convivial.

Peace.

Do Sikhs worship YHVH? The writers of the New Testament were Jews and kept all the covenant.

 

[St. SteVen]

What is a Christian? Why was eternal life a promise if you believed?

The term "Christian" is a broad term.
But in the case of this topic question, it matters not. (not that it doesn't matter...)

You need to discard everything you know about Christianity to answer the topic question.

Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?​

Or, would you want a relationship with God in the here and now even if there was no afterlife?

[

 

[Bob]

Do Sikhs worship YHVH? The writers of the New Testament were Jews and kept all the covenant.

Thank you for your question.

From what I have read, it appears we worship the same God. If you disagree, I will not argue the point.

What Are the Principle Sikh Beliefs?

Sikhism is a monotheistic faith, one of the world's major religions. Learn about the tenets of this important religion.

www.learnreligions.com

Peace.

 

[Deborah_]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife, would there be any point to being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

St Paul would say - no point and no value at all, because Christians have such a bad time in this life (I Corinthians 15:30-32).

As far as I know, God makes no distinctions on the basis of what your reason was for believing. He wants all of us to be saved, He's not going to be disqualifying anyone on that kind of technicality.

For me personally, the question is too hypothetical to answer. 1) There IS an afterlife and (2) I became a Christian because God burst into my life and I could no longer ignore Him. Doctrine didn't come into it at all.

 

[wooddog]

Thank you for your question.

From what I have read, it appears we worship the same God. If you disagree, I will not argue the point.

What Are the Principle Sikh Beliefs?

Sikhism is a monotheistic faith, one of the world's major religions. Learn about the tenets of this important religion.

www.learnreligions.com

Peace.

Amen

 

[wooddog]

The term "Christian" is a broad term.
But in the case of this topic question, it matters not. (not that it doesn't matter...)

You need to discard everything you know about Christianity to answer the topic question.

Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?​

Or, would you want a relationship with God in the here and now even if there was no afterlife?

[

Already have a relationship with God the father. I believe I discarded "Christianity" when I answered the question.

 

[St. SteVen]

wooddog said:
What is a Christian? Why was eternal life a promise if you believed?

Already have a relationship with God the father. I believe I discarded "Christianity" when I answered the question.

Previously, you wrote:

I would be a Jew if there was no Christ.

Your responses range between interesting and puzzling.
Maybe I should rephrase the question for you?

Would you want a relationship with God if there was no afterlife?​

[

 

[wooddog]

wooddog said:
What is a Christian? Why was eternal life a promise if you believed?

Previously, you wrote:

Your responses range between interesting and puzzling.
Maybe I should rephrase the question for you?

Would you want a relationship with God if there was no afterlife?​

[

This life is better with God than without God.

 

[St. SteVen]

This life is better with God than without God.

Perfect, thanks.
That's the response I was hoping for.

[

 

[St. SteVen]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife,
would there be any point to being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

[

 

[marks]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife, would there be any point to being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

[

As an hypothetical question, this cannot be actually answered. You can imagine what you might do in this circumstance, but if it's not what you actually believe about life, the universe, and everything, you're answer is of neccesity contrived.

As it doesn't match reality, being that we know mankind will stand before God to be judged, so answers cannot match reality either.

You may as well as, Would you eat marigolds if you were a deer? Actually, that question is answerable by observing the actual behavior of actual deer.

As a matter of observation, it seems to me that those who don't believe in consequences to their lives likewise don't believe in God. Though it's hard to know what someone truly believes. Many people say things they don't believe as a matter of denial.

Much love!

 

[Wick Stick]

As an hypothetical question, this cannot be actually answered. You can imagine what you might do in this circumstance, but if it's not what you actually believe about life, the universe, and everything, you're answer is of neccesity contrived.

As it doesn't match reality, being that we know mankind will stand before God to be judged, so answers cannot match reality either.

You may as well as, Would you eat marigolds if you were a deer? Actually, that question is answerable by observing the actual behavior of actual deer.

As a matter of observation, it seems to me that those who don't believe in consequences to their lives likewise don't believe in God. Though it's hard to know what someone truly believes. Many people say things they don't believe as a matter of denial.

Much love!

The question can be re-worded to avoid the hypothetical:

Are there benefits to being a Christian other than those in the hereafter? Yes - it's not hard to make a short list of several.

 

[marks]

The question can be re-worded to avoid the hypothetical:

Are there benefits to being a Christian other than those in the hereafter? Yes - it's not hard to make a short list of several.

Not hard at all. I'm of the mind, knowing myself at least to the point that I do, that I wouldn't have had much of a life worth living without Jesus with me!

Much love!

 

[St. SteVen]

The question can be re-worded to avoid the hypothetical:

Are there benefits to being a Christian other than those in the hereafter? Yes - it's not hard to make a short list of several.

A similar poll appeared on another forum.
I was shocked at the vast majority who said if there was no afterlife they would not follow Jesus.
Better results this time.

[

 

[Bruce-Leiter]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife,
would there be any point to being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

[

@St. SteVen, without the afterlife, we would be denying Jesus' bodily resurrection, the truth of which confirms our future bodily resurrection and afterlife, since we are connected to him.
God will judge all Christians for their motives; I won't.

 

[St. SteVen]

@St. SteVen, without the afterlife, we would be denying Jesus' bodily resurrection, the truth of which confirms our future bodily resurrection and afterlife, since we are connected to him.
God will judge all Christians for their motives; I won't.

So, without the afterlife there would be no reason to follow Christ?
Is that what you are saying?

[

 

[LittleTuneAlright]

A similar poll appeared on another forum.
I was shocked at the vast majority who said if there was no afterlife they would not follow Jesus.

This time, no one voted. Is there no value in a relationship with Jesus in the here and now?
(Even if there was no afterlife) ???

[

I voted number 3..

What does the afterlife look like with Jesus?

Do we get all our desires met?

 

[David Lamb]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife, would there be any point to being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

[

For some reason, I have only just seen this thread. The apostle Paul says the following about being a Christian if there is no resurrection/afterlife:

“For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1Co 15:16-19 NKJV)

Praise God, He goes on the the following verses:

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.” (1Co 15:20-21 NKJV)