Explain Like I'm Five

17261 readers

1 users here now

Simplifying Complexity, One Answer at a Time!

Rules

Be respectful and inclusive.
No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
Engage in constructive discussions.
Share relevant content.
Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
Use appropriate language and tone.
Report violations.
Foster a continuous learning environment.

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

[email protected]

ELI5: If you're a Christian, why do you have to be good if Jesus will forgive you no matter what? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

82 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I grew up going to church but I'm not religious now and I never really understood this part.

Please, no answers along the lines of "aha, that's why Christianity is a sham" or "religions aren't logical". I don't want to debate whether it's right or wrong, I just want to understand the logic and reasoning that Christians use to explain this.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago (12 children)

I had a teacher in school who believed in predestination. Basically, whether you go to heaven or hell is pre-ordained before your even born and there's nothing you can do to change it. I told him that sounded to me like I should be a Satanist because if I'm predestined for heaven I've worshipped Satan all my life for nothing and I get to chill in heaven. If I'm predestined to go to hell I've spent so much time worshipping Satan it probably won't be too bad. I'm personally not really religious myself but I really was dumbfounded at the whole predestination thing.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Biblically the teacher is right. God does know where you are going to end up when he creates you. That's the doctorine.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago (2 children)

that... does not sound right. humans have free will

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

The term "free will" is not in the Bible, and there are instances of God overriding people's will, such as God hardening Pharoah's heart so that he wouldn't release the Israelites.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

One view is that God knows how people will end up not because He is forcing them to act a certain way, but because He has a perfect knowledge of the outcomes of their actions. Kind of like how a parent knows what the outcome of a small child's actions will be.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You're not a parent, are you? 😁

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I'm not the commenter but it seems fairly obvious what they're saying.

The child doesn't know that touching the hot stove will burn them, but you do because you have a lifetime of experience.

To add to this: To the child, it's essentially magic that you know exactly where the heat starts, and how you have the ability to boil water.

If you're saying it in a light-hearted 'lol kids are chaos' way then yeah.

load more comments (2 replies)

load more comments (8 replies)