Blackclaw
"God does not want anyone to go there. That is why He made a way out. He placed all of your sins and mine on His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, when Christ died on the cross. All that He asks of you is that you repent of your sins (repent means to change your mind about sin) and believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. That is not grievous.
It grieves the heart of God when we reject Him, but He has given us free choice. We choose our ultimate destination. God does not send anyone to Hell."
Me, the problem is this: God offers us no evidence of his existence. He hasn't stopped by to visit in a few thousand years. He never sends me a birthday card. I'd write him, but I don't have his address.
What counts as a "sin" is rather unlear.
Killing is a sin unless it's a criminal or an enemy soldier or the first born child of some Egyptian family under the rule of a Pharaoh using Jews as slaves. But the Ten Commandments failed to offer put forth all these exemptions.
Preachers tell us everything is a sin. Rock and Roll is evil, playing video games is a sin, women wearing pants is a sin... Most of us just end up ignoring religion and trying to treat others the way we would want to be treated. But then some folks came along and said that unless you say the magic words "Jesus save me!" you go to hell anyway. It all seems rather unfair.
So you are asking us to listen to folks who tell us we have to say the magic words or get thrown into a lake of fire. We have no basis upon which to believe what you are saying. Yes, you have the Bible, but the Muslims have the Quran and they are essentially making us the same offer, submit or burn. It all comes down to "Love Me or I'll torture you for eternity." That's not love, that's classic domestic violence. Frankly, it makes more sense to believe that religions are making all this stuff up for their own purposes.
There is evidence of God in His creation, in our hearts, in science, in archaeology ... it's there if you wanted to find it. But no argument can persuade anyone who refuses to acknowledge what is plainly seen.
Romans 1
20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
As far as rock and roll music being a sin, women wearing pants, etc; that tends to get into legalism. It is not about a rule book. It comes down to your relationship with Christ Jesus.
No 'magic words' can save you. Salvation is in the shed blood of Christ and Christ alone. It's not what you utter, but rather who you turn to for salvation.
