Am I going to hell?

[blacktiger057]

I think your theology is a bit off. Hell very much exists, it is a consequence of our mortal sin. the Catechism tells us that if one dies in mortal sin with no desire for repenting, than that person is due to suffer enternal seperation from God. And Hell is just that, eternal seperation from God.

And as far as scripture is concerned, Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew makes several fererences to “Gehenna”, the place of the unquenchable fire. And evil people and spirits being damned to hell.

While God has a greater love than we can understand, he gives us the free choice to either love him or reject him. So when we die and are judged by God (the time for repentence is during life) we will either be accepted into the Kingdom of Heaven, or banished to the pains and sorrows of Hell.

This view still makes no sense to me. How could God possibly send someone to eternal damnation? He is complete love. And it is never too late to change, even in our souls when we die, which I thought still contained our personalities and as such we can still make choices. I don’t get if God=love, then how could God=judge as well? It’s just something I’ve never been able to grasp, even more so believe in.

I do appreciate your answer, though. Even though I don’t think it answers my question, it’s the best response to this I have gotten so far.

 

[Allen537]

This view still makes no sense to me. How could God possibly send someone to eternal damnation? He is complete love. And it is never too late to change, even in our souls when we die, which I thought still contained our personalities and as such we can still make choices. I don’t get if God=love, then how could God=judge as well? It’s just something I’ve never been able to grasp, even more so believe in.

I do appreciate your answer, though. Even though I don’t think it answers my question, it’s the best response to this I have gotten so far.

I think the best scripture passage I could give to you would be James 4:11-12.

You are correct when you say that God=love. It is through God’s infinite love for us that he created us in his image and likeness, and to be created in his likness he gave us a free will. It is through love of us that God does not compromise that free will. So when we do good or when we do bad, we are doing them freely (unless there some other contributing factors). So as I said before, we have the choice to love God and to serve him faithfully, and we can deny him, and live sinful selfish lives. And when the end of our lives have come, you might be able to see it in reference to the second coming of Christ; in the sense that once it is here, it is here. We have our whole lives to be converted and serve God.

We must always remeber that we can never know how God judges, but we must know this in the light of knowing that Hell does exist and Christ tells us that people are sent there. So I think it would be a bad idea to go through life with the midset “Since God loves me I can do what ever I want and not worry about going to hell”. At this point someone would be abusing the love of God IMHO.

 

[blacktiger057]

to go through life with the midset “Since God loves me I can do what ever I want and not worry about going to hell”.

I certainly do not have that mindset. Even though I do not believe in hell, I’m not one of the people who just “stay in line” so I’ll go to heaven.

WHen people feel negative emtions, like hate, it makes them miserable. So even if I wasn’t going to suffer eternally, I’d suffer alot on earth if I had this mindset. Think of all the consequnces when you hate or do things out of anger, just here on earth. Hate only attracts more bad things.

I choose to live with as much happiness and love as I can, not out of fear of hell, but because when you are happy, you attract more happy situations into your life. And that is one of the things we are all looking for…happineses.

So, I could do whatever I want. We all can. But if you have this attitude, be prepared to accept the consequences.

 

[Dameedna]

Oh for goodness sake, take a really good hard long look at the universe and ask yourself…

does god really give a **** about a bit of pigment in your skin, that was put their to show you devotion to him?

what kind of god do you believe in anyway? I doubt he is as small as you think he is.

 

[Bennie_P]

Oh for goodness sake, take a really good hard long look at the universe and ask yourself…

does god really give a **** about a bit of pigment in your skin, that was put their to show you devotion to him?

what kind of god do you believe in anyway? I doubt he is as small as you think he is.

NO or maybe yes, it might depend on one’s intention on why they decided his art work wasn’t good enough. What is the message one is trying to imply by getting a tattoo, there are quite a few that have turned tattooing into a form of idololtry as well the worship of thier own bodies. So maybe God does care. Is getting a tattooo an automatic ticket to hell? - IMO No. But getting caught up into the way of the world through fads and popular culture could have a negative effect on one’s spiritual health, thus thier own salvation. I don’t think the OP has to worry too much, for they challenged thier own action and is trying to discern thier intent and IMHO I think God would wish we all would challenge ourselves on past, present and future actions.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

I certainly do not have that mindset. Even though I do not believe in hell, I’m not one of the people who just “stay in line” so I’ll go to heaven.

WHen people feel negative emtions, like hate, it makes them miserable. So even if I wasn’t going to suffer eternally, I’d suffer alot on earth if I had this mindset. Think of all the consequnces when you hate or do things out of anger, just here on earth. Hate only attracts more bad things.

I choose to live with as much happiness and love as I can, not out of fear of hell, but because when you are happy, you attract more happy situations into your life. And that is one of the things we are all looking for…happineses.

So, I could do whatever I want. We all can. But if you have this attitude, be prepared to accept the consequences.

Maybe you have heard this:

Hate is like acid. It damages the vessel in which it is stored
as well as the object on which it is poured.

I believe Hell is real (and I like hellisreal btw)

When it comes to hell, we are the vessel.

If we fill ourselves with hate then we are destroyed by it.
And hate resides in Hell.

Because Love resides in Heaven.

Its our choice.

 

[Spirithound]

I got a tattoo today of a cross on my arm. I am feeling guilty about it and feel that it displeases the Lord and that I have defaced my body which is a temple of The Holy Spirit. Do you feel that I have done wrong and am going to go to hell for this? Sorry guys and gals im just nervous about this.

Several posters have said that this action is not inherently sinful, citing the Apologists here. I agree with them. If you’re feeling guilty though, talk to a priest and decide whether your intentions were sinful when you got the tattoo (probably venial since you apparently did not have full knowledge at the time), or are sinful now in your attitude towards it (pride, most likely, although I have seen no evidence of this sin in you), and, if necessary, go to confession! (has anyone suggested that yet?) You can always be forgiven for whatever sin you are repentant of.

 

[Sonic]

1. We only go to hell if we choose to, but can back out at anytime and ask for forgiveness from God, and God, being God would accept us into heaven.

Going on Conclusion 2., this would contradict another point in the Bible. 2. means that we ultimately judge ourselves, not God.

Blacktiger,

Don’t confuse God’s judgment with the sentence or consequence that results from sinful action. The judgment for each kind of action, was determined by God to be either a sin or a virtue, way back when He created the world. God also determined the consequences and affects of each action due to their inherent nature. The judgment and consequence of each action remains forever, due to God’s omnipotent nature, and effects all of humanity.

Essentially, we are already judged for our actions and the consequences of those actions are inevitable without God’s forgiveness. Hence, the unrepentant sinner resigns himself to Hell through his choice of actions.

Each time a person commits a sinful action, God knows we did it and to what amount we are responsible for our actions. So, there’s no need for a trial to determine whether we’re guilty or not. The verdict is guilty.

Our existence is then a postponement of our sentence after we have been found guilty (we are all sinners). At this point, we are given the option of throwing ourselves on the mercy of the court by asking God’s forgiveness for our sins (through the sacrament of confession).

Asking forgiveness changes the sentence from eternal punishment to a lighter sentence of either purgatory or “time-served… you may continue on to Heaven”.

Christ obtained for us the option of throwing ourselves on the mercy of the court so we can go to Heaven.

 

[DrewC]

Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)uts I really appreciate them, even those who dont agree with tattooing. I did not intend for this thread to turn into an argument though. Peace be with all of you and God bless you.
Drew.