mrstickball said:
You're forgetting the part where in option 2 he could have rejected God. Salvation isn't up to good works, its up to a relationship with Jesus. If a person has no knowledge of Jesus, its entirely up to God's mercy. Therefore, a relationship with Jesus Christ is assurance of what will happen. Without Jesus, there is no guarentee - that is why its so critical to tell people about Jesus. Outside of that, why be religious? The goal of a proper relationship with Jesus is a far more beneficial life than without Him. A relationship with Jesus doesn't mean you'll have a perfect life, but one far more beneficial than without God. The Bible contains many promises about what one may benefit from God in this world - love, joy, peace, patience, and other virtues. Yes, those can be attained without God, but with God they come into something far greater than what one may know of outside of a relationship with Jesus. |
Except that "option 2" (assuming you're talking about "Result 2") did not account for any outer influences, which includes religious practicing, your upbringing, etc. It cannot do that since outer influences evidently affects your free will and your decisions in life. What really matters is "Your heart", as many believers call it. This is why "Result 2" suggests that religious practicing essentially is pointless; it does not change your heart, and it will not increase your chances of entering heaven.
Only "Result 1" suggests that outer influences should be accounted for, thus giving those with "Worse" outer influences an unfair disadvantage, making them less likely to enter heaven. Note that those two are the only possible results. God either does or does not account for outer influences (i.e. how other persons' actions and random events have affected you).
"Outside of that, why be religious? The goal of a proper relationship with Jesus is a far more beneficial life than without Him. A relationship with Jesus doesn't mean you'll have a perfect life, but one far more beneficial than without God. The Bible contains many promises about what one may benefit from God in this world - love, joy, peace, patience, and other virtues. Yes, those can be attained without God, but with God they come into something far greater than what one may know of outside of a relationship with Jesus."
So all you are basically saying here is that those who are exposed to and start believing in God/Jesus/Christianity during their lifetimes will have more "beneficial" lives? Well, the same can be said about people who are born with rich parents; they will also have more beneficial lives. If practicing the Christian faith evidently makes people happier then yes, that's fairly good reason for people to practise this faith. But the flaws in the only two possible results remain.
