Is It Enough Just To Be a Good Person?
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I am a good person but I do not believe in God.
I am writing this hub from the point of view of the Christian religion. You should understand that there are many religions and an equal number of viewpoints on many levels about this question. Those who believe that belief in God is optional are really saying that there is no God. From my perspective there is only one God who is the Supreme Being of the universe. If God is the supreme being of the universe then belief in Him is NOT optional. Therefore, it is important to understand what this supreme being wants from the human race and following the guidelines. We get this information from the Bible.
Most people live basically good lives. They are law abiding, productive members of society. All these are good attributes. As humans we compare ourselves to other human beings. According to this benchmark you or I might be considered a good person. However, when God looks at you or me, He sees a person who was born with a sinful nature that keeps us out of his presence.
Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.
Psalms 51: 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
There is only one atonement for sin and that is a blood sacrifice. See Leviticus 29 in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ introduced a better way.
Romans 4:24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
John 3: 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So the only way to be assured about your future in the afterlife is to be born again of the water and the spirit just as Jesus told Nicodemus two millennia ago.
I would like to comment on the idea that is constantly put forth by unbelievers that Christianity is bad or evil because bad things have been done in the name of Christianity. Just because some Christians do bad things does not mean that all Christians are inherently bad.
Many people hate our former president, George H. W. Bush and say that he was responsible for many bad things in this country and around the world. President Bush is an American. Would you say that all Americans are evil and intent on domination of the world? I don’t think so. You can apply this formula to any group of people you choose.
We are constantly being told that all Muslims are not like the terrorists or jihadists. Yet fringe Islamic groups perpetuate evil and destruction around the world. Stereotyping a group of people based on the actions of some of these people is foolish in the extreme.
In the end only you can decide what you believe. If you are truly right believing that there is no God you have nothing to worry about. When you die your soul will cease to exist as will mine. However, if you are not right in your choice then I will be in the Presence of the Lord and you will be in a very hot place. All this is the result of the free will choice given both of us by God.
So my answer to your question is, “No. It is not enough just to be a good person. “
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I will look into it. Thanks for your comments.
Sneakorocksolid, I am trying to understand your comment. I found this scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:39-44 (New King James Version)
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh[a] of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
2 Corinthians 12:2 (New King James Version)
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
My statement in this article was a general reference to heaven and hell. I understand that there is much that we do not know about heaven and hell. I personally believe that heaven will be a place much more complicated than commonly believed and that there will be more life than we presently understand. Hope this helps. Thank you for your comment and support.
I worry sometimes too much emphasis is put on hell. For those who can't find the answers to help them grow it creates a negative, a threat that if you don't pray my way you're on your way to hell. This turns alot of otherwise good people away from Christianity and I know that contradicts everything the savior stands for. Heavenly Father is always way ahead of us and I'm sure Heaven will be a place of many levels of glory. I never read where Jesus condemed someone to hell, he always greeted the people with open arms and love. I think this means he wants us by his side because he loves us and not afraid of what could happen if we don't. I don't get from my readings that the Savior is a threatening Savior, unfortunately; some Christians portray him that way. Peace.
Oh, I see what you are saying! I do not wish to put too much emphasis on hell. I do not serve the Lord because I am afraid of hell and I do not believe in trying to frighten people into salvation. I think what I am trying to say is that hell is a reality and a fact. It just is and it would be foolish not to mention it. Also, this hub was written in answer to a question. The requestor stated, I am a good person but I do not believe in God. What will happen to me. I tried to answer as honestly as I could. I have a relationship with God based on love and I would never try to threaten people with hell. There is much more to this relationship. Thanks again for your comments. They are always welcome.
Hello Smireles,
I can see from your Hub that you are a woman of The Truth and I like your comment:
"Those who believe that belief in God is optional are really saying that there is no God."
People 'accepting' The Lord as their saviour is THE most blasphemous statement of mainstream Christianity or better, the Christian religion.
I was looking up famous quotes from famous people and I came across these from Mahatma Gandhi:
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
“God has no religion”
In my view he was a very honourable and wise heathen and more righteous than mainstream Christians.
I think I am a good person too. But I believe in God. But don't tell me Jesus, Allah or Krishna is God.
Hi Yes2truth,
You said, People 'accepting' The Lord as their saviour is THE most blasphemous statement of mainstream Christianity or better, the Christian religion.
I do not believe it is the worst thing a person can say, but I have to agree with you that it is bad. It gives a false impression about salvation that I do not like. I have been uncomfortable with that term for a long time and you are the firsst person I have found who agrees with me.
Thank you for your comments.
Hello Anamika S.,
I thank you for your comments. I am glad you believe in God and I certainly believe you have a right to your own opinion about the deity. However, the truth is that I believe that Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh and there is no other way I can put it. I do not wish to push my understanding of the godhead on you but that is what I believe. Again, your comments are welcome.
Excellent hub. As you said there are as many viewpoints about this subject as there are people.
I believe we all can live in the name of our God no matter what he's called.
kindest regards Zsuzsy
Thank you, Zsuzsy!
Those who believe that belief in God is optional are really saying that there is no God.
Really? where are you getting those ideas? I Believe that belief in God is optional. Not because he does not exist. It's optional, in the sense that it's an option. I am not talking specific beliefs. Like Jesus is The Lord. To me that is an option. An option that I agree with maybe more or less than anyone else I know. But still an option. Buddha is Lord, Or krishna is the Lord. These are option. Options that I don't like. Still options for anyone who needs to believe in something in order to survive. After all, we all have a need to believe in something, so we can explain some things that are going on. None of us however has proof. This is why it's called faith not knowledge. And this is why it's optional. There is one God and only One. What name do I personally feel the need to give him? This is what the optional part is. Take care, have a good night.
Jordan, thanks for reading and commenting. The reason I made that statement is because people who believe that belief in God is optional clearly do not believe there are consequences to not believing in God. Or perhaps you believe God is a myth that makes me feel Good? You are entitled to believe anything you wish and I certainly have no intention of debating the issue. However, from where I sit, God is real. God is the Creator of the Universe. God can and will do anything he wants with all of us. God warns us about disobedience. Your feelings or beliefs as to whether or not Jesus is the Lord is incidental and does not mean that He is NOT the Lord. The only option you have is whether to become a believer or not. Your optional choice does not mean anything when deciding whether or not Jesus is the Lord. If he is the Lord, that is who he is.
Blessings
sneakorocksolid 2 years ago
Dear Smire, your reasoning and position are very good but alittle more research on Heaven and its depth would help clarify what actually is said would happen. There are three levels of exaltation as discribed in the New testament as the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. This would indicate that heaven and hell aren't just black and white. I would support you regardless of the technicalities.