A double standard?

There seems to me to be a bit of hypocrisy among the detractors from the faith of Christianity... The nay-sayers who profess that they'd rather go to hell than worship the ego-maniacal tyrant of a god that their parents pushed on them while growing up... And if it wasn't their parents, perhaps it was another family member or friend...

Now, not all, obviously, who have a problem with Christianity, but easily 9 out of 10 people who hold some modicum of animosity toward the worship of Christ in particular, hold an irrational and uninformed opinion and understanding of the faith itself...

One criticism is the belief that Christians "brainwash" their children... To which I would reply, if your accusation is that we indoctrinate our kids with our beliefs, then I would readily admit it... That is what any society must do in order to further the education of those who are part of it... (Proverbs 22:6)

Much the same way Muslims bring their children up from birth to chant that there is only one god, Allah, and Mohammad is his prophet... or someone practicing witchcraft might bring their little one up to care more about the well-being of a tree than a human life...

Another criticism is that we are "hate-filled" with our beliefs - to which I would pound my fist on this desk and scream using the foulest language I could think of that they're $%^&* wrong... I'm kidding of course...

On the contrary, I would suggest to you that the true Christian can and would demonstrate no more hatred than any other person you might meet walking down the street today... Outside of the common grace that God provides to each and every one of us, we ALL have the potential to carry out GREAT evil deeds, as well as good stuff too... (1 Cor. 6:11 - Isaiah 64:6)

However, its not our "good stuff" that is going to earn us our place in heaven when we die... Which brings me to another area of contention when it comes to your common atheist vs. Christian debate...

If God is "good" why did He create Hell? Why would He send people there? I cannot believe in God because everyone I meet who calls themselves a Christian keeps telling me that I'm going to Hell... (Romans 6:23)

And that's because... short of God forgiving us for sinning against His law (The Ten Commandments - lying, stealing, coveting, adultery, idolatry, hatred, murder, disobedience, rebellion, blasphemy...) we are all HEADED for Hell... the place He has prepared for those whom He will punish for eternity...

It only makes sense, doesn't it? That, if He would reward those obey Him, that He would likewise punish those who don't? His reward for those who obey His Word, and humble themselves through repentance and faith in His son, He rewards with everlasting life - those who continue in their rebellion against Him, He rewards with Hell... He resist the proud of heart, and gives grace to the humble in heart... (James 4:6 - 1 Peter 5:5)

Before God forgives a person, there is a LOT of tendency to cry out "now that's not fair"... Until that person considers the fact that God came to Earth in the form of a man, Jesus Christ, to give Himself as a sacrifice for our sins... He took our place in death, that we might join Him... (John 1:29)

Instead of holding a grudge against Christ because of the actions of some of His presumed followers, consider your own state in His eyes, rather than theirs... How does HE see you, how will HE judge you in the Day of Judgment... (Romans 2:1-16)

If you're guilty of breaking even one of those laws listed above, you'll be in danger of the judgment, and it will be everlasting... If anyone's ever tried to warn you of this fact, perhaps it wasn't because they were filled with hate, rather they loved you enough to tell you the truth - it was simply the truth that you didn't want to hear that caused you to consider their words to be hateful... (Romans 2:4-16)

If you hear the voice of the Lord, do not harden your heart - this is the day of salvation... Admit that your a sinner in need of His forgiveness - listen to your conscience, then cry out to Him for mercy, and the same Bible that says He is filled with wrath toward sinners, says that He is also rich in mercy toward those who are broken in their spirit... (Proverbs 16:4-5)