Would you sacrifice your salvation for the sake of another's?

[Magna]

Hypothetical thought exercise for those that believe in God, Heaven, Hell and Salvation:

If God was deciding to send someone you care about to hell and deciding to welcome you into Heaven, but would allow you to trade places with that person you care about (ie they go to Heaven in your place and you go to Hell forever in their place), would you do it? Why or why not?

 

[Raggamuffin]

If it wasn't for the supposed damnation and torture - I think Hell sounds like it'd be full of my sort of people. Interesting types, people who've truly lived. I think I'd prefer the hell vibe. Also, what better place for me to do my fire staffing? Maybe I could get a job as an entertainer?

Seems more suitable compared to living up in the clouds (don't like heights), chilling with JC and a bunch of devout types, singing Kumbaya, and eating gluten free, cucumber sandwiches. Also, why is nobody wrapped up warm in all these depictions of heaven. It's cold up in the clouds.

But, if you look to nature - there isn't really any sin, or demands for worship and piety. If every other animal in existence is living with nature and without artificial guilt imposed by beliefs, yet we think ourselves above other animals, and are actively destroying nature? Who's the more moral? Maybe we all belong in hell, and heaven can just be full of all the animals.

Ed

 

[Bolletje]

Hypothetically, I would take the deal and trade places, if it's for someone I care about enough. #1 candidate is my grandmother. If I believed in a heaven, I wouldn't believe I belonged there either way, so better to let someone that deserves it in.

 

[Tom]

I would for my wife and kids and my dogs if I could get a package deal for all 4.

But if it was for anyone else, say you Magna for instance, I would say not to bother packing any warm clothes.

 

[Tom]

I would for my wife and kids and my dogs if I could get a package deal for all 4.

But if it was for anyone else, say you Magna for instance, I would say not to bother packing any warm clothes.

But I have to add, that from my perspective the answer is it is not necessary. Someone already paid that debt.

 

[Crossbreed]

Hypothetical thought exercise for those that believe in God, Heaven, Hell and Salvation:

If God was deciding to send someone you care about to hell and deciding to welcome you into Heaven, but would allow you to trade places with that person you care about (ie they go to Heaven in your place and you go to Hell forever in their place), would you do it? Why or why not?

That animal does not exist. Nobody but Jesus could.
You would be throwing your life away for nothing because nobody can stand before God until they let Jesus wash them.

Are You Washed In The Blood? (Joey + Rory)

 

[Yeshuasdaughter]

No. Because your influence on them would be negative, and they wouldn't end up with that change of heart that leads to repentance. Keep your eyes fixed on Heaven, and the people around you will see you and wonder what makes you so optimistic and loving.

I got saved because nice Christians were being kind to me, and living a life that seemed very foreign, but they were happy. Their eyes sparkled, and they were focused on family. They gave freely to others. They were nonjudgemental, and just genuine friends.

So, I would say to hold onto that salvation. It will bring others into Eternal Glory as well.

 

[Crossbreed]

So, I would say to hold onto that salvation. It will bring others into Eternal Glory as well.

Jesus said,
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Shine, Newsboys (1994)

 

[Magna]

That animal does not exist. Nobody but Jesus could.
You would be throwing your life away for nothing because nobody can stand before God until they let Jesus wash them.

Are You Washed In The Blood? (Joey + Rory)

"That animal does not exist" is why I say it's a hypothetical thought exercise. Also, assume the other person has been baptized "in the blood of the Lamb" but led a life that God deemed to be damnable for eternity with no recourse.

The thought exercise is whether or not you'd sacrifice your own salvation for eternal damnation so someone else could gain Salvation in your place.

 

[Crossbreed]

The thought exercise is whether or not you'd sacrifice your own salvation for eternal damnation so someone else could gain Salvation in your place.

I understand what a thought exercise is, but yours could only happen in a different reality, with different theological ground rules. I cannot anticipate those ground rules well enough to make an informed decision on that matter...

 

[Magna]

I understand what a thought exercise is, but yours could only happen in a different reality, with different theological ground rules. I cannot anticipate those ground rules well enough to make an informed decision on that matter...

I understand that not everyone would participate and I respect that.

There are other thought experiments of the ethical or philosophical nature. The Trolley Problem is a well known thought experiment. While it's technically possible that a person may find themselves being called on to decide the fate of multiple people tied to a train track, I would say that it's not based on reality and isn't meant to be.

 

[Crossbreed]

In this reality, your question reminds me of,
"Would you donate a kidney to a recalcitrant alcoholic...?"

 

[Thinx]

I just don't think a loving God would put a person in that position. How would that be justified after they'd already lived their lifetime doing the best they could and gaining a place in heaven? Given the God in question was omniscient, no, I don't think that could happen. And honestly, why create worries for yourself?

Just to add, my picture of hell is that it is very personal to each individual that it affects, and will enable them to reflect on their specific behaviours that have hurt others.

 

[Magna]

Thank you to those that have commented thus far. All of your contributions have been interesting to me; including the ones which have chosen not to answer a hypothetical and instead have said in lieu: That's not possible, that wouldn't happen, that's not realistic, etc.

So far the answers have either been: 1) Yes I would sacrifice my salvation for someone I care about. and 2) That's now how things are so I choose not to answer the hypothetical. The third option that hasn't been given yet would be: No, I would not sacrifice my own salvation for someone else.

 

[Stuttermabolur]

There are other thought experiments of the ethical or philosophical nature. The Trolley Problem is a well known thought experiment. While it's technically possible that a person may find themselves being called on to decide the fate of multiple people tied to a train track, I would say that it's not based on reality and isn't meant to be.

I actually really dislike philosophical thought exercises which aren't based in the real world as I have no basis for answering them. Oftentimes, they depend on me being a different person than I actually am, so in that situation I would have a different outlook, expectations and ideals, or they depend on a frankly ludicrous situation without taking account the reality or personal consequences farther down the line.

My ex once asked me (while we were still together) how I would respond if she suggested we should open the relationship or that she was polyamorous. I said I would generally attempt to be respectful, but it would really depend on the circumstances how I would react. I simply don't know if I don't have the motivation, timing, ideas and practicalities as well. She got really frustrated with me, but I don't pretend I can answer something I don't think I'm in a position to do, so I completely sympathize with @Crossbreed (despite not being religious myself). I simply don't see the point, and this is one of my main frustrations with philosophy. It's pointless to argue about a question you don't have the specifics on as outside factors which are impossible to know would affect the response. It's like playing a game with a child who makes up the rules as you go along (something which also frustrates me).​

 

[Fino]

I think the people who say they would do it are not imagining the eternal agony of Hell. I wouldn't be able to do it.

 

[SusanLR]

A simple NO.

 

[Knower of nothing]

In a non-spiritual sense. To carry the burden of immorality for the sake of others culminates in omnicide. There's no way around it. Any lee-way given to yourself or others in terms of taking on sin (the greek version of the word) can build to this same conclusion. All that is missing then is motivation, thus living purely on intuition not principle.

 

[Tom]

I think the people who say they would do it are not imagining the eternal agony of Hell. I wouldn't be able to do it.

Yes, I thought about that as well, and really it is something I can only say I hope I would do. It would be very difficult for a person to know what they actually would do in that situation.

But for me the idea of hell is unclear and despite many readings of the bible it remains so. The Old Testament is mostly dominated by the idea of Sheol and then in the New Testament Heaven and Hell in the context of an afterlife (though the idea of resurrection and an afterlife does appear in a few places in the Old). But even in the new it is described in different ways and it is hard to separate figurative from literal. So I am not sure if there is just one place/end or multiple possibilities. The fate of the big baddies is clearly very unenviable but sometimes there are pictures that suggest lesser situations or even simple annilation. Ultimately the details aren't important to know, and I feel content just focusing on the need to be on the good side of that fence.

 

[lovely_darlingprettybaby]

Hypothetical thought exercise for those that believe in God, Heaven, Hell and Salvation:

If God was deciding to send someone you care about to hell and deciding to welcome you into Heaven, but would allow you to trade places with that person you care about (ie they go to Heaven in your place and you go to Hell forever in their place), would you do it? Why or why not?

Yes well sometimes someone could do that each day without a thought to themselves even if they think they could not make it.
I would be someone who would do it, I'm that selfless and I bet it is not easy to be in pain with a broken heart and face hell everyday and see people do better and be happy for them when they reach heaven.
It is hard being in immense pain and just wanting to feel some peace and know you can never have it.
And it is nice when people appreciate that kind of heart, most people are not that selfless.
So it is nice to one day start to stop being so selfless, care about yourself and hope there are people out there who want to see you happy and are thankful and grateful.
There is no greater love than one who lays down their lives for their friends.