Brainsick

[Sparko]

Seeking God in the Bible refers to living a sanctified life after salvation (as in Hebrews 11:6, where seeking is said to be rewarded, with comparisons to various righteous figures in history). It is not the same as what we today call an agnostic "seeker," who is just looking into whether Christianity is true. When the Bible says that no one seeks God, it is just saying that everyone lives a sinful life.

Yes, many ten-year-olds go to hell, the same as people of other ages. However, I do think that people are punished with varying degrees of severity.

Babies? Toddlers? Are they in hell too?

[Obsidian]

No, they are not.

[Sparko]

No, they are not.

You said, "Yes, many ten-year-olds go to hell, the same as people of other ages."

[Scrawly]

Seeking God in the Bible refers to living a sanctified life after salvation (as in Hebrews 11:6, where seeking is said to be rewarded, with comparisons to various righteous figures in history). It is not the same as what we today call an agnostic "seeker," who is just looking into whether Christianity is true. When the Bible says that no one seeks God, it is just saying that everyone lives a sinful life.

I'm not quite sure I understand. Paul in Romans is making it explicit that no one seeks after God. Yet in Acts, we have Cornelius, an unsaved God-fearing Gentile, who seemingly pleases God by seeking after Him and doing good -- before he is converted.

Yes, many ten-year-olds go to hell, the same as people of other ages. However, I do think that people are punished with varying degrees of severity.

I think I know what you're referring to, but please cite your biblical references to support the varying degrees of punishment in hell.

[Obsidian]

I'm not quite sure I understand. Paul in Romans is making it explicit that no one seeks after God. Yet in Acts, we have Cornelius, an unsaved God-fearing Gentile, who seemingly pleases God by seeking after Him and doing good -- before he is converted.

Cornelius didn't "seek" God or "please" God in the biblical sense that is mentioned in Romans. But by responding to the light that he received, God sent him more light. It's the opposite of the process described in Romans 1, where a person's (or society's) heart is darkened after he repeatedly rejects the light that God provides. Cornelius responded appropriately, so God saw that he was ripe for harvest and sent someone to gather him.

Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Peter makes the above statement to these men before they even believe in Jesus.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

I think I know what you're referring to, but please cite your biblical references to support the varying degrees of punishment in hell.

Luke 10:12
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

The fact that he is speaking of a destroyed city from the past, while talking in the future tense, seems to indicate a judgment in the afterlife. Also, physically and temporally speaking I am not sure how a judgment could get any worse than Sodom's.

[KingsGambit]

I don't hold to the idea of an age of accountability. I think most Christians resort to it for emotional reasons, as the idea does not appear anywhere in the Bible. If, like me, you don't hold to an eternal torment view of hell, the emotional problems go away.