The Unforgivable Sin

[Eureka]

Hello Everyone,

I was looking through some of the older threads on "Atheists and Youtube" and some other discussions on blasphemy, and I have a question about the atheists who participated in the "blasphemy challenge" on youtube.

If you're not familiar with this stunt, a few years ago the Rational Response Squad offered free DVDs to the first 1001 people who would willingly record themselves "denying the Holy Spirit" and post the video on youtube. The idea was to promote atheists to publicly "send themselves to hell" by committing blasphemy, the only sin which is described as unforgivable in the Bible (Mark 3:29: Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin).

I know that nobody on here knows exactly how God judges those who come before him, but is it fair to say that the people who posted these videos are eternally damned? Somehow I have a lot of trouble with the idea that if any of these people come to Christ later in life that they are no longer eligible for salvation. I'd appreciate any insight from those who are more familiar with exactly what Scripture says about blasphemy. Is it so black-and-white that anyone who committed this sin in the past may as well throw in the towel?

Thanks,

E

[neo-x]

No, they are not damned.

[Eureka]

Then how do you interpret the biblical description of this sin as "unforgivable"?

[hughfarey]

I think it's a question of semantics.
a) Somebody publicly announcing a blasphemy on Youtube for material reward may be guilty of greed rather than blasphemy. A sin is what happens in your soul not in your lips.
b) Blasphemy may be regarded as the rejection of the possibility of forgiveness, so if forgiveness is a process both of giving and receiving, then by definition it would be unforgivable.
c) Such a sin must, I think, be permanent. If someone repents of his blasphemy, then he is no longer in a "state of blasphemy" and his sin becomes forgivable again.
I can think of quite good objections to all of the above, but I'm guessing thinking along those lines will produce the solution to the dilemma.

[Danieltwotwenty]

The unforgivable sin is to be completely unrepentant even unto death.

They are not damned to hell by God, they choose to go there because their hearts are so hard that they will never repent and cannot stand to be in God's presence.

The idea of God is repulsive to them, the idea of asking for forgiveness is repulsive.

So yes, someone who has said "I reject God" can later be redeemed because it is a heart condition not a single act of rebellion.

Dan

[neo-x]

Then how do you interpret the biblical description of this sin as "unforgivable"?

i view it in the context that the person has to know who he is blaspheming against, a person who does not know the HS, can't really know whats the true consequence of his actions. I have always felt that this applies to people who have the knowledge of God, namely believers. After all those who are not born again are already out of Christ's atonement, its not like another sin is going to change that.

[Eureka]

Interesting...thank you all! It seems from your responses that "denying the Holy Spirit" refers to the lifelong rejection of Christ rather than a sin that can be committed on a single occasion. I'm surprised that my understanding of blasphemy was so distorted, but obviously your responses are more consistent with the idea that an atheist (whether public about it or not) can come to Christ after refusing Him for years. Seems really obvious in hindsight but thank you for your answers!!!

[ClassicalTeacher]

There are many former atheists who have come to Christ for a variety of reasons. I doubt very much that if one sincerely repents of his/her sin of atheism that God will reject that person. As others have noted, I think it means those who die in their sin unrepentant...wallowing in the sin of pride.

[Philip]

Such a sin must, I think, be permanent.

Zap!

The unforgivable sin is to be completely unrepentant even unto death.

Bingo!

But there is ANOTHER sin I consider rather unforgivable: It's the day after your birthday, for which your wife made the most incredibly delicious chocolate layer cake, that you had several slices of that same evening. Next day, during work, about all you can think about was how awesome that amazing cake was - it might have been the best cake you ever tasted. No, you're SURE it was the best cake EVER! You come home in enormous anticipation of kicking back and eating another large slice of it, along with a big glass of milk - yeah, that's the ticket. But you open the cake container AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR KIDS FINISHED IT ALL OFF, leaving nothing but sweet crumbs! !!! Now, I'm telling ya, THAT will test your ability to forgive - and, at least for a moment, make you wonder why you ever had kids. But, alas, this sin is not found in Scripture.

[PaulSacramento]

To blasphemy the HS one must KNOW the HS and, certainly, atheists do NOT.

[Eureka]

But there is ANOTHER sin I consider rather unforgivable: It's the day after your birthday, for which your wife made the most incredibly delicious chocolate layer cake, that you had several slices of that same evening. Next day, during work, about all you can think about was how awesome that amazing cake was - it might have been the best cake you ever tasted. No, you're SURE it was the best cake EVER! You come home in enormous anticipation of kicking back and eating another large slice of it, along with a big glass of milk - yeah, that's the ticket. But you open the cake container AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR KIDS FINISHED IT ALL OFF, leaving nothing but sweet crumbs!               !!! Now, I'm telling ya, THAT will test your ability to forgive - and, at least for a moment, make you wonder why you ever had kids. But, alas, this sin is not found in Scripture.

Why is it that the "What to Expect" series for pregnant women COMPLETELY ignores important considerations like this one??!!

Thanks for making me crave chocolate cake

Edit: fixed an accidental double negative for clarity

[RickD]

Such a sin must, I think, be permanent.

Zap!

The unforgivable sin is to be completely unrepentant even unto death.

Bingo!

But there is ANOTHER sin I consider rather unforgivable: It's the day after your birthday, for which your wife made the most incredibly delicious chocolate layer cake, that you had several slices of that same evening. Next day, during work, about all you can think about was how awesome that amazing cake was - it might have been the best cake you ever tasted. No, you're SURE it was the best cake EVER! You come home in enormous anticipation of kicking back and eating another large slice of it, along with a big glass of milk - yeah, that's the ticket. But you open the cake container AND YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR KIDS FINISHED IT ALL OFF, leaving nothing but sweet crumbs! !!! Now, I'm telling ya, THAT will test your ability to forgive - and, at least for a moment, make you wonder why you ever had kids. But, alas, this sin is not found in Scripture.

Happy Birthday Philip! Sorry about the cake.
My family knows better than to mess with my chocolate! My wife says I'm like a woman when it comes to my chocolate!

[Philip]

My family knows better than to mess with my chocolate! My wife says I'm like a woman when it comes to my chocolate!

Yes, Rick, at least when it comes to chocolate - especially really good dark chocolate or really great choc cake, no crack addict has a jones like mine!

[jlay]

At our house, the unforgivable sin is leaving the toilet seat up.

[RickD]

At our house, the unforgivable sin is leaving the toilet seat up.

I once left the toilet seat up at my sister's house when my niece was a young child. I guess they NEVER left the seat up, because my niece sat down and fell in. I couldn't stop laughing. I really thought everyone knew to put the seat down before sitting.