Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Lucas McCain
No, I would prefer a God who would, if he decided punishments were necessary, provide punishments that fit the crime. If a father spanked his child for hours on end, we would agree that father is a monster. Yet we are told to believe that a infinitely loving God is going to punish most of the people who ever lived for the crime of failing to believe in Jesus. The fact that huge numbers of people down through history never heard of Jesus and therefore had no opportunity to believe doesn’t matter. Is failing to believe in Jesus really a crime that deserves everlasting teeth-grinding pain?

God provided a way for anyone, anywhere, any time, to avoid having to pay the penalty for any wrongdoing that he committed. <> It's a gift. All free for the taking by anyone just for the asking. What more could a person want? That God force it down his throat against his will?

And just who's fault is it if man does not avail himself of that option?

142 posted on 12/05/2013 2:24:17 PM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies ]


To: metmom
I find NO reference in Scripture that indicates any but those not in Christ will be in damnation. Not a single bird, cat, dog, or dinosaur is listed as having that fate. So I conclude that damnation is associated to something humans have that no other animal or plant life on Earth has, a spirit. Angels are said to have spirit and they too are divided into damned and not damned. Is it logical therefore to conjecture damnation is something that spirit can experience while soul or current bodily manifestation cannot? Yes, I think it is reasonable.

An analogy might be found in the destructive eternally(?) crushing black hole as it effects matter. Might Hell, the place of the damned, be something like a black hole for spirits? The Scriptures give some very interesting clues, like the rich man in torment seeing Abraham being comforted. It would not be so comforting to Abraham if he could see the rich man in torment ... if you were inside a black hole event horizon, you could see photons coming in but someone outside of the event Horizon could not see inside the black hole because no photons would be escaping.

146 posted on 12/05/2013 2:39:03 PM PST by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies ]

To: metmom

“God provided a way for anyone, anywhere, any time, to avoid having to pay the penalty for any wrongdoing that he committed. <> It’s a gift. All free for the taking by anyone just for the asking. What more could a person want? That God force it down his throat against his will?”

Okay, let’s say everything you say is true. If someone offers me a “gift,” I have the freedom to accept or not. Someone offers me a drink, let’s say. I don’t drink (alcohol) so I politely decline. Do I now deserve retribution? Do I deserve to suffer endlessly because I declined the gift? If I must accept or suffer excruciating consequences, is it really a gift? Since when does a gift involve coercion?

Why would a loving God create a “system” that involves everlasting torture for those who decline the gift? Would you do that? Would any decent person do that?


212 posted on 12/05/2013 6:32:47 PM PST by Lucas McCain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 142 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson