Firstly, what is your basis for saying it is against God's nature to take human life? The Bible is clear and says just the opposite.
Secondly, you assume that the ending of a physical life is always not in the best interest of that person, hence you say "murder" is something God would never do. I totally disagree. If a young person had a terminal illness, and was in great pain, would you say God can't take that life earlier rather than later because it would be against His nature? Come on. :) In addition, you are also artificially restricting the Potter from what He may do with His creation:
Isa 45:9-11 : 9 "Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'? 10 Woe to him who says to his father, 'What have you begotten?' or to his mother, 'What have you brought to birth?' 11 "This is what the Lord says — the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?
It sounds like someone around here is giving God orders about what He is allowed to do with the work of His hands. But I won't name names. :)
FK: "He can do whatever He wants with us within all bounds of morality."
God is Virtue, and God doesn't change. So at no time is God a vice. As Virtue, what He does with us is always virtuous.
That's all true, but what authority says it is vice for God to end a physical life? There are rules for US, but we are not the Creator, and God makes that clear for us in scripture. For God and Christians, the time we spend on earth is inconsequential compared to the time we spend in eternity.
Then the tests are unnecessary, and temptations are tortures.
They are necessary to the extent that God wants them. They just don't determine salvation. It's also necessary that we eat food, but that doesn't determine salvation either. God didn't have to build us to need food, He just wanted it that way.
FK: "Another point is what we ultimately take out of the experience [of testing]."
What purpose does that have vis-avis your predetermined salvation? None. You are already certain of your salvation and it makes no difference what you do or don't do.
That's correct for salvation IF we accept that God is in control and will not lose any of His sheep by allowing them to forfeit their salvation through deeds. Reformers hold this view. However, it is not correct for the quality of lives we have while here on earth. God wants the best for all of His children, and has apparently determined that testing is a net gain on our earthly experience.
FK: "I can think of many temptations I have succumbed to that now are an anchor of strength for the experience."
I agree, but what does that anchor of strength do as for your salvation is concerned?
The short answer is nothing, which is probably what you would expect me to say. I usually do give that answer, but here I will also note that another way of looking at it is to say that the anchor of strength will lead to a better lived life (more Christian), and that is perseverance. Perseverance is a component of salvation. I don't really look at it that way, since I see perseverance and salvation as "one thing", but it is valid nonetheless. We don't worry about perseverance in terms of doing "enough" since it is just as (pre-)assured as salvation is.
So, if you are just in God's eyes, why does it matter to you if you don't think you are; doesn't God take precedence?
That's right, it doesn't ultimately matter because God does take precedence. I'm sure there are many many people in Heaven right now who were not sure of salvation during life. I suppose the vast majority of Apostolics in Heaven would be good examples. :) I happen to think, though, that I am a stronger Christian, and thus more useful to God, because I have assurance. I can witness with more confidence than I otherwise would.
The Old Testament says that. The OT is not the measure of Christ, but a foreshadowing of Him. The Jews also expected messiah to be a warrior king who wold smite his enemies the way the OT God does His. But God surprised them and left them dumbfounded: the King of Kings was anything but that! But His legacy lives on and shall live on forever.
Christ is our measure of God as we can understand Him. It's not second-guessing, but just as the Gospels describe Him. God is not Mercy that is merciless. God is not Love that doesn't love. God is not Virtue practicing vice. God is not Life causing death (sin).
Christ called us to follow Him and imitate Him. He didn't say "do as I say, not as I do." He wants us to do exactly as He does. He wants us to think as He does. He wants us to love as He does. He wants us to be(come) perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.
Christ doesn't say "It's mind over matter! I don't mind and you don't matter!" God forbid! He gave us minds and taught us virtue and forgiveness so that we know what is good, what is godly, what is our measure of His likeness.
Secondly, you assume that the ending of a physical life is always not in the best interest of that person, hence you say "murder" is something God would never do. I totally disagree
No, that's not what I am saying. Christ does not teach us that genocide is "godly" work! Again, we are called to imitate Christ. I really don't care what the Old Testament authros believed God was like. Obviously they had some idea that Chirst was coming but they didn't have a clear pictures of just what God would be like.
We Christians are followers of Christ Jesus and His teachings. Jesus defines what the OT says. That's why we are called Christians!. If the OT doesn't agree with Jesus, then the OT is either not fully revealed, or the revelation is not fully understood.
It sounds like someone around here is giving God orders about what He is allowed to do with the work of His hands. But I won't name names
That's silly, FK. :) The difference is that your God appears to be the "Zeus" of the OT and our God is Christ of the Gospels. It doesn't mean the OT is "wrong;" it simply reflects incomplete revelation of who God is.
That's all true, but what authority says it is vice for God to end a physical life?
We are talking biblical genocides. God didn't teach us justice and love and forgiveness in vain. He taught us all that in order for us to know what virtue is, so that we can recognize God's work and do the same in His name.
They are necessary to the extent that God wants them
But, you see, we call the Holy Spirit the Comforter, not a torturer. Perhaps in your religion God is both, but in those who follow and imitate Christ, God is only a source of comfort and love. He doesn't cause our illness and our sin. We do. He keeps rescuing us over and over even when we return nothing but evil.
They just don't determine salvation
The evil of the world is our test and our temptation. Depending on how much we succumb to it or how much we can resist it tells us how Christ-like we are. And those who are restored to their likeness of God (Christ) are saved. It's not a magic wand thing, FK. That's too pagan.
It's also necessary that we eat food, but that doesn't determine salvation either
Oh, spiritual food, the Holy Communion, helps sustain us, like the heavenly manna, in our struggle against evil. So, it is instrumental in our salvation. It's not enough to just take a "Jesus pill" and consider yourself saved.
I happen to think, though, that I am a stronger Christian, and thus more useful to God, because I have assurance. I can witness with more confidence than I otherwise would
So, you think that Kolo and stafassisi and other brilliant Orthodox and Catholic posters on these treads are wishy-washy, luke-warm, about their faith and witness in weakness and without confidence?