But under Socialism, doesn’t the government offer people a way out of punishment that they are already going to suffer if they don’t comply by simply choosing to comply. I still don’t see the difference. What am I missing?
The difference is God is a perfect being, and anyone who falls short of perfection cannot be in His presence. To get in His presence, God sent His Only Son to die and wipe away your sin. So His righteousness becomes yours and thus you can be in His presence when you leave this world. Without Christ as your propitiation you will not gain access.
Remember, God promises you life eternal, not life with no problems before you die. His promise will give you the ability to emotionally and mentally handle the anguish you experience on earth, but His best promise kicks in after you kick the bucket in this old decaying cruel world.
The freedom from poverty the government offers is more poverty, and more anguish, even if you take the gift the socialist government offers. Then when you die, the government is gone just like you. The Socialist government promises cradle to grave care.
What happens after death?
The government does not promise help for those who die, in fact the government will eventually take your life if you are a drain on it’s ability ton help the healthy who need no help. Plus, after you die, the Socialist government will make your descendants pay for all that compassion they gave you while you were alive. So you are dead, where is your benevolent Socialistic government now?
God, through His Son Christ, offers you an eternal existence in His presence if you accept his son. Plus, after you die, He will not extract any payment from your children for the promise He offers if you accept. The governments promise ends when your life ends. Not much of a deal is it.
BIG DIFFERENCE.