On what basis do people claim the Biblical God is loving or merciful?

Question

Please specify the act(s) that demonstrate your claim.

And, please state whether or not you have read the Old Testament.

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IF you want to be considered for "best answer," read the following:

I will ignore any answer that says "He died on the cross." (or words to that effect)

I will ignore any answer that attempts to sermonize rather than answer the question. (e.g., "God loves you so much he did all kinds of things that you just don't understand. .. blah, blah, blah).

Please be concise (short) and to the point.

Thanks.

Clarification:

I am referring to biblical accounts of events, not personal experiences.

I am referring to biblical accounts of (allegedly) historic events, not personal opinions.

Clarification:

The bible is purportedly a history book used by Christians to support their claims. Personal opinions & experiences are irrelevant because they are unrelated to the biblical accounts. Either the biblical accounts support the claims or they do not. Personal experiences & opinions are not biblical and cannot be considered as being an answer to the question.

Thank you, kingreef, for restoring my faith in human intellect and the educational system.

Answer 1

He was merciful enough to save a handful of people and a selection of animals while slaughtering the rest.
He was loving enough to send a bunch of bears to tear up some kids who teased one of his prophets.
He was loving enough to torment Job just to prove how much Job loved him.

Answer 2

you know Hitler and Stalin would be proud of u today u ask the question then tie the hands that try to answer it i am a christian but I'm one that your used to dealing with u do realize that when a christian says that they will pray for u or that god loves u so much that they are really saying f u in a nice way right lol but any way since your going to ignore this answer any way i might as will go all out so here i go from a christian that will fight back god is a merciful god to those that choose him even in the OT u can see this numerous times over sorry but the truth hurts we will take Noah for example he waned him and his whole fam that the flood was coming even gave Noah more time to let people know that the flood was coming. another he sent angels more than once to protect people Danielle shadrack meshap and embenadco just to name a few. he also gave Sodom and Gomorrah one last chance before he destroyed the cities he gave sololam great wealth and wisdom gave Sampson his strength back the list goes on and on but like i said u won't even consider it because all u want to do is say we believe in a fairy tale am i right the really sad thing is that u don't belive in any thing how lonely u must be

Answer 3

I have read the old testament and it always bugged me about the duality of God. Vengeful AND merciful? It has bothered me since I was very young, going thur sunday school. A lot of people would say Jesus's miracles, raising the dead, feeding the multitude (which I have always believed to be a parable, you know, "feeding" the masses with Jesus's message), or showing kindness to people that everybody else thought was reprehensible (tax collectors, prostitutes, etc) to show he was kind to everyone not just the "good" people. But in my opinion it all comes down to the separate the wheat from the chaff verse. Believe in Christ or burn in hell (it's that blackmail, just a thought). I guess I just proved my case that He's really not that nice in the new testament either.

Answer 4

You are very specific - yet most people don't care about points, they care about spouting their opinion.

I have read the Old Testiment and I am a Christian.

Um.. I think I have all of your "demands..."

So, My answer is; The basis that I claim the biblical God is loving is that this world has things in it that make me so happy I cannot express myself. Sometimes I am doing something so mundane that I stop and something wonderful happens - like a child sings a song I thought only I knew, or a cat is wearing a diaper and I laugh so hard it hurts! I think that God has to be loving to create such wonderful things - it would be sad to think that the world is just chaos with no reason and still have these moments of wonder and joy.

Hopefully that wasn't preachy and was "real" enough for you! Good day dude!

Answer 5

I read the Old Testament.
The basis that God is loving and merciful is plainly because He said so He is. It says so in the Bible and it's up to the person to believe Him or not. People who followed God's ways in the Bible acknowledge God being loving and merciful. Such as Saul in the New Testament, God showed Him kindness despite him being a persecutor of the Christian faith. God transformed Saul(who's name was changed to Paul). As you read on, you'll notice God's kindness in this sinners life. God used him despite the wrongs he did before.

Answer 6

J T,
"On what basis do people claim the Biblical God is loving or merciful?"
Merciful because He could just kill us all ( like Sodom), and He doesn't.

Loving as He was with Abram, by providing him with a land not only for him, but also for his seed. (Providing, and establishing the fact that Abram could trust Him.)

He is ever ready to provide and protect for His people, ( Genesis 12:3).

What He wants from me, one of His people is trust; Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;

That trust gains love from God;(Psalms 84:5) in whose heart are the ways of them.

He supplies those that trust Him with so many things in so many ways (2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18).

Yes. I have read the Old Testament.

Answer 7

You make it impossable for one of the Christian Faith to answer fully... but you know that... but what the heck...I'll give it a shot.

to start it is my own personal experiance with the one you do not believe in that makes me believe that the one you do not believe in is in fact a loving one you do not believe in... I was a confirmed bible thumper basher untill I was 53yrs... just short by 8 days... I ahve been a full blown Bible Thumper for just over 6 yrs... in all of that time I have seen nothing, heard nothing felt nothing, that would convince me otherwise that the one you do not believe in is any thing but Loveing and merciful... Starting on the dayu of my Salvation.... I was not looking for Jesus or any thing else remotly related to all that one you do not believe in crap.... one moment I was anti...the next I was one... and The Love that was shown to me is absolutly and for sure real... and there is no way in hell I personaly am ever going to "prove it" to you.... so why am I even bothering with this answer... because I read you answer to the one about testimonies.. And mine is the exact opposit....exept for the fact that I was a confirmed anti one you do not believe in... and became a believer.... while you were never a believer and turned away from all that the one you do not believe in offered to you without ever coming to a true understanding of what you were giving up...so sad...

I just can not resist the temptation to get a bit flip... how can I prove the one you do not believe in loves...even you...you're still alive are'nt you... he could squash you like a bug if he wanted to... but he do'nt...so you still have a chance... right up till your last breath... Aint He great?...oh, you do'nt believe in Him...never mind

Answer 8

How about the prophet Jonah. He wanted to be a draft dodger and get out of going to Iraq. God wanted the people there to have the chance to repent. Jonah tried to run off to Canada or Tarsish. When the sailors dumped him in the sea, God sent a great fish to swallow him. After he repented, God restored him. He went to Iraq and persuaded the people to repent. This saved them from destroying themselves.

So God loved Jonah and the sinners in Iraq. He sent a prophet to send his message.

Answer 9

Look around you. You are born small and helpless but with grown ups to care for you while you develop.. The planet on which you live is able to provide you with food ,shelter, and air to breath.Check our research on other planets so far. Our bodies are designed to survive. Both breathing and heartbeat are automatic. Now ponder this for a moment,humans didn't live with the Dinosaurs or we would be severely reduced or extinct.Peace.

Answer 10

I don't believe in the biblical God because the bible was written by men. How would you control the masses if you didn't have a big scary boogie man to keep them in check? I do believe in God because too many things have happened to me to prove He is real, but my relationship with Him is between only Him and me. He is merciful with me, but people want to comdemn me because I don't worship the way I "should".