I am not being a jerk or anything...I just don't understand this. Now I am going to ask this question in real simple and real basic terms just to save typing in a bunch of details that, to me, don't really seem pertinent.
So here goes...We've got God...in the Christian sense I mean...we are told that to get to Heaven we must believe and accept him. We are also told that there is Heaven and Hell. Heaven is good and glorious and all that stuff while Hell is an eternity of fire and pain and suffering. Basically right so far? So here's my question...you either do the God thing to get into Heaven or...you suffer in Hell. Basically it's a liittle bit of "my way or else..." You accept God or you spend the rest of your forever suffering. Question time...How does that not qualify as a vengeful God? He's not supposed to be vengeful right? I don't get it.
2006-09-18 14:39:11 · 15 answers · asked by eastern_mountain_outdoors 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
E.M.O.- you have a father right. And you messed you when you were little right? Did you get punished then hugged and learn anything? You changed your attitude right and never repeated your mess up - right. Why?
Well if you corrected your behavior and "flew straight" (or whatever) then you are good in your fathers eye - right?
Well, what if you went out of your way to disobey your father, and spiraled out of control to be considered a "bad guy" to the world at large. Well - you either repent and return to your fathers side - or - are never allowed to reenter his house.
GOD will always be open to any communication you want, and forgiveness if you are serious, and truly repent.
You understand this, better than I can explain it - I am sure. I got a little lost in the middle, but I really do not know GOD, so this is hard.
You ask: "Question time...How does that not qualify as a vengeful God? He's not supposed to be vengeful right? I don't get it." -- Vengeful or Strict - just sounds strict. Being STRICT is something rare today, but I'm 47, and remember strict teachers and parents. LOVE can be STRICT - it's just been forgotten. I blame all the babies that said this: "I will never treat my kids like this"
And the result is parents don't parent correctly, and kids run amuck, teachers have no tools for discipline, and there are other examples. GOD HAS NOT CHANGED (AND NEVER WILL). BEING STRICT is NOT vengeful.
Also humans from the 60's started that "GOD is love" - misunderstanding that discipline and being strict (50's family life) is beneficial to children, GOD has more emotions than love. I bet he's either sad or embarrassed that it's 2006 and still no one understands anything, more clearly. Also GOD has a sense of humor - yet no one believes this! Interesting. GOD can only feel love or vengeance. Luckily GOD is GOD , and humans are not.
2006-09-18 15:10:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people want to see God as not being vengeful, as being accepting of everyone, of being unconditional love and forgiveness, but that is really not the God that the Bible tells us about. Many verses say that God is a jealous God. Most everyone has heard the verse "vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord" from Romans 12:19 which is a quote from Deuteronomy 32:35. So, when you say that God is not supposed to be vengeful, I have to disagree. Vengeance is not necessarily a bad thing, if done with the righteousness of God. We are not capable of righteous vengeance, therefore we are supposed to leave vengeance up to God.
2006-09-18 21:59:03 · answer #2 · answered by hisnamesaves 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I struggled with this for along time so I'll give you the explanation I was given that helped. Say you are a parent and you give you child a set of rules (10 Commandments) to go by and also you tell them ahead of time what the punishment will be if they disobey but instead of obeying your rules they break them. They tell you they are sorry for the offense and ask you to forgive them, being a good loving parent you forgive them. But what if they constantly break your rules, they're not sorry, they don't see where they need to be forgiven, because they feel and see things this way do you just forget the punishment? No! If you don't follow through your child will think you don't love them or care about what they do, so is the same way with God. He is our Father, we are His children. If we choose not to obey Him, He will have to give us our punishment. This to me does not make Him vengeful, it makes Him loving. He loves us and wants us to come home to Him, so when we mess up, as we all will, we can ask for His forgiveness. If we go to Hell that is our doing not God's.
2006-09-18 21:53:15 · answer #3 · answered by ~Mrs. D~ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
But you are missing the point. John 3:16 says " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. He gave his Son to die for our sins and all he asks in return is that we believe "IF" we want to. In Luke 11:9-10 says " So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. God has never been a vengeful God. It's your choice. God has given you a free gift of eternal life with him in Heaven all you have to do is ask.
2006-09-18 21:55:49 · answer #4 · answered by ajsad36 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all that is religions take on it, not Gods. Religion brings you all their own interpretations of what they think the Bible means. That is why there are so many different religions- They all interpret it their own way, holding some things in common others not. If you are trying to figure out your own truths then just ask your higher power to reveal to you your truths, don't worry about other peoples beliefs, find your own. One that will help you to not worry about heaven or hell theories and concentrate on daily living in love towards yourself and others. LOVE, PEACE & RESPECT in your search!
2006-09-18 21:55:22 · answer #5 · answered by ABLE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because sin cannot be in the same place as God. When man chose to sin in the Garden of Eden, he became sinful and could not exist in the same place as God. Everyone since Adam and Eve was born sinful, and into a sinful world (Romans 3:23). It is like a void separated man from God; man is on one side, and God is on the other.
Man tries to reach God by performing "good" tasks, attending church regularly, and other ways, but by his own efforts, he cannot reach God (Ephesians 2:9). Because we cannot reach God, we deserve death! (Romans 6:23)
God is holy and just and must punish sin, but He loved us enough to provide a way for our sins to be forgiven. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect sinless life while here on Earth. He was tempted, but He never gave in to the temptations. He was killed by crucifixion, but He arose from the grave 3 days later thereby bridging the void between God and man (1 Peter 3:18, Romans 4:15).
2006-09-18 21:46:40 · answer #6 · answered by K 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
First off, not only do you have to accept Jesus and ask Him into your life BUT you must repent of your sins and choose a life of righteousness.
God is not being vengeful. Our life here on earth without Him in it is doomed to failure and unlimited sorrow and unfulfillment. God loves us so much that He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. However, it's up to us to let Him. He's given you all you need to live, air, water, a body, etc. The least we can do is love Him in return. After all, He did give His life to save ours.
2006-09-18 21:44:40 · answer #7 · answered by stpolycarp77 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, God made some rules for people to follow. Dont eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. WHen Adam and Eve disobeyed, they sinned. The consequence of disobeying God is separation from Him forever. God didn't want to see people die and go to hell, so Jesus came and took the punishment of our sin by dying on the cross. Anybody that believes that Jesus died for our sin and askes for His forgiveness will be fogiven. God wants us to go to heaven, but we have to go to Him first.
2006-09-18 21:49:27 · answer #8 · answered by Susan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Think of it ths way; God is giving the person the choice to choose him or not
Choosing him, he will rescue the person from punishment. If they do not obey him, they (not God) basically are choosing for them self the punishment. It is the person's choice.
2006-09-18 22:06:08 · answer #9 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is a loving God you cn sin nd still go 2 heaven ( if you have asked him into your heart) Why do u think he died on the cross?!
2006-09-18 21:47:03 · answer #10 · answered by Tylie G 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋