2007-02-26 06:05:38 · 20 answers · asked by Haiku Hanna 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That wouldn't be a very loving and forgiving God would it. I've never understood the beleif either. We are commanded to forgive others unendingly, yet there is a point where God's forgiveness stops, which never made sense to me. Also in the Bible, it says that when Jesus returns, there will be those who cry out for forgiveness at seeing the truth, but God will say he never knew them. Why is there an instance where it is too late to ask for forgiveness? This then brings up the question where people were saved on their death bed, even though they lived a life of godlessness. Were those people actually saved, or was it too late for them also? The Bible creates more questions than it answers. I don't beleive anyone could learn the whole truth about what God actually wants from us from reading the Bible. It has been translated so many times and rewritten to keep the scriptures intact, but one little goof up could contradict something else, and that's what confuses alot of people. Plus some books aren't published for the public to read ( The reason for this was by the Catholic church, because they beleived the words within these pages would be too difficult for people to understand, and to beleive) I've done alot of research on the Bible, read many translations, and even these translations contradict one another. The King James Bible and the NIV do not state the same things, some verses contradict ones in the other. How is one to learn the truth? If the Bible is the truth, why is it so hard to understand, when you put all the verses together, and see that they are telling you to do different things, and they are describing God as judgemental and wrathful, yet also loving and forgiving. If God wanted us all to be saved, why would He make it so difficult to find out what He really wants from us?Do we go by every commandment in the Bible given by God- if we do then there are alot of Christians living falsely( Check out Exodus- there are more commandments than just the ten- there are hundreds within the bible) I beleive the confusion turns many people away from Christianity.
2007-02-26 06:24:34 · answer #1 · answered by Lindsey H 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Those that believe in free will can only give you answers that mesh with the assumption of God's love for all people. This produces a dividing line of death where love does not extend past that point -- which makes this theology a loving offer during life, but an offer nonetheless, to be negotiated if you are to maintain your free will.
Not having the ability to accept Him yields a mankind that is damaged to the point where God must do the choosing if anyone is going to go to heaven. Predestination takes on an entirely different meaning this way, where it really means an Elect rather than having to elect all of humanity which would be rather pointless and not worth mentioning in the Bible unless you want to redefine this as angels only or something along those lines.
And, if Mankind is damaged, then he deserves only one destination, and it ain't heaven! Therefore the punishment you mentioned is fully deserved, because we will "choose incorrectly" every time. This does give us free will, by the way, but a free will that is nothing to be desired, and quite naturally lends itself to behavior indicative of a sin nature.
Not sure if this is the answer you're looking for, but it seems to answer the question well enough for me, anyway.
2007-02-26 06:43:48 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We punish ourselves with our belief systems, God doesn't punish us. God would rather us treat each others as we would have ourselves be treated then to have to believe in him. This is also a part of accepting Jesus....accepting what was done to him was wrong and learning that we have to treat each other differently. People were angry when they realized this great King who the 'Messiah' was supposed to be was some poor looking peace-preaching schmuck. So we crucified him for it. This is the lesson. Don't we crucify people every day? And for people who 'know' the Bible; they would know that the Lord said, (in so many words) it's less harmful to kill someone, then to belittle and degrade and to hate him. Well, look what people do everyday. We hurt each other worse with words and how we treat each other. If everything in the Bible were true, we'd be going to Heaven AND Hell in handbags.
2007-02-26 06:16:08 · answer #3 · answered by Virgo 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Our sufferings has lot to do with our choices. Funny, God always take the blame for things He did not do. First, it is paramount we understand our true essence. A deviation from who we are to what we are not always invite troubles in our life. But some people take it lightly the true inner nature of ourselves and behave/think/act on based on what we are not. While some people understood their true essence it's kinda too late to change an old system of belief without a struggle.
2007-02-26 07:27:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why does God give us free will in the first place? It's because God loves us. Liberal/feminist poet and author Marge Piercy hits the nail on the head when she says "That which you love, you must set free." We cannot love something and then attempt to dominate it. That would be abusive, but God is not abusive, he is just.
A just God must then allow for consequences of our actions. In a fallen and sinful world, we will be affected by the free will actions of others as well as our own choices. If you are hit by a drunk driver, do you die because of your own choice or the drunk's choice? God's love for us is that he gives us a way out within the boundaries placed on him by infinite justice as well as infinite love.
2007-02-26 06:32:41 · answer #5 · answered by goofyguy47 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
so in case you reside in usa are you loose? sure or no? by using your view we are no longer loose in usa we ought to stay by using the regulations that usa has. If we don't we get punished by using being fined or put in penitentiary or put in reformatory. being loose does not advise you're able to do something you want and not be punished for it. you're no longer loose to devote homicide or rape or scouse borrow and assume to no longer get punished for breaking the regulation. Your freedom is to compliment the thank you to stay reliable or undesirable. Your freedom does not comprise to no longer be punish once you ruin the regulations of the society you reside in. So being loose does not advise you should no longer be punished once you carry out a little component incorrect. you haven't any longer have been given freedom to rape and kill others or scouse borrow from them. that's the comparable way with God's regulations. you're no longer loose to interrupt them and do what you like without paying a cost. For ever action there's a result. if your action is to homicide some one the result's which you will the two be killed by using the regulation or be thrown in penitentiary for something of your existence if caught. while you're no longer caught, you would be ousted by using society for doing what you probably did and consistently on the run in worry of being caught.
2016-12-18 11:20:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a choiceless choice. Follow what I believe, FREELY or feel my blade in your gut while i ravage and rampage your land.
In such a religion that punishes for answering or askinga question the way opposite to the EXPECTED answer, FREE WILL is nothing but a Myth...
2007-02-26 06:12:35 · answer #7 · answered by Tiara 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As a child you have some free will too, if you wanted a box of chocolates, the whole thing at one time and your parents advised strongly that you not eat them all at once, if you did and threw up, wouldn't that be a natural consequence instead of your parents punishing you ? I wouldn't spank my child for that, I would figure and re-instill in his/her mind what happened because of their choices.
2007-02-26 06:11:33 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, let me say there's no god so don't worry about it.
But let me add that its most definately stupid. No parent will punish their child for touching the hot stove after they get burned because a good parent would consider it a lesson learned.
2007-02-26 06:17:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not that you are punished. He is just giving you what you want. When you die, God does not drag you to Heaven kicking and screaming. Why would anyone want to live in Heaven if they didn't want a personal relationship with God? I surely wouldn't want to live with someone who I didn't like. Heaven is God's Kingdom. You can't hate Him all of your mortal life, and then go there when you die just because you see that He lives in a palace and has everything that you ever dreamed of. God doesn't want us to love Him for the things He has. He wants our pure, genuine, true love. Not knowing what He holds, He wants us to take Him by faith, not because of His possessions.
2007-02-26 06:14:05 · answer #10 · answered by Christian93 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋