Since you admit god does punish people for sin, why not make the punishment instant death and damnation?

Question

Let's face it... If god REALLY didn't want people to sin, he wouldn't have instituted this free will nonsense. This convoluted system of confession - penance - absolution is the most ridiculous thing imaginable. If there were a god who was really interested in our trivial little lives, he'd simply make people's heads explode to discourage bad behavior.

Everyone would be "Christ-like" in no time, and hey... you'd still have your free will if you wanted it, but the consequences would just be a bit more dire.

Answer 1

Wow this is an awesome question....seriously this is great

Can any christian answer this?
anyone?

of course not because the whole thing makes no sense

case closed
lol

Answer 2

The Omnipotence of God does no longer mean that God can do each thing often, yet ability that God can do each thing what's available to be performed. case in point, God can't substitute the guideline a million+a million=2. there's a conflict between the solid and the evil. God has no longer a call: the wicked souls could be destroyed in an eternal hell, in any different case the whole international could substitute into some variety of an eternal hell.

Answer 3

What is the definition of Sin? If you read the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave, it is thinking sin - not just doing. There is not a person alive who would survive a judgement such as you suggest.

Let me put it this way - if you were the head of a company, which would you rather have? A bunch of people who were always bowed and scraped and "Yes-sir"ed all the time, or a group that truly did the things you wanted because they wanted to and were dedicated to the task?

Penance, absolution, etc. is a Roman Catholic invention. It is not Biblically based. Repentance, which is wat Jesus talked about, is turning around in your heart, being sorry for what you did, and trying to do better.

God loves mankind, he does not want us to suffer, or to punish us. He wants us with Him forever. We are the ones that choose otherwise.

Answer 4

God does NOT punish people for sin. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. So, that's it. That's the price we pay for intentional sin.

However, (at the same time) when we willfully sin, He does not protect us from the consequences of that sin - HIV, hurt feelings, a guilty conscience, a ruined reputation, etc. That is how you "reap what you sow".

Whenever you feel like God is punishing you for sin, keep in mind what James 1:13 says.

Answer 5

His laws are here to protect us. He is not evil punisher. He just does not like sin because when we have sin in our life,it hinders our relationship with God.: )

Sin is never going to be the reason if one is going to be separated from God in eternity. Jesus took care of the sin issue on the cross. We need to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God wants us all, but He needs to know who will accept His generous offer : )

Answer 6

If everyone that sinned, died, then that would actually be a form of PROOF of God's existence! Come on, Christians, where's the death for all these sinners you babble about all the time?

Perhaps if God EXISTED and was as powerful as you claim, things might change, yes?

Answer 7

You misunderstand the nature of sin and free will.

Even if God instantly punished the sinful, persons would still sin. Since sin entered the world, we cannot not sin.

Some will argue that if "knew" there was a hell they would repent. However, in reality people even in hell won't repent, in particular not any skeptic who makes the above argument.

If one thinks God is unjust for punishing people in hell, actually going there isn't going to make one suddenly decide that God is just and deserves one's love and worship after all.

People are given their entire lives on Earth as an opportunity to repent and accept God; if they refuse each day of their lives to repent and believe they're justified in doing so, it's hardly conceivable that punishment in hell would change their minds. In other words, the gates of hell are actually locked from the inside.

The fact that God does not do as you suggest is one of many indications of how long-suffering He is with a sinful mankind.

Are We Free? Do We Have Free Will? If God exercises providential control over all events are we in any sense free?

The answer depends on what is meant by the word 'free'. In some senses of the word 'free', everyone agrees that we are free in our will and in our choices. Thus, when we ask whether we have free will, it is important to be clear as to what is meant by the phrase.

Scripture nowhere says that we are free in the sense of being outside of God’s sovereign control or of being able to make decisions that are not caused by anything. (This is the sense in which many people seem to assume we must be free.)

**Nor does it say we are free in the sense of being able to do right on our own apart from God’s power.**

BUT, WE ARE nonetheless free in the greatest sense that any creature of God could be free: we make willing choices, choices that have real effects. We are aware of no restraints on our will from God when we make decisions.

We must insist that we have the power of willing choice; otherwise we will fall into the error of fatalism or determinism and thus conclude that our choices do not matter, or that we cannot really make willing choices.

On the other hand, the kind of freedom that is demanded by those who deny God’s providential control of all things, a freedom to be outside of God’s sustaining and controlling activity, would be impossible if Jesus Christ is indeed continually carrying along things by his word of power (Heb. 1:3). If this is true, then to be outside of that providential control would simply be not to exist!

An absolute freedom, totally free of God’s control, is simply not possible in a world providentially sustained and directed by God himself.

Answer 8

GOD created us in his own image. He gave us free will. We are allowed to make choices. The punishment for our sins is to not ever be in the presence of our heavenly Father. Please remember our Father is also a very forgiving GOD. That is why I think he gives us so many chances.

Answer 9

Perhaps He should. Interesting how He allows at least a short reprieve for the unregenerate. They should be grateful for that.

Answer 10

A bit messy innit