Why didn't God kill the snake and burn down the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the first place? This would have prevented original sin, a global flood, and billions of people being tortured by demons in pit of fire.
2007-06-15 01:54:29 · 20 answers · asked by razzthedestroyer 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not a christian but i'll give it a go...
God's version of what's "good" and "bad" ain't necessarily yours - so killing thousands of newborn babies just to make a point is Ok if you are God 'cos you just redefine it as "good" Remember God created the pit of fire in the first place and the demons - and it would seem a pity to waste them ....
2007-06-15 02:01:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
It was not a snake, that's why God didnt kill it. Satan, the fallen arch angel was a supernatural spirit and possessed the body of the snake, he appeared to Eve as a angel of light. Satan's emissaries do as well. Then Satan holds unbelievers captive. The solicitation to sin had to come from without, and it did.
God gave the tree of knowledge to see if Adam & Eve would obey him and not eat of it. Perhaps, he is like the scientist today, that run test to see how their creation is gona work.
2007-06-15 09:34:45 · answer #2 · answered by T I 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because He wanted a relationship. God gives us the ability to decide to follow Him, or choose to leave His side and try other things. One can't have a relationship with a person pointing a gun at them. There's no give and take in that. But, by putting the gun down, an open forum appears and you can choose to stay by the person or leave. It's all about a choice.
BTW, here's a real kicker! What was God thinking the day the tree that would eventually become the cross Jesus was crucified on was planted? How much did that hurt?
2007-06-15 08:56:52 · answer #3 · answered by Jason B 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No, christians cannot answer that question. The reason is because Christ did not address this issue anywhere in any of his teachings. They were not concerned with why god did anything that he did, in those days it was a given that god did things and there was no questioning of it. Rather, Christ's teachings centered around such things as how we as humans should treat each other here on this planet. The essence of it was simply to have respect and care for all humans as if they were your brothers and sisters - literally in your immediated family. If one of them is in need, you would immediately address that need. You wouldn't view them as some disconnected person who you have nothing to do with. According to Christ, we should cloth, feed, shelter and see to the health needs of all people the world over. Thats christianity. Now as to your question: You must understand that the story in Genesis is simply a metaphorical explanation of how the psychology of humanity developed with ideas like good and evil being represented by things like god and the snake, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil representing the idea of humans becoming aware of themselves and their actions toward each other and with respect to doing what is right or what is wrong. The idea of "original sin" is very misunderstood. There is no place where people are going to be tortured - that is totally inhumane and is diametrically opposed to christ's teachings.
2007-06-15 09:05:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
There needs be opposition in all things. God has given each of us free will to accept and follow, or to rebel and turn our backs on Him. If there wasn't any opposition, then no choice could be made. So God allowed Satan to continue because God doesn't want anyone to return to Him that doesn't want to.
The Father also sent the Son to atone for our sins so that if we make the wrong choices...we have a way to repent...and help with that repentance.
This whole life is about making choices and being accountable for those choices.
2007-06-15 09:00:32 · answer #5 · answered by LDS~Tenshi~ 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Dear Friend,
Quite simple, In order for God to truly give Adam and Eve free will, there had to be a choice for them to make. For without free will, there could be no love. And it really was not a lot to ask of them was it, "have this whole garden, just leave this one tree alone, thats all i ask!"
God Bless
2007-06-15 09:08:30 · answer #6 · answered by ianptitchener 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible teaches that Satan or Lucifer fell into sin when he became proud and wanted to be like God.
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Although we were created in God's image we can never take God's place. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was put there to test mankind, although God knew that we would fail that test and even allowed the serpent (nachash - shining one in Hebrew) to tempt Eve.
Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
I think that God wanted there to be a dramatic lesson of what the consequences of disobedience and trying to supplant God as the supreme being in our lives would be. It may sound harsh but God is looking at things from an eternal perspective and not just from the few thousand years of time that the Bible covers.
He demonstrates his righteousness in showing what the terrible consequences of sin are. He demonstrates his love by sending his one and only Son to redeem those who repent of their sins and believe on Jesus for their salvation.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
2007-06-15 09:17:50 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know believers will say it is a test. Why can god test us but we can't test him? Why would he give us a test I thought he loved us but if we fail the test he doesn't? An all forgiving person would throw you out of paradise for being tricked to eat a piece of fruit? If somebody gave you everything and told you one thing you couldn't do would anybody do it?
2007-06-15 09:01:51 · answer #8 · answered by joe d 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
He had to create some place for those that choose not to follow him to go. Once God created life, he left it up to them to choose the right things. If he did everything for us, everyone would be in Heaven.
2007-06-15 08:58:08 · answer #9 · answered by yea 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
He gives us the power of free will. He wants us to have a choice and make the right decisions. He did not want mindless drones.
2007-06-15 08:57:57 · answer #10 · answered by Colette B 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋