Is God more about holding us to accountability or forgiving?

Question

Of course, God both forgives and calls us to accountability. But which of these attributes do you think is more reflective of God's overall personality, forgiveness or accountability?

Answer 1

He is perfectly just.

If He has forgiven you any sin, it doesn't mean the forgiveness came cheap.

"God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.'

II Corinthians 5:21


" We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:6

Answer 2

In Buddhism we understand that the universal law of cause and effect applies to the person, and is called 'karma'. There is a complex relationship between mind and objects appearing to the cognitive functions of our mind. There is no separation between mind and its objects of cognition. The quality of what appears is determined by mind and the karma we've established. One effect of an action (cause) is an experience similar to the cause. This karma produces all the experiences a person has. Intention is a mental factor or mind that is the creative component of karma because it initiates the complex patterns of mental, verbal and physical actions we perform. These intentions and actions leave an impression in the mind, a seed or potentiality, and when the contributory conditions come together, just as in farming, the seed sprouts. This is a complex subject but what I've said gives a basic understaning of why Buddha said that there is no creator other than mind. This doesn't mean there aren't beings of the god realms or that certain people with the ability can't manifest objects in front of us, but that is still an appearance to our mind, and effect of previous causes. Understanding that what you put into your mind will come back out of it, Buddha explained which actions produce suffering, and which produce happiness. He also explained that the results of actions are definite, unless an action is performed, its results cannot be experienced, and that no action is ever wasted, meaning, the potentiality will exist until it ripens. Understanding these things, we realize that negative karma can be purified in two ways: by experiencing the suffering (because once the causes are exhausted, there can be no more effects), and by purifying it through certain practices. In Buddhism, the practice of purification is clearly explained and quite elaborate. Suffice to say, there are a variety of practices involving virtuous regret based in wisdom that Buddhist engage in to eliminate the seeds that produce suffering, and there are very clear results. From a Buddhist pov, confession isn't sufficient. There is a precise relationship between certain causes and certain minds that have the power to purify, and we can see the results. It is not enough to purify past non-virtue. We have to eliminate the causes of further non-virtue and therefore future suffering - the delusions and negative actions. Yahoo chat cannot cover the subject sufficiently, but you get the general idea.

Answer 3

I believe both attributes are equally reflective of God. God always forgives, yet must hold us accountable.

Neither are more prominent than the other.

Answer 4

God is always forgiving. He will forgive for whatever you do, in his eyes every sin is the same, like a murder and a lie are the same to him and he will forgive both of them as long as you ask him to forgive you humbly and ask him with a pure heart. I believe that he is way more forgiving.

Answer 5

I'm a Pagan, but I also believe in a higher power. I think Spirit (or God) simply is, and we can't entirely fathom it. We can't fully know other people we see every day and whom we know better than ourselves, let alone an entity we can only know via contemplation and personal experience.

Religions, not Spirit, are more about either accountability or forgiveness. The people who take positions of religious authority make that interpretation based on their own opinions and beliefs. Spirit accompanies us on the journey, and we need to decide for ourselves what we believe is the best expression of our highest selves. That is what Spirit wants, in my opinion. We may fail, but we must keep trying.

Answer 6

John 3:16 is so popular because it defines what God is all about.

God is eager to forgive those who seek Him as their God and savior.

He doesn't speak of any forgiveness for those who reject Him and His plan of salvation. After all, He is GOD, the creator, owner and judge of all things. It is this part which many object to. They want no god other than themselves. That is, they will not subject themselves to God as their God.

He gives salvation/total forgiveness to all who are His. He wants all to receive it but knows that not all will. These who go their their own in self-righteousness will be accountable for every misdeed in their lives.

He also want us, who already have salvation, to be accountable to Him. Not to earn salvation, because we already have that, but to have a have a full and abundant life. When we walk contrary to His ways, we miss the good things that He wants to give us in this life. When re "repent" (turn back to Him) He forgives again....and we begin to enjoy the things He wants to give us in this life.

Answer 7

I don't know.
But I am holding God accountable for everything. I will only forgive him if he has a really awesome explanation for this screwed up thing we call life.

Answer 8

Neither accountability or forgiveness is attributable to God--because according to Christ---God doesn't judge anyone.
John5:22For the Father judgeth no man

Answer 9

God is the perfection of all good things. Mercy, compassion, love, forgiveness, kindness. He is the definition and source of all these things.

That being said, it is because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that we can approach the throne of grace to obtain that mercy. Without Jesus, a person will be judged on their own merit. And since the bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, only those who have trusted Jesus Christ will be eternally forgiven.

Answer 10

Stop projecting a personality and daddy attributes onto god/reality - the multi-dimensional field we are embedded in that is responsive to consciousness. Reality is NEUTRAL. We live by faith LITERALLY - i.e. experience what we believe is true. Seek and you shall find, and on and on and on.

Please try to stop trivializing something magnificent and in so doing minimizing your purpose here!