If it's God's job to punish us, then why are there natural consequences?

Question

Wouldn't Hell be double jeapordy?
And why do I feel a need to impose justice on those who have done wrong, if that is all up to God? Are court judges guilty of passing down judgement in contrast to Gods will?

Answer 1

Interesting questions...

The way I see it, most punishment involves multiple and often long-term consequences. Hell IS a natural consequence...it is just the consequence that extends beyond our life on earth but it was handed down as part of the original judgment for a sin. Thus, hell isn't double jeapordy, it is just the eternal part of the consequence (much like locking someone up on death row is a consequence a murderer lives with and the actual death penalty is the culmination of the original sentence).

Are court judges guilty of passing down judgment in contrast to God's will...yes, perhaps. The way I see it, this is how it came about. God wanted us to follow his instructions and live a happy life but too many people chose not to do so...so the people asked God to give them a king thinking that a king would be able to protect them from the negative consequences of the "sinful" acts of other people. God knew this was a bad idea and told them why it would lead to problems but they insisted it would be good for them so God let them have what they wanted. Later, when they realized that having a king didn't solve the problem, they asked for judges to enforce the laws and hand out punishments...again God knew this was a bad idea but gave them what they wanted. From the beginning, God reserved the right to hand out consequences for sin but people wanted more...they wanted human rulers and judges and refused to accept that these things would lead to negative outcomes. So if there is any double jeopardy involved, it is being handed out by the legal system...God has already tried and convicted all criminals, they legal system subjects them to a second trial and the outcomes may be inconsistent with God's plan.

Basically, people are a lot like children...sometimes I have to let my son have what he wants to show him why it isn't the best thing for him. For example (and I know this is simplistic), my son always wanted to take toys to school (kinder). I told him that taking toys to school could cause problems...he might be tempted to play with the toy when he should be doing something else and get in trouble with the teacher, the toy could be lost or broken or stolen by another child, etc... ...but he refused to believe me and I finally let him have his way a few times...and sure enough, he got in trouble with his teacher a few times, he had two toys broken and another was lost or stolen. Sometimes the only way for a child to learn is to experience the consequences...and sometimes they even refuse to learn from those consequences!

Answer 2

God doesn't feel the need to punish at all. There are natural consequences, and sometimes, there aren't.

Like say, If you steal, and your parents help hide you, you get shielded from the natural consequences. You learn over and over, that you can do anything you want, and your parents will cover for you. Then, even though you are incredibly talented, as you grow, you find you can get by with more and more.

You don't learn from the natural consequences, because they don't come immediately. You start doing drugs young, and the love of your life sees what you've become and leaves. When you marry, because a child is on the way, your wife has to take your shoes so you won't wonder the streets in your stuper.

Eventually, after wreaking havok with your family's lives, you get shoved out on the streets. You live there as a natural consequence, but you have grown used to these things, and you figure it was just bad luck, or you blame others for your misfortune. You dig deeper and deeper into a pit, stealing for drugs, and food. Will probably die on the streets lonely and cold. (This is a true and very close story)

Meanwhile, your children have no father to take care of them, and your wife has to go to work all day to support them, so they have not guiding hand from their mother either. You messed up more than your own life, but those of your innocent children and all their children etc, and all the rest of your family. You lost your good talents and picked up some horrible habits instead.

You couldn't pay enough of a price in one lifetime.

Who pays in the end? 1) Parents for not training the child right, etc. We have a long lineage of payments.

Judges can be guilty if there was harm intended, knowingly and done.

Answer 3

Are court judges guilty of passing down judgement in contrast to Gods will?

Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Answer 4

I guess God likes to outsource his justice.

Answer 5

No. Think of God as your moral conscience. Whenever you see someone do something highly immoral, it's not by choice of God.