The Bible says God if Fair and Just?

Question

Yes I believe in God, I bellieve Jesus died for my sins, But, I dont understand, one person dies at 16, another 23 and so on, it keeps going, this person dies and 104. so this person has 104 years to learn and a chance to hear the word of God. But this 16 year old any gets 16 years and maybe heard bits and peaces, that can go for the 23 year old also. where is the fairness in that? not to mention the different ways people are raised. I was not raised in a Christian home, in no way. maybe that is why I can question what I am reading. please dont tell me to read the Bible, I have, many times and I still do. yes its a great book to teach and live by. you tell me the Bible talks about Hell over and over again, yes it does, but what is that town called, geneva? or something like that, isnt that the word they Got hell from? isnt that a town where they burned Babies and made God mad? if I remember right? Hell comes from many different words really that was translated into Hell because they

had no other word to give it, and no I am not going to take a pastors word for it, he will teach what he was taught, he wont consider the fact that it may not mean a burning hell filled with fire. explain these things to me and I may reconsider my way of thinking.

Answer 1

I appreciate that you have many questions. I think the only way to answer them is to come to know the character of God. That can be done by really delving into, and studying, His word, the bible.

When you come to know His character, you can see that He is perfect, even when there are things that we may not understand. At least, that is my feeling about it.

Answer 2

Gehenna, not Geneva. My understanding is that Gehenna was a place where they burned trash. I don't know about the place where they burned babies. I know they did that in Carthage.

Anyway, your confusion is understandable. It's the natural result of the Protestant Reformation, when certain people decided that it was up to each person to decide for himself what the Christianity and the Bible say, what they contain, and what they mean. When you go on that basis, of course you're going to get this kind of confusion, not to mention doubt which is the outgrowth of confusion.

It was not that way originally. When you read the Bible, you do not see individual Christians deciding truth for themselves. Rather, they are taught with authority by the Apostles. Further, there was no New Testament for people to read and interpret for themselves, and decide what it "means to me". The truth of the Gospel was taught by Christ to the Apostles, and by the Apostles to others. The Apostles knew exactly what Jesus had taught and not taught, and they were careful to get it right.

When you read St. Paul, you see that he was hard on people who had decided to do things their own way, and to follow other people besides the duly appointed Apostles. He condmned them *with authority*.

My friend, what you need is to find the original Church founded by Christ, which to this day teaches with authority, carefully, and does not allow each person to interpret the Gospel for himself and decide what it means. A Church that has verifiably been around since the time of Christ, and not a johnny-come-lately church that sprang up 100 years ago, or 50, or maybe even last May when they opened up that new storefront church called Lighthouse Chapel of the Holy Fire Covenant Grace Community Gathering Place.

You've got to put your trust in the divine authority instituted by Christ. If you keep trying to figure it out for yourself, you will never escape doubt and may lose faith altogether.

Answer 3

Gehenna was the garbage dump outside the city of Jerusalem where noxious odors, fires, maggots, and flys abounded, 24/7 and 365.

As such, it is an excellent metaphor for hell.

Geneva, by comparison, is a fairly nice city on a beautiful lake, in Switzerland.

God is more than fair and just. God is kind and merciful, because all of us are sinners unto death, yet God sent his son, at his own great and personal expense, to reconcile us with him, and to save us from ourselves, and from satan the devil.

He did this even though we declared ourselves his enemies by our sins, and even though we chose sides against him, throwing in with satan, the primeval enemy of God, and of all good things.

And regarding your question about life spans ... this life is the beginning of eternity. Death is only the transition point.

God knows what is best for us, and only he is able to make us whole, whether we die moments after conception, or after a hundred years.

And compared to eternity, even a hundred years is like a mere blink of an eye.

1Co 2:9 But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard: neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.

See also Isaiah 64.

Answer 4

God is fair and just he would not have let them die at a young age without sending opportunities for them to know him. The thing about being raised well that is man's fault not God (remember free will?) People who are not christians can choose to have babies too. It also says in the bible it rains on the just and the unjust bad stuff happens to everyone.

Answer 5

The problem is... you're thinking.

You need faith, not brains to make this Christianity thing work.

Heck, look at your first answer from the faithful Christian... she says to know the answer you have to know God, but then doesn't give an answer?!?

Answer 6

ohh I was looking for some info to help you and found this
http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/ifhellisreal.htm

not for those of strong Christian beliefs

p.s the place you are looking for is Gehanna

Answer 7

I will not just re-iterate what I said before. Just point you in the direction you need to go.

The mirror will show you where your journey starts.

((((Cindy))))