I would understand why God would punish someone who willingly borrows a life from him and then squanders it or uses it for ill purposes. What I don't understand is why God decides to punish someone (everyone) who arrives here as a result of nothing more than the decision of two humans to get knocked up. What's the deal?
2007-10-28 15:28:29 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God doesn't punish anyone--that is, he doesn't punish anyone who believes in him.
Your life is a gift. What you do with your gift is your choice. God isn't forcing you to do wrong things.
Not only did he give you the precious gift of life, he also gives you the gift of eternal life and happiness. The only ones who are punished are the ones who don't accept the gift.
2007-10-28 15:32:45 · answer #1 · answered by adrian♥ 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, you're really confused there, aren't you?
God only punishes people who have broken His Laws, period!
Now, you need to decide if you're actually guilty or not:
Have you ever told a lie?
Have you ever taken anything that's not rightfully yours to take?
Have you ever looked at another person with sexual desires? (Jesus said that's the same as adultery in your heart).
Have you ever been so angry that you wished them ill will, or even hated them? (Jesus said that's the same as murder in your heart).
If, like the rest of the adult human race, you had to say "yes" to these 4 questions, then you are a lying, thieving, adulterous murderer!!!!
BUT WAIT!!! That's not the end of it (I mean other than the rest of the 10 commandments, that is).
On top of all that, if you had to say "yes" to lying or stealing, then I would have to ask if you want others to lie to you, or steal YOUR stuff? And if you say "no", then you are also guilty of hypocracy, having a double-standard!
That means that you're a lying, thieving, adulterous, murderous hypocrite!!!
And for THAT God will punish you.
On the other hand, if you willingly accept that Jesus came to earth to pay the penalty for YOUR sins, and ask God to forgive you for those sins, and repent of them (turn from living a self-centered selfish lifestyle and start living for God), then based on what Jesus did when He died on the cross for YOUR sins, then God can forgive you.
The Bible even says that Jesus, who knew no sin, actually became sin FOR us - He traded places with us!
Mind you, doing those things I just mentioned doesn't earn you a pardon, because we're already guilty.
Rather, instead, it frees up God to grant us an undeserved pardon by His own grace and mercy so that He would not NEED to punish us.
But if we reject such a great offer, how can we escape God's judgement?
The offer is real, and the pardon is legit, but the offer expires when YOU do. If you turn to Him NOW, He will save you from sin and it's eternal consequences.
If, however, you reject the offer while you still live and breath, then when you meet Him on the OTHER side of the grave, He will, indeed be your Judge.
The choice is really up to you if you want God to save you or to judge you.
2007-10-28 15:39:00 · answer #2 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Life is a gift, and we thank our creator by living well. To squander that life selfishly or dishonestly is where the punishment comes in. Evil asks for punishment.
2007-10-28 15:35:45 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas E 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are those who believe that we DO choose to be born, that we exist before birth as "souls" in the void awaiting the availability of a body in which to incarnate. There are numerous concepts regarding our spiritual evolution, one of which is that, besides, opting to be born, we know how our lives will evolve. All such ideas, in my opinion, are open to skepticism, and the actual answers are unknowable. And, you haven't defined what you mean by God's "punishment". We are mortals, therefore susceptible to all those diseases, accidents, degenerations which lead to our eventual demises. Those are not punishments but rather simply life as it unfolds upon this mundane plane; everyone's fate is identical eventually, thus life itself must be the penalty for our existence!
2007-10-28 15:40:32 · answer #4 · answered by Lynci 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
God chooses who will be born. God punishes no one. God has given all of us free will. We have the choice to decide which path in life we will take, the path to God or the path away from God. God forces no one to follow Him or the path to Him. It's all your decision.
2007-10-28 15:33:23 · answer #5 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God doesn't really punish us, in the most negative sense of that word. What he does, however, is "protect" us. His rules are there to protect us. Pain, suffering, and so on are a result of our disobedience to God. They are there as the consequence of our sin, something we have inflicted on ourselves.
2007-10-28 15:33:58 · answer #6 · answered by ninanina 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please read this;
"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb, I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed, and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." Psalm 139:13-16
2007-10-28 15:42:36 · answer #7 · answered by byHisgrace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God told Jeremiah, "before you were formed in the womb, I KNEW YOU."
Before those two humans "played in the stable," HE KNEW YOU.
Now, do you want to get to know HIM?
2007-10-28 15:33:02 · answer #8 · answered by n9wff 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
But evil people chose for you to be born. So you must be punished for it.
2007-10-28 15:35:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
he wont punish you, if your saying your expecting
a child, that is a blessed event.
it will be good, if you put effort into this new life
and raise the child as a god fearing child.
2007-10-28 15:32:42 · answer #10 · answered by sioux † 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋