What if all paths led to water? A question for Christians...?

Question

I just asked if Christians believed in a "torturing" God or an "annihilating" God. One response I got was:

"God doesn't do either. We make that choice. Let's say you are lost in the desert and you come to a sign that say's water this way and another that leads to nowhere. Say you take the nowhere path and at the end you are parched and dying of thirst. You have huge blisters on your feet. Are you going to blame the people who would have given you water should you have taken the other path? Or was it your choice to take the other that led to nowhere. God made hell for satan and his followers. Then He gave us free will to choose. So you can jump in the pool of life or you can jump in the fire. It's up to you."

My question is: we all know who created Hell; we all know who judges us; why does it have to be eternal torment at the end of the other path? Why is God not merciful for those he loves; even those that deny him?

~atheist~

(not a clone...obviously...see my profile)

(and yes, I do know that many of you don't believe in eternal torment)

Answer 1

I believe in a JUST God.

Answer 2

I have talked to many athiests, and while some don't care much on the matter of God and only say he doesn't exist, other are hateful and vengeful towards him, personally I am undecided about hell, but I do believe those hateful people, don't deserve mercy from the God they curse. The thing is none of us deserve mercy. Thats what makes it mercy.
But these people, everyone, was asked one thing, to be saved from EVERY sin they have ever commited, and they are given millions of chances, so if they never do that one simple (not so simple for some) thing, then they have turned away the mercy they were offered. These people needed only to accept Jesus, and they would have been saved, but they knowingly turned away.

I understand your question, I get it, it's a good one.
That's my answer, I don't know what you will think of it but it's honest.

Jessica - feel free to email

Answer 3

Annihilation is worse than eternal pain, God created everyone including the devil for eternal love and bliss. The pain is, not being able to love. and God does not make that choice for anyone, love is a two way street.
Besides wouldn't it be very cruel of God to force anyone into His presence. God doesn't force anyone- because He loves and is love.
Actually the so called fire in hell is the burning love of God who those who are there cannot respond to that's the pain.

Answer 4

Perhaps I can help you understand something about Him(GOD). If your a parent you may understand it better than if you wasn't. Two people decided to plan being parents of two children. Lets say one is boy the other is girl and they got it mapped out how they are going to raise them and guide them threw life. As they was raising them in there home the rules was broken by one in which also influence the other to brake the house rules. Even though they ment well they have caused confusion and now have to face being on there own. Would it be easy to decide whether or not to put them out ? Would it be also uneasy for the children if there not supported by there parents that will not approve of bad decisions? How much more God who is Father in creation? He has planned for man to be blessed and approved of Him in all things done on earth. It was the decision of Adam and Eve to sin knowing the end results being told by there Heavenly Father. If we can make choices to as parents why not God? Romans 6:23,says the wages(rewards)of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. We have to allow God to be the smart one in this matter because what ever he says it will be done. Some may believe this or not but if HE is God than its better that we strive to do right by Him. That is the answer to your questions as I have learned in Jesus. Love, Law and Order makes a happy universe for all his created beings.

Answer 5

"we all know who created Hell" ... We do? Really? We have no idea when evil was created, or if evil is eternal as well. We simply don't know.

Look here in Genesis 2 where it says "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil."

Okay, 2 trees, one a tree of life and one a tree with knowledge of evil. Interesting eh? Not that evil was created then and there, but the knowledge of evil was in that tree.

So my answer is that you assume God created Hell. Perhaps you are wrong :)

Answer 6

they had to make Jesus God so as that it may be much less like pagan religions the place some god produces a new child with a human female; the term 'be conscious' replaced into in greek language 'emblems' which meant a mix of all essences/know-how and it replaced into the two incorrectly translated or purposely into 'be conscious'-because of fact the early Xians wished to seperate their faith as much as a possibility from pagan polytheistic practices, they tried to combine all 3 into one. It fairly would not make experience; fairly whilst 'the be conscious' is not often ever suggested, Jesus by no ability says he's God (i think of there's a verse or 2 which could actual be interpreted as God-like) and Jesus isn't something like God, if reason is in touch. This e book i'm examining, 'The Jesus Mysteries' explains it ok with the aid of explaining approximately Gnosticism and what it has in consumer-friendly with Pagan religions and what it has in consumer-friendly with the Christianity we are familiar with. that's the final rationalization i've got ever study. i do no longer locate it hateful...very informative, in spite of the undeniable fact that. Edit: Father, husband, son theory-you won't be able to be all 3 to the comparable person on the comparable time

Answer 7

God gives us every opportunity to lead a good life, He gave us a free will to chose. If we continue to have nothing to do with God and deny Him constantly, then what is He supposed to do?If you are an athiest, then you do not believe there is a God, so why should you care if He is merciful or not????

Answer 8

God's just punishment for those who sin is eternal condemnation not annihilation. God is a God of love (demonstrated by giving His Son for our sin) but also a God of justice (demonstrated in His righteous judgements).
It seems harsh to us because we do not see things from the perspective of a holy God but from a perspective tainted with sin.

Answer 9

DO you think that there should be no consequences if you kill, steal, commit adultery, lie, etc? He is merciful and he keeps giving the people who deny him a chance everyday. If people choose to do evil so be it, they will go to lake of sulfur. Someone who think for themselves about the future will choose life and go do God's way.

God Bless!

Answer 10

They do not.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Eternal burning is Baal worship, not of God.

The second death, that is death of spirit and soul, is non-existence.

It is our choice, choose life, no brainer.

Answer 11

According to the Bible, God is righteous, innocent. What is concepted as sin unbearable to this holy being ( to point out that we may actually be phycologicaly capable of a similar holiness on earth, or worthy of being that holy in heaven, I'll mention the concept of us originally being made in the image of him ). Take your concept of how wicked God considers sin is, and multiply it, infinitely.