What is loveable about such a God?

[Matt Janes]

Do you believe that God would burn someone in hell forever for simply not believing in him? I'm amazed at how many Christians and Muslims actually believe that.

It is such a ridiculous and depressing belief, I can't fathom why anyone would love a God who would do that. Fearing such a God would make sense, but loving such a God seems sick to me.

Would you mind telling me what is so horrible about not believing in an invisible entity, that it merits eternal agony?

Eternal suffering for not believing in someone who is invisible and hides himself? Are you kidding? Such a belief is so strangely prevalent. Why?

Please explain what is loveable about such a God.

 

[Matt Janes]

I love God, but the God I know isn't the epitome of cruel and unjust. God is love. The God I know said to those who crucified him, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".

 

[TCassidy]

This forum is not to question the Love, Justice, and Holiness of God. Take such discussions to an Atheist forum.

 

[Matt Janes]

This forum is not to question the Love, Justice, and Holiness of God. Take such discussions to an Atheist forum.

I'm not an atheist. I pray unceasingly for the grace to do God's will and be his obedient servant

 

[TCassidy]

I'm not an atheist. I pray unceasingly for the grace to do God's will and be his obedient servant

Then why do you question His Love, Justice, and Holiness?

 

[Matt Janes]

Then why do you question His Love, Justice, and Holiness?

I question how some people interpret it

 

[Matt Janes]

Jesus was a friend of prostitutes, tax collectors, drunkards, and sinners...he said he came not for the righteous but sinners

 

[thatbrian]

Jesus was a friend of prostitutes, tax collectors, drunkards, and sinners...he said he came not for the righteous but sinners

He also said much about Hell. You've read selectively.

He said this"

Matthew 13:41-42, 49-50 “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And this:

Mark 9:43, 48-49 “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire…where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire.”

 

[Matt Janes]

He also said much about Hell. You've read selectively.

He said this"

Matthew 13:41-42, 49-50 “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And this:

Mark 9:43, 48-49 “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire…where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire.”

he also said faith of a mustard seed can move mountains and ask anything of the father in his name and it will be done....much of what he said wasn't meant to be taken literally.... the wailing and gnashing of teeth isn't necessarily forever or for someone who simply didn't know the truth

 

[thatbrian]

he also said faith of a mustard seed can move mountains and ask anything of the father in his name and it will be done....much of what he said wasn't meant to be taken literally.... the wailing and gnashing of teeth isn't necessarily forever or for someone who simply didn't know the truth

I don't think Jesus was speaking literally about gnashing of teeth. He was using figurative language to describe something so bad words could not describe it.

Romans 1 declares that all men know, BTW.

 

[Matt Janes]

I don't think Jesus was speaking literally about gnashing of teeth. He was using figurative language to describe something so bad words could not describe it.

Romans 1 declares that all men know, BTW.

.. I know without a doubt how confused I was....if you have the truth, I certainly don't know that

 

[thatbrian]

.. I know without a doubt how confused I was....if you have the truth, I certainly don't know that

You do seem confused. I can't even understand your post.

By reducing Hell you reduce grace. If there is no judgement, we have no need of a cross or a Christ.

In your attempt to make God more loving, you actually make Him less loving.

 

[Matt Janes]

You do seem confused. I can't even understand your post.

By reducing Hell you reduce grace. If there is no judgement, we have no need of a cross or a Christ.

In your attempt to make God more loving, you actually make Him less loving.

I didn't say there was no judgement. I'm saying God won't burn a person forever for not believing in him, when the person didn't know any better

 

[Reynolds]

he also said faith of a mustard seed can move mountains and ask anything of the father in his name and it will be done....much of what he said wasn't meant to be taken literally.... the wailing and gnashing of teeth isn't necessarily forever or for someone who simply didn't know the truth

Mark 9:48

 

[Matt Janes]

Mark 9:48

The Bible says a lot of things. Jesus said ask anything of the father in Jesus name and it will be done. Anything didn't mean anything....

There are also scriptures that say God will reconcile all things to himself.

So, bottom line is, we don't know anyone is tortured forever

 

[thatbrian]

I didn't say there was no judgement. I'm saying God won't burn a person forever for not believing in him, when the person didn't know any better

Have you ever read Romans 1?

Firstly, everyone "knows better" (see Romans 1) and secondly, people will be judged for their sin.

 

[Matt Janes]

Have you ever read Romans 1?

Firstly, everyone "knows better" (see Romans 1) and secondly, people will be judged for their sin.

That's a scripture verse like faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. It isn't literal.

Not everybody knows. You think every Muslim knows they belong to a false Religion?

 

[Reynolds]

The Bible says a lot of things. Jesus said ask anything of the father in Jesus name and it will be done. Anything didn't mean anything....

There are also scriptures that say God will reconcile all things to himself.

So, bottom line is, we don't know anyone is tortured forever

What we know is you do not understand scriptural context.

 

[thatbrian]

That's a scripture verse like faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. It isn't literal.

Not everybody knows. You think every Muslim knows they belong to a false Religion?

So, you obviously haven't read Romans chapter one. You should, sometime.

 

[Matt Janes]

What we know is you do not understand scriptural context.

How do I know you do?