Just think how this doctrine of endless evil and torment must strike a sincere seeker after God. You tell him that God is not only Almighty, but also good, loving, compassionate, and kind. You tell him God is his Father. if he knows anything about this doctrine of eternal torment he may well say, "You tell me that God is good, that He is a loving Father; but He creates millions of hapless creatures knowing that there is an unspeakably horrible doom waiting for them. He creates these creatures through no will of their own, with a sinful nature that makes them incapable of doing His will, knowing that they are going to spend an eternity apart from Him suffering unspeakable agony, and He not only knows this but allows it to happen? And you tell me He loves them?! If endless misery is the certain result, known beforehand by God, of bringing me into existence, to force the 'gift' of life on me is the worst thing He could possibly do to me!"And another thing I would like to point out is how we address God. We address God as "Our Father"...not our ruler, tormenter, slavemaster, tyrant king...no, Father conveys a tender and loving relationship between God and His creation. Ideally, fathers don't condemn their children to leave their house never to return, do they? So if God is better than the best human father, how could He do anything less than gather ALL his lost children to Him?
"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." John 12:32
"For as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive." Corinthians 15:22
"One man's sin brought guilt to all people. So also one right act made all people right with God." Romans 5:18
3 comments:
The only problem I have here is the supposition that we are inherently sinful or in need of grace, forgiveness, and salvation. Are we really so bad? It seems like we are held accountable for all of our failings, our faults, our errors, the times of cruelty and avarice, but for whatever reason we are unable to be redeemed for those mistakes through kindness, charity, or salvation. I'm not suggesting a balance scale here, put two good pieces in the left hand and three in the right type of nonsense, only that we be viewed more holistically, as people, flawed and beautiful.
Yes, we are 'so bad', but it is not without purpose that we are programmed to be this way.
I don't disagree that our flaws can be beautiful - unless they are flaws that hurt others. A man sees "the big picture" while women often recall details in a situation. I am of the mind that God is of (and WAY beyond) both, so I think He may view us holistically, yes, but we must also be dissected in detail to correct the flaws according to His plan.
We can only view each other through human eyes, and holistically, it is to our advantage to do so and not try to dissect each other's sins / motives (hence: judge not).
As humans, we inherently err - it is expected that we err - so that God can demonstrate how He loves us and we can be brought to the zenith of grace. We don't err to damn ourselves (bumbling idiots), but so that GOD can "show off" so to speak. To reveal to us in this way His love and that we may see this and love him back. Our sins occur for the greater glory of God, not for our own downfall.
And your comment brings up another concept that many people were taught as children - that a good deed cancels out a bad one. Good question there. I think we cause more strife in our lifetime than we can make up for through good acts, though. Whether it happens intentionally or unintentionally. Our nature won't allow us to be perfect and reconcile our own sins through our OWN acts of kindness, etc. That's where God comes in. We cannot save ourselves through acts of kindness, nor through belief. That's what God's unconditional love is for. And in the end, we will ALL come to know it.
And when I say that we cannot save ourselves through belief, I mean that our belief on this earth is REALLY desirable, but not absolutely necessary for ultimate salvation, as we will ALL come to know belief when God reveals Himself to all in the end - in the wider hope :)
Post a Comment