Why is God so mean?

[jkiernan56]

Did I make the trinity order Joshua to order the destruction of Jericho and all life within?
Did I order the trinity to give this command:

Ezekiel 9:3 Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”
*5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

Did I order the trinity to do this:
Exodus 9: 29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

Did I order your trinity to order two bears to savagely attack 41 boys for calling Elijha bald?

Seriously, two atrocities ordered by Hitler that your trinity has not also either committed or ordered…I already told you one. It shouldn’t be hard.

You raise a very good point that is going to require me to do some research and put on my thinking cap. How can the God of the Old Testament (as recorded in the Bible) be reconciled with the God of the New Testament? Did God really order others to commit attrocities and do evil as recorded in the Old Testament?

Here is my initial response (to be further developed) -

Are you a parent yet by chance? Are your expectations of a 2 year old the same as a 10 year old? The History of Israel is a story of the development of a people’s understanding of God in the context of the culture and the times. God did not ask or make anyone do injustice or evil to others. If there are events recorded in the Bible that appear God is asking others to commit attrocities, I would respond that those who did and recorded these events had a VERY IMMATURE understanding of God in their development. The events are recorded from the perspective of those who were immature in their understanding of God in the culture and times of the events. The God of the New Testament is the same God of the Old Testament.

It is also recorded that Christ said "You have heard it said “An Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth. But what I say to you is … Love your Enemies … Do Good to those who wrong you …” (I am too lazy to get out my Bible to get the exact words - but it was something along these lines of doing good to your enemies.

I believe that the Person of Christ who spoke these words IS THE SAME GOD who was recorded as having spoken to the people of Israel in the Old Testament. If this is true, then how can I reconcile what appears to be a Schizophrenic God?

And what have you done in your life that was an injustice to others? What if you then wrote a book and said “God told me to kill babies”. Just because you wrote it in a book, does that make it true?

I do not believe for one second that God ordered others to commit attrocities (even though it is has been recorded and written as such in the Old Testament). Those events that have been recorded were written from the perspective of a “child” of what they thought God was asking them to do. I have serious doubts that “in reality” it was really God who told them to do those attrocities.

That is my initial response - but I need to do much more research to adequately formulate an understanding of how to reconcile the God of the New Testament with the God of the Old Testament. God does not change - but obviously the Bible speaks of a different kind of God respectively.

 

[jkiernan56]

Hi, Jim –

On your latter comment regarding beliefs, it caused me to wonder: If beliefs are not false, but are part of a continuum where some are closer to truth (Truth) than others, then doesn’t that imply that even the belief that is closest to Truth is still just a belief?

I believe so.

One point that I keep trying to make is that there is Truth (or God…), and then there are beliefs about that Truth, all of which require a dualism to even consider. Since God is All-That-Is, then any belief (dualism) is inherently Not-Truth.

In the end, I believe in two things:

1. I believe in no beliefs, but that too is just my belief.
2. There is nothing we can say about Truth, including this. All utterances miss the mark.

Thanks for understanding my reasons for not telling a story. Perhaps this is another glimpse as to why I didn’t.

Best,
Rob

You raise some very interesting ideas.

Regarding the continuum of truth - CS Lewis in his book “Mere Christianity” makes the statement that “As in arithmetic, there is only one right answer to a sum, and all other answers are wrong, but some of the wrong answers are NEARER to being right than others.”

I believe in Absolute Truth. In fact, this Absolute TRUTH I believe became a human being in the Person of Christ. Christ stated “I AM THE TRUTH, THE WAY, THE LIFE”. He didn’t say He knew the truth, but rather referred to Himself as THE TRUTH.
Anytime Christ uses the words “I AM” in any sentence, I take very special notice and attention. If you recall, when Moses asked God for His name to tell the Egyptians who sent him, God told Moses His Name - “I AM”. It is my personal conviction and belief that the God who spoke these words to Moses is the same God in Christ who also spoke those words “I AM THE TRUTH”.

The Catholic Church does NOT teach that all other religions are false. In the Documents of Vatican II, the Church recognizes there is truth in other religions - and that some of them are CLOSER to the truth than others. But in Christ is the fullness of TRUTH. He is THE TRUTH - “the WORD of God made flesh”.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

severntofall

Again, no sane person would ever choose eternal torture over eternal happiness.

Are you implying that agnostics and atheists are insane?

 

[Charlemagne_II]

severntofall

*Let’s say you have a son that doesn’t believe in God. He’s an atheist that becomes a doctor and saves lives, donates a good percentage of his paycheck to charities, etc. In other words, he’s a great guy by any reasonable person’s standards. Now, you’re dead and you know that it’s your son’s time to be judged. If you could tell me that you would stand by God on your little cloud as your son is cast down to Hell and say “Good job God! You did the right thing as always!” then I will be convinced. Until then, put up or shut up. *

Every person’s life is a mixture of virtue and vice. We don’t choose which vice is the greatest one, which virtue is the greatest. God makes that choice. When we act virtuously, we have a reason to hope that we are saved, as Christ promised in Matthew 25. By the same token, we cannot cut a deal with the Lord and say, “Look, I did these things you preached, so you have to overlook that I didn’t obey the first and greatest commandment.”

That isn’t how it works, it isn’t how life works in any of its aspects. If you take steroids to become a great baseball player, the whole world will praise you for your deeds, but when they find out you played from the wrong motive and in the wrong way, you’re toast in the public eye.

So it is with the damned. They chose to keep their distance from Christ, all the while pretending they have done great deeds from the right motive and in the right way.

In short, we don’t tell God how to judge. He tells us how He is going to judge. And if we don’t believe Him, if we think He is unfair, and worse if we think He doesn’t even exist, we already are toast.

“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” Matthew 10:32-33

God is fair. He make our choice clear and the consequence clear. We choose. He honors our choice. If we choose Hell, what reason do we have to complain? We knew going in that it was for eternity. Why is that so difficult for you to fathom?

You crab about the punishment fitting the crime. In this case it certainly does, and your constantly insisting that it isn’t fair won’t change a thing. No doubt the steroid taker would whine just as loud if he were stripped of his titles.

“It ain’t fair!”

 

[4Horsemen]

On your latter comment regarding beliefs, it caused me to wonder: If beliefs are not false, but are part of a continuum where some are closer to truth (Truth) than others, then doesn’t that imply that even the belief that is closest to Truth is still just a belief?

I believe so.

One point that I keep trying to make is that there is Truth (or God…), and then there are beliefs about that Truth, all of which require a dualism to even consider. Since God is All-That-Is, then any belief (dualism) is inherently Not-Truth.

In the end, I believe in two things:

1. I believe in no beliefs, but that too is just my belief.
2. There is nothing we can say about Truth, including this. All utterances miss the mark.

Thanks for understanding my reasons for not telling a story. Perhaps this is another glimpse as to why I didn’t.

Best,
Rob

There is only one TRUTH and that has been revealed, first in the OT foreshadowed by the “law and the prophets” and realized in the NT through the “Blood of the Lamb”–Jesus Christ. This is not a belief that is almost true, but TRUTH that comes from Revelation. Although we can come to a shadowy knowledge of God and even His attributes through reason, reason is confirmed in the life of Christ.

1). You believe in “no beliefs.” Contradictory? You’re belief system (religion?) is called skepticism.

2). You believe “there is nothing we can say about truth.” Your “theology” (loosely defined) is relativism.

With this system of beliefs, every person can have their own set of beliefs/values, and WOW what a chaotic world that would be. No absolute TRUTH? CHAOS!!!

Regards,
4

 

[Charlemagne_II]

*No absolute TRUTH? CHAOS!!! *

Sounds like where where our culture is heading.

 

[Detales]

Regarding: " People’s beliefs are theirs to hold, and no one appreciates having their belief system messed with. Conversations often degrade when belief systems are defended at all costs (lest our worlds come tumbling down), and we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we’re all here for learning and understanding.

On your latter comment regarding beliefs, it caused me to wonder: If beliefs are not false, but are part of a continuum where some are closer to truth (Truth) than others, then doesn’t that imply that even the belief that is closest to Truth is still just a belief?~~One

These are Sage words. 4's comments on them clearly indicate that 4 is not aware of the mode of Understanding pointed to by 1. It's kind of like grief, though, when something, like a belief, has died. It's first stage is denial. Conversatons here usually die in that stage, and few if any stage an effort to even intllectually understand such a road sign as 1 offers, not even to mention take steps. He is neither decieving nor misleading you, and your reaction is prohylactic in nature, as it contains incorrect assumptions as to the Source and End* of 1's pelucid understanding.

* thinly disguised reference, I know.

 

[4Horsemen]

Regarding: " People’s beliefs are theirs to hold, and no one appreciates having their belief system messed with. Conversations often degrade when belief systems are defended at all costs (lest our worlds come tumbling down), and we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we’re all here for learning and understanding.

On your latter comment regarding beliefs, it caused me to wonder: If beliefs are not false, but are part of a continuum where some are closer to truth (Truth) than others, then doesn’t that imply that even the belief that is closest to Truth is still just a belief?~~One

These are Sage words. 4's comments on them clearly indicate that 4 is not aware of the mode of Understanding pointed to by 1. It's kind of like grief, though, when something, like a belief, has died. It's first stage is denial. Conversatons here usually die in that stage, and few if any stage an effort to even intllectually understand such a road sign as 1 offers, not even to mention take steps. He is neither decieving nor misleading you, and your reaction is prohylactic in nature, as it contains incorrect assumptions as to the Source and End* of 1's pelucid understanding.

* thinly disguised reference, I know.

Detales,

Maybe. . . could it just be possible that 1’s comments “clearly indicate” that 1 is "not aware of the mode of Understanding pointed to by 4?

Truly, when you lose belief, something in you dies. I experienced that when I “lost” my faith. (I put the word “lost” in quotes because it is oft said that one doesn’t necessarily lose faith, it just gets misplaced. That thought, in itself, might be an interesting topic for discussion). Maybe faith gets disguised with the philosophical fashions of the day: skepticism, relativism, positivism, naturalism, Marxism. . . all under the unbrella philosophy of Modernism.

As far as conversations being lost, I don’t think that should be the case. As in real time and space, outside of virtual time on the web, theists and non-theists interact and sometimes even discuss and share their ideas, hopes and dreams. Dialogue leads to a greater understanding of our “neighbor.”

In a nutshell, when God is said to be infinite and eternal and simple and good (not mean), we are being told what He is not rather than what He is. He is not composed, for then the composition would need a cause, He is not limited. He is not measured by time as are physical things. Thomas Aquinas gives us an idea of what God is in Himself. He is more than can be spoken of Him by creatures, since His creatures do not know Him as He is in Himself. He just “IS.”

We name Him through attributes we discover through reason and revelation: omnipotent, omniscient, etc. . . because He is, in our thinking, the MOST, the SUPREME, the HIGHEST. We attibute the highest of virtues to Him, but He is more, He is ALL, yet He is ONE. We cannot comprehend God-ness, even with revelation. He is our CREATOR, REDEEMER, SANCTIFIER. He is our FATHER, who are in Heaven. He is TRUTH.

Regards,
4

 

[Detales]

4, I’m quite aware of the nature of each of your positions.One’s includes yours, yours misunderstands his, as evidenced byt the string of “ism’s” of which none apply.

~~“theists and non-theists interact and sometimes even discuss and share their ideas, hopes and dreams. Dialogue leads to a greater understanding of our “neighbor.”” ~~4. This is indeed the hoped for end, Understanding, but the theist/non-theist paramater doesnt’t describe the dynamic in this case, as far as I see.

As for Aquinas, I am greatly curious as to why at the end of his career his final revelation yielded the statement that all his works were “as straw.” My suspicion is that he exhausted the part of his mind that prevented, by faith, the direct perception of TRUTH as you claim God IS. Had he continued to write, and were he still around, he and One, I also suspect, would have an excellent agreement and a good laugh.

 

[tonyrey]

An omnipotent being can actualize whatever set of natural laws he wants, as I explained in my previous message.

As I explained in my previous message any set of natural laws has to be consistent and in a system as immense as the universe will give rise to a certain percentage of harmful coincidences. Can you describe a system in which this is not the case?

 

[anEvilAtheist]

As I explained in my previous message any set of natural laws has to be consistent and in a system as immense as the universe will give rise to a certain percentage of harmful coincidences. Can you describe a system in which this is not the case?

You didn’t really explain why it would cause harmful coincidences, you merely asserted it. I assume that you think that God was able to part the waters without causing a natural disaster. He could similarly establish a perpetual miracle or additional natural law that keeps hurricanes and other things from happening. This would obviously contradict our existing natural laws, but we would create a new law/theory to correct for this discrepancy in the data, as we have done with dark matter. And any God that was able to create the Garden of Eden is able to create a world with less natural evil.

 

[One]

Truly, when you lose belief, something in you dies. I experienced that when I “lost” my faith … Maybe faith gets disguised with the philosophical fashions of the day: skepticism, relativism, positivism, naturalism, Marxism. . . all under the unbrella philosophy of Modernism.

Evidently I didn’t even need to “tell my story” for someone to come along and pigeonhole me, slapping a bunch of labels without even taking the time to understand completely. Nice.

Gosh, 4, ever hear of sarcasm? It’s usually denoted by one of these – – which, if I’m not mistaken, I included in my statement on beliefs. Didn’t take much for you to run with that one, though, did it? And most of your response (although I admit that I gave it only a cursory glance, as I just returned home from work and am pressed for time) misses the point entirely.

*“Do I contradict myself?
Very well, then, I contradict myself…
I am large. I contain multitudes.” * Walt Whitman

You spoke from a staunch conviction in your beliefs.

That’s fine and laudable… I wholeheartedly give a big bow of affection in your direction for having and holding the beliefs that you hold. But it doesn’t really further the conversation, does it?, to slap labels of -ism on the few words I’ve written. It only shows a certain amount of narrow-mindedness on your part.

Otherwise stated, I respect and honor your beliefs, and indeed include them in my own worldview. Please afford me the same courtesy, would you? You know nothing of me.

Moving along, do you have anything constructive to contribute? Or would you rather just tag anyone you don’t seem to agree with?
.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

EvilAtheist

*And any God that was able to create the Garden of Eden is able to create a world with less natural evil. *

This is the bottom line for you, isn’t it? Or is it?

In other words, if this question were answered to your satisfaction, would you still have a hundred other objections to this mean God?

And if you would, life would just always be you sitting in the judgment seat, instead of God. And there would be no end of God’s needing to account to you, but I guess no need at all for you to account to Him.

Your argument is not new. The mystery of evil is as old as the story of Job, an innocent man who suffered many evils to test his faith. He never wavered and trusted God to the end. Some people have their faith blown away with a cough.

Right now God is allowing you to be tested with the mystery of evil.

Can you pass the test?

 

[Oreoracle]

Speaking of tests, Charlemagne, I noticed that you refuse to take mine in post #213. Perhaps it is because you know that you’ll fail it? Hmm?

I know that deep down in your heart of hearts (can’t remember where I got that phrase from) you feel that no one truly deserves eternal punishment. All of your posts stink of excuses used to mitigate your guilt of supporting such a mechanism. Don’t worry, though, you should feel guilty.

 

[PJM]

{QUOTE] Originally Posted by Charlemagne II
severntofall

If the punishment infinitely exceeds the offense then yes. Listen, I like the idea of bad people getting what they deserve as much as the next guy, but even the worst person in the world deserves a reprieve at some point. Nobody deserves to be punished forever.

They chose it, they deserve it. Why is this so difficult to grasp? They could have chosen heaven. Why didn’t they? Ornery as hell?

This is a seriously flawed theology. In fact if you knew better in could even be a GREVIOUSLY flawed theology. Here’s why.

---

I am assuming [at risk I know] that your position somehow holds that “eternal punishment” is attributable to God?

That is your first error.*

It is NOT God, rather it is we ourselves who produce, yes “produce” the decision on where we will spend eternity. It is in a very real sense the “fruit of our own labor,” our own personal life choices.

The second error [another risky assumption on my part] is that your theology seems to hold that “because God is an "all-Good God” that he would not and perhaps in your view, even “could not” pass such a harsh judgement.

Indeed God can be described as “an all and only all Good God Perfectly.” But what does this mean?

Do you think God considers Justice and Fairness as “good things?” Certainly!

Therefore God is, has to be, must be always fair and Just. Agreed? You assume [your risk now] that God is somehow incapable of condemning. Such is far from the actual reality. What about Sodom and Gomorra, what about the final Plague on Egypt in the life of Moses? What about the countless wars where God came to the aid of the Jewish nation and destroyed man women and children, to accomplish His ends?

What you have not considered [yea, another assumption on my part] is how and precisely why we were Created. You do believe that “we are Created don’t you?

Of all of God’s created THINGS only man has been “Created in the Image and likeness of God.” This similarity is in the form of our unperfected Minds, Intellects and Freewill’s. God has similar attributes but in God they are PERFECT!

Were you aware that with BILLIONS of people on planet earth, all having these same attributes, no one is identically alike? That is an AWESOME GOD!

So why did God give us these particular gifts? Certainly is was neither accident nor afterthought! I’ll let God tell you. Please read Isaiah Chapter 43 verses 7 and 21. [Both are just a few words.]

It is precisely because no other Creation that God made had the potential to be thankful and appreciative of what God had accomplished. Man has, and that is man’s Created purpose.

So now with our freewill which in a true and literal sense is “More Powerful than God” BECAUSE such was God’s Plan for humanity. God desires that WE, YOU and me, freely choose to Love Him, Thank Him and obey Him. He does not force us to because to do so would violate our freedom which He Gifted to us, and would deny His Perfect Just and fair nature.

In the final analysis it is God’s design and Will that we choose for ourselves where we WILL [yes WILL] spend eternity. God simply affirms and CONFIRMS our own choices. So we can blame only ourselves. Amen!

Love and prayer’s
Pat
**

 

[Detales]

Thanks, One, for an evenhanded and accurate reply to 4. I also appreciate the Whitman quote. He was, after all the one who also said “I and mine teach not by argument, but by Presence.” That quality of Presence is rare on here, being mostly occluded by emotionalism and rationalism. One, you speak palpably from experience you own, and your words do not come from books, save as embelishments of to tone your statements. I appreciate that and value it as fresh air on these fora. As for many on here, I might recommend a statement from another, though perhaps unwitting, philosopher and wonderful musician: “Take a giant step…outside your mind.” Taj Mahal.

Bindar Doondat, FZPC

Oh, while this is about quotes, Erma Bombeck on Catholic guilt, especially for Oreo and Charlie: “Guilt is such a wonderful gift–it never stops giving!”

Ah, the Children of God, mean to each other by means of anthropomorphic example?

PJM, I’m hurt; you never answered my post #188! Was it because I misspelled “star(t)?”

 

[Charlemagne_II]

Oreoracle

*I know that deep down in your heart of hearts (can’t remember where I got that phrase from) you feel that no one truly deserves eternal punishment. All of your posts stink of excuses used to mitigate your guilt of supporting such a mechanism. Don’t worry, though, you should feel guilty. *

I think that deep down in your heart of hearts you know the day will come when you will not be so cocksure of anything as you sense your last breath overcoming you. :bigyikes:

Will you then be whistling a different tune?

 

[severntofall]

As I explained in my previous message any set of natural laws has to be consistent and in a system as immense as the universe will give rise to a certain percentage of harmful coincidences. Can you describe a system in which this is not the case?

So are you saying that god was unable to create a universe that did not contain natural disasters?

 

[severntofall]

{QUOTE]
severntofall

If the punishment infinitely exceeds the offense then yes. Listen, I like the idea of bad people getting what they deserve as much as the next guy, but even the worst person in the world deserves a reprieve at some point. Nobody deserves to be punished forever.

---

I am assuming [at risk I know] that your position somehow holds that “eternal punishment” is attributable to God?

That is your first error.***

It is NOT God, rather it is we ourselves who produce, yes “produce” the decision on where we will spend eternity. It is in a very real sense the “fruit of our own labor,” our own personal life choices.

I think I understand what you’re saying. Let me give you an analogy that accurately reflects you position on the matter:

Imagine that the next time I met my friend Dan I ask him “Hey Dan, how’s your son 6 year old son Ben”?

He replies, "Not well…he has fallen into the pit I dug in my backyard and can’t get out. He’ll likely starve to death over the next 20 - 30 days”.

"Oh my gosh, " I reply “that’s horrible. Can’t you get him out”?

“Well yes…of course I could easily in fact, but here’s the deal: Two years ago, I warned him not to get near that pit, and here he goes, two years later and falls into it. He deserves his fate, and if I rescued him…which I easily could…he would not learn a lesson from this sad experience. Like I said, I warned him to stay away from that hole”.

“But…but…he’s just 6 years old…you’re his father. You can’t just let him starve to death in that hole”!

“Listen, I love Ben more than anything. I forgave him every time he got near the pit, but I told him that if he actually fell into then his fate would be irrevocable. I love him with my whole heart, but he was warned two years ago…he deserves his horrible fate. Of course, this saddens me greatly”.

“Well…why did you even build the pit in the first place”!!!

Dan replies “I needed a means to test his love for me. If Ben truly loved me he would not have fallen into the pit”.

“If you warned him, why did he get near the hole? I mean outside of the fact that he’s just a finite child with an extremely limited understanding of the world and of the consequences of his actions”.

“Well, he was trying to get the toys and candy that were tempting him to enter the pit”.

“TOYS AND CANDY! Why were there toys and candy in the pit”?

“Well, I let me neighbor Stan place them there, you know, to lure Ben into the pit. Stan also tells him that the pit is not really dangerous”.

“Why do you allow you neighbor to do that”!

“Why should I attempt to stop him, after all Ben has been warned to stay away from the pit”?

Ask yourself, what’s your opinion of Dan’s parenting skills? If Dan allows this to happen, does Dan truly love his son or does he hate him? Does the fact that Dan had forgiven Ben for all of his previous indiscretions somehow justify his allowing Ben to suffer and eventually die in the pit? How is Dan’s attitude any different from that of a God who would condemn his own creation to eternal hell. Can Dan really claim that this is not his fault? At least the son’s torment will be over in 20 -30 days; your god would mercifully allows us to suffer for an eternity if we anger him. Seriously, is there a really difference between the attitude of Dan and the attitude of your god?

 

[severntofall]

{QUOTE] Originally Posted by Charlemagne II
severntofall

If the punishment infinitely exceeds the offense then yes. Listen, I like the idea of bad people getting what they deserve as much as the next guy, but even the worst person in the world deserves a reprieve at some point. Nobody deserves to be punished forever.

They chose it, they deserve it. Why is this so difficult to grasp? They could have chosen heaven. Why didn’t they? Ornery as hell?

This is a seriously flawed theology. In fact if you knew better in could even be a GREVIOUSLY flawed theology. Here’s why.

---

I am assuming [at risk I know] that your position somehow holds that “eternal punishment” is attributable to God?

That is your first error.*

It is NOT God, rather it is we ourselves who produce, yes “produce” the decision on where we will spend eternity. It is in a very real sense the “fruit of our own labor,” our own personal life choices.

The second error [another risky assumption on my part] is that your theology seems to hold that “because God is an "all-Good God” that he would not and perhaps in your view, even “could not” pass such a harsh judgement.

Indeed God can be described as “an all and only all Good God Perfectly.” But what does this mean?

Do you think God considers Justice and Fairness as “good things?” Certainly!

Therefore God is, has to be, must be always fair and Just. Agreed? You assume [your risk now] that God is somehow incapable of condemning. Such is far from the actual reality. What about Sodom and Gomorra, what about the final Plague on Egypt in the life of Moses? What about the countless wars where God came to the aid of the Jewish nation and destroyed man women and children, to accomplish His ends?

What you have not considered [yea, another assumption on my part] is how and precisely why we were Created. You do believe that “we are Created don’t you?

Of all of God’s created THINGS only man has been “Created in the Image and likeness of God.” This similarity is in the form of our unperfected Minds, Intellects and Freewill’s. God has similar attributes but in God they are PERFECT!

Were you aware that with BILLIONS of people on planet earth, all having these same attributes, no one is identically alike? That is an AWESOME GOD!

So why did God give us these particular gifts? Certainly is was neither accident nor afterthought! I’ll let God tell you. Please read Isaiah Chapter 43 verses 7 and 21. [Both are just a few words.]

It is precisely because no other Creation that God made had the potential to be thankful and appreciative of what God had accomplished. Man has, and that is man’s Created purpose.

So now with our freewill which in a true and literal sense is “More Powerful than God” BECAUSE such was God’s Plan for humanity. God desires that WE, YOU and me, freely choose to Love Him, Thank Him and obey Him. He does not force us to because to do so would violate our freedom which He Gifted to us, and would deny His Perfect Just and fair nature.

In the final analysis it is God’s design and Will that we choose for ourselves where we WILL [yes WILL] spend eternity. God simply affirms and CONFIRMS our own choices. So we can blame only ourselves. Amen!

Love and prayer’s
Pat
**

To the rest of your comments, Pat I can only conclude that (and I mean this in all honesty without an attempt at being disrespectful) you have a truely twisted sense of justice and fairness.