What ET wants me to believe...

[shawn]

The doctrine of eternal torture wants me to believe several things I find unbelieveable, illogical and unscriptural.  These are just a few...

1) In Genesis, when Adam and Eve brought sin and death to mankind by their rebellion and God went over the consequences of this action...he made no mention of eternal torment.  Death was mentioned, toil with work, pain with child bearing but never once mentioned mankind burning in flames for all of eternity?  Wouldn't this be a good opportunity to bring it up?  If presenting your child with punishments for disobedience...would you tell them I will take away your TV, but instead when it happens you not only take away their TV but you cut off a hand?  No, even us evil parents realize the unfairness of such a punishment.  Why didn't God mention it as one of the consequences of their sin?  Because it wasn't.

2) Is there anything your child could do that would make you burn them for eternity?  I can see parents turning their children over to the law for punishment, prison and in extreme cases even the death penalty.  But, even us evil men and women see the lack of justice in infinite punishment for temporal sin.  If your child asks for food do you give him a stone?  No.  We are evil yet can do good for our children.  If we can show mercy to our children how much more will God show us (men and women made in HIS image) mercy?

3) That mankind born into pain, suffering and bondage to sin, headed for death right from birth, by no choice of their own should burn in hell for eternity.  Mankind should share the same fate as the devil?  The devil was in the presence of God, was not born into sin nor was a slave to sin, and chose to rebel from God.  Even if we serve a God of justice rather than a God of agape love, mercy and grace...could this be deemed justice?  Should mankind suffer eternally for temporal sin?

4) People are born under different circumstances, different cultures, different religious teachings, some have been abused, neglected, abandoned, are mentall ill etc.  Some are taught Christ nearly from birth, were well taken care of and some were not.  The teachings of many in the ET crowd state that anyone not a Christian at death will burn forever.  Considering the above, how is this justice?  Not to mention, how do you reconcil this with God who loves agape and who is full of mercy and grace.

5) ET would have me to believe the blood of Jesus has limited power.  God sent his only begotten son to partially save the world even though he wanted to save the whole world.  The sacrifice on the cross wasn't enough to save all mankind.  Mankind had to save itself through "choice" and "rightful living". 

6) Even mankind has deemed torture inhumane.  We are evil yet know that torture has no place in a civilized society.

7) Civilized nations do not torture for punishment for even the most terrible of crimes.

What the eternal torture doctrine wants me to believe is the God we serve created people knowing he would burn them eternally.  It would have me believe that mankind can show more mercy than God.  It would have me believe the power of the blood of Christ has limits.  It would have me believe that God who loves agape...will agape love their "BBQ'd little hearts" while he burns them, tortures them...not to better or purify them but merely to punish.  Considering the gravity of such a dark doctrine don't you think there would be clear unrefuteable scriptural evidence of such?  The fact is there is little to any scripture supporting such a doctrine. 

Sorry, but I am not buying it.

[The Beautiful Heresy]

Me either Shawn, not buying it.   :thumbdown:

[micah7:9]

Me either Shawn, not buying it.   :thumbdown:

:thumbdown:

[urpilgrim]

Me either Shawn, not buying it.   :thumbdown:

:thumbdown:

Very good observations Shawn  :thumbsup: I agree

[Quaesitor]

I find it awesome how God works our hearts in that everyday he gives us more reasons to believe that He'll save the whole world.

The more I reflect about it, the more I search the word of God, the more I'm strenghtened in my faith that our God will win this and restore everything!

Thanks Shawn, that was uplifting!

[PaoloNuevo]

I take comfort in knowing that in general ALL the wicked are set up for chastening eonian (Matt. 25: 46 ) ... though Jesus stated that the penalties and judgments will be of varying degrees, I always assume that those punishments are always in one shape or form a version of chastening and correction.

His faithfulness will be declared in destruction. He will test people in the furnace of affliction and purify them as silver, to quote Isaiah...

[Beloved Servant]

Jeremiah 20:9 (Amplified Bible)
If I say, I will not make mention of [the Lord] or speak any more in His name, in my mind and heart it is as if there were a burning fire shut up in my bones.
And I am weary of enduring and holding it in;
I cannot [contain it any longer].