Do you think God is torturing John Lennon right now?

It may seem a little random, but I only use him as an example because everyone here knows him, and most people probably like him. Substitute JL with your unconverted brother/sister/mom/dad whoever, it doesnt matter.

My question is, how can you possibly love God if he is running an eternal Auschwich? Apparently asking about the darker sides is "xian baiting" here but that isn't my intent. I honestly want to know how you could love God, who is torturing your loved ones.

 

the truth is john lennon is torturing god.

 

I'm in a very scarey spot in my life. I actually kind of believe in this eternal sadist, but I don't love him at all. That is why I ask also.

 

john lennon is god.

 

agreed

 

Alot of the old jewish religion pictured god that way. I think one of the things Jesus was trying to do was to get people to look at God differently; as a Father, someone who lets us make our own mistakes and doesn't hold it against us if we own up to them.

The church resurected the "eternal sadist" concept because without guilt and fear, how can you control people?

 

God doesn't torture anyone. People send themselves to Hell.

 

Thats true. They just want to controll people.

 

people whos lives are predetermined before theyre even born?

 

God wouldn't be John Lennon...not according to the ways of Old Testament, he'd more than likely be Adolf Hitler.

 

Lots of people ask this question, you're not alone. I do have to say that it's a first to see John Lennon as the subject though. Usually it's Ghandi.

From Christian's standpoint, people choose hell for themselves by not choosing Christ as their intersessor. Because Judgement Day really will be like a day in court... And you know what they say about the lawyer who represents himself in court.

It seems a bit harsh, but the philosophy remains that salvation is free to whomever wants it. Jesus suffered greatly before dying and going to hell so no one who would choose His Ways would have to.

To reject His Sacrifice is to say, "I am perfect just the way I am, and I haven't any need for redemption." Some believe that meditation, philosophical studies, and/or rituals will eventually make them spiritually perfect. But that just isn't so. We're all imperfect till the day we die. Even the Christians.

In many religions worldwide, sacrifice was required to "appease the gods". Judaism was no exception, however, keep in mind that He doesn't require human sacrifice, like the other gods. The animal sacrifice was symbolic... Something innocent had to suffer in order to make up for our deliberate disobedience. Kind of like a kick in the conscience.

Fortunately, one day, the perfect sacrifice was provided and He willingly suffered on our behalf, so this was no longer necessary. What a relief to both humans and animals, indeed!

 

The idea of life after death and an everlasting Hell has no real Biblical basis. The Bible indicates that death is like an unconsious state in which the spirit dies with the body. All who have died are in a sleep like state. They are not in Hell beacause Hell does not exist as of yet. Think about it.God would not be fair to make Caine suffer for the last 6,000 or so years while Hitler only suffers for the last 60 years.


Only God is immortal (1 Tim.1:17) He "alone has immortality" (1 Tim 6:16) The terms rendered as spirit or soul in the Bible appear more than 1,600 times but are never associated with the word immortal or immortality.

The Bible indicates that death is a temporary state of unconsciousness while the dead person awaits the resurrection. The Old Testament describes the kings of Isreal and Judah as sleeping with their forefathers. (1 Kings 2:10,11:43,14:20,31 15:8. 2 Chron.21:1,26:23. Job called death a sleep (Job 14:10-12 as did David, Daniel and Jeremiah. Psalms 13:3 Jeremiah 51:39,57 Daniel 12:2

 

If that's true then we're all robots and life is just one big computer game being played by a sadistic kid.

I don't think anything's predetermined. granted, an all knowing God would know what's going to happen but that doesn't mean He caused it to happen.

My veiw now is that God controls everything in the universe except us. He gave us free will which means He doesn't determine what we do or what we do to each other. that's all on us.

If a horde of Mongols is swooping down on a village God could stop it if He choose to but how could He do it without violating somebodies freewill?

 

God doesn't torture anyone. Satan does.

 

You've never read the Old Testament, eh?

I (God) used to torture the HELL out of people.

 

I am very impressed! I believe you are correct, death is a temporary state of being, and in the end, we will all come back to the earth in our bodies for Judgement Day.

I did want to offer this information to you on this, though. The everlasting Hell is scriptural. One reference I will attach is recorded in Revelations 20, referred to as the "Lake of Fire". I've attached Young's Literal Translation of the Bible for you, but you can look it up the KJV, if you like.

10
and the Devil, who is leading them astray, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where [are] the beast and the false prophet, and they shall be tormented day and night -- to the ages of the ages.
11
And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them;
12
and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of the life, and the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls -- according to their works;
13
and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works;
14
and the death and the hades were cast to the lake of the fire -- this [is] the second death;
15
and if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire.

"Hades" from the Greek, and "Sheol" from the Hebrew describe the state of death as both a state of being and a place. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that His followers would have to suffer neither sheol nor the Lake of Fire. Because 2 Corinthians 5:8 assures us that when believers are absent in the body, they are present with the Lord.

http://www.jonathan-edwards.org/AbsentBody.html

 

You're such a sweetheart. Thanks again for your compliments.

You are sooo right, Fuzzy. Blind faith without action never saved anyone. Christians who talk and never do anything or show their faith are succeptable to the same Hell that they threaten unbelievers with. Before one of my fellow brethern attack me, I do have scripture for this belief.

James 2 (Young's Literal Translation)20 And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead?

Absolutely. There is enough suffering in this world... Christians are to try and alleviate the pains of our world, not add to them. How are Christians to win any for their cause when so many pervert the cause and make it one of evil? How can we sing the praises of G-d with our mouths, and turn around to use that same mouth to smite His Creation, whether they be saved yet or not?

Do you dare to kiss your mother with that mouth??? ROFL!

 

I just wanted to clarify a few things. Were you saying that death is an unconscious state and the dead await either the resurrection of Christs Second Coming or the Second death of the condemed? Or were you saying that the rightous ascend to heaven upon their death and then come back to earth at second coming? I'll get back to ya on the concept of an everlasting Hell.

 

You seriusly need to take your medicine now.

 

God didn't torture nobody...