"You are intentionally ignoring the fact that the bible clearly states than innocent people don't go to hell"
The bible states clearly that people go to Hell regardless of guilt.
MATTHEW
25:46
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
JOHN
3:36
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Here it is stated that people who exercise freedom of religion will suffer the wrath of God. It also says that somebody who believes in Jesus WILL have everlasting life. It does not qualify it with conditions. It surely intends that even the very guilty HAVE everlasting life--regardless of the guilty deeds they may have done. Conversely, those who do not believe in Jesus will be tortured for eternity. Nothing is said or implied about any exemptions for being innocent and righteous people. And righteous people are believed by the bible to exist because they are mentioned in countless scriptures. But even the righteous--if they exercise freedom of religion--will be condemned to torture!
ROMANS
6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
GALATIANS
6:8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting
HEBREWS
6:2
"Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
This states clearly that there will be judgment and that it will be for eternity. We know from Scripture that the judgment is not a matter of innocence or guilt but of belief in Jesus.
REVELATIONS
21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
21:5
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
21:6
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Here, fearful people and those of different religious beliefs are clearly marked for Hell. It is not qualified that they must be guilty of anything. Even if they are righteous and guiltless they will be tortured for eternity if they believe in freedom of religion and integrity of thought. But nowhere are the guilty excluded from heaven--only provided they grovel before Jesus. Scripture says over and over that guilty people can go to heaven providing they kiss ass in the right direction. An ugly concept of "justice" but some are gullible and greedy enough to consider an unearned reward as a "Just" reward.
"It's obvious that you consider yourself more qualified than the omniscient creator of the Universe to judge guilt and innocence"
That is a stupid stupid comment. I am not discussing guilt or innocence with any creator of the universe. I am discussing it with you.
"all the examples you cite ignore the pertinent statements in the bible itself that say God does not condemn innocent people as guilty"
The bible does NOT say that. The bible says that people will go to Hell just for having freedom of religion--irrespective of their deeds. Freedom of religion (which is freedom of thought) is the highest value known to Man. Do you believe people are guilty for what they think? Surely you believe that guilty people should be punished, don't you? So do you think that a good and just society should punish guilty people? Are people guilty if they exercise their right to freedom of religion--their right to think?? These people are either guilty or they are innocent. If they are guilty they should be punished, should they not? The bible says they will all go to Hell. If God is good that must mean they are guilty--Right? But guilty of what? The bible says they will go to Hell for exercising freedom of religion. So the bible mocks the highest value that humanity has come to embrace as a dignity, as a freedom, and as a consummate good--the right to think.
"That is a patently false statement. You can't back it up!"
I have already cited sufficient and overwhelming scripture. But even if you add purgatory in as a rationalized third alternative, you are still left eventually with two extremes based on either caprice or arrogance. Get a "mercy" card for passing GO, or get an eternity card for being a witless sycophant. "No man cometh unto the Father but by me". It doesn't matter whether you are a Gandhi or a Dahmler. Your eternal "justice" depends on your belief in Jesus.
"What they do NOT DO is excuse the braking of one Law because you did not break another unrelated Law."
Has nothing to do with what we discussed. Human judges do NOT give all "guilty" people eternal torture and all acquitted people eternal life. The punishment is matched to the crime. And they don't judge the crime by asking: "Who do you believe in religiously?" Oh, GOOD! you get eternal life for killing 26 young women! And you sir, for stealing the loaf of bread will be executed and sent straight to Hell because you do not believe in Jesus!
The bible makes clear over and over that where one spends eternity does not rest on his deeds but on his thought. Actually...on his LACK OF THOUGHT. It is just so dumb. Spreading dung, dashing babies against walls, burning people for eternity: primitive, barbaric, puerile, and vulgar. |
