Steve,
You said, "I believe that any time any religion is used to justify violence and hate we inflict unlimited pain on the God that created us." So right you are.
And I am not exactly sure of your position, but the bible does NOT justify violence or hate ever. Now does the bible have stories of death in them, the answer is yes! But these were extreme circumstances in which God had to do what he had to do!
We can try to understand them, if you wish. But some we might not, because God ways and thoughts are way above ours.
But ponder this. He killed himself for you. That's right he killed himself, viscously for you. He died if not the most horrific death, one of the most horrific deaths in the history of man. Do you know the accounts of his death? They bring people to tears just reading and hearing them. That's how bad they were. He left his perfect home, came into time and space to spend time with us, to tell us the truth, get lambasted by Pharasee's and Saudacee's, among others, explained the truth again and again, for you. Why? He loves you!
Why? Why make a plan in which you would have to suffer this way? Its another question to ponder. I certainly would not have done it this way. Man I am a wimp. I don't want to suffer.
A suggestion if I may, if you try to understand God, a perfect God, whose ways and thoughts are not comprehendable by man, it will be an endless, fruitless search. But if you understand his salvation plan and believe it, and proclaim this to God, the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will have understanding you never had before and things will make a lot more sense. I promise! It happened to me!
God Bless,
Steve
|
