Dan,
<<8 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. >>
Yet the bible also says you are to fear Him. So it is telling you to love him imperfectly????
<<7 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.>>
<<31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.>>
A question that I have never received a good answer to(IMO) is this;
If God is all powerful and can achieve anything, why would he ever resort to punishment and torture? If the outcome is assured, regardless of the method, why choose torture? Why choose to be fearful, revengeful, merciless, or any other punitive or damaging aspect, when you can accomplish the same thing with love and/or understanding?
Free will is not a good answer because it assumes only the mind set before a sin is committed. Let me give you a example, and I will you use you for the example, because I am confident that you understand that I am not attacking you personally.
Let's say Dan committs a mortal sin(you pick the sin). Yes you had free will to committ the sin, but let's say in a moment of weakness you committ the sin and die, before having a chance to atone for it.
We are now at this point,past the freedom of choice option. the sin has been committed, and you stand in judgement. whatever happens to
Dan at this point, is up to god, in the sense that whatever he desires for your ultimate outcome is totally achievable through his will.
Why then, would he ever choose to punish you? Punishment would mean that he desires an outcome of revenge, or retribution. Those are the only outcomes of punishment.
If he desires justice, that is just as easily achieved through rehabilitation, love and understanding. Learning, and spiritual evolution, are also just as easily achieved through love and rehabilitation.
The only outcomes that are achieved through torture more effectively than through love and rehabilitation are revenge and retribution.
The same really goes for fear. Fear as a vehicle for awe or reverence is a far second place to love. Fear, as a vehicle for controlling action or for learning is a poor choice as it applies to most people.
why would god ever choose fear? Why would he choose torture?
mark
I would be interested in anyone's comments on this persons comments on fear....
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