I started blogging when I was fourteen. Since then, I have gone through more blogs than I wish to recount. However, more recently I have decided (hopefully, for good!) the atmosphere I want to create with my blogging. Instead of trying to turn an old blog into something it hasn’t ever been, I decided to start over with a clean slate. I’m sure this blog will go through changes, but hopefully it will last a while.
If you are a reader coming from my old blog, thanks for making the shift with me! Whether you are a new or old reader, though, thanks for visiting my new site and I hope you’ll enjoy it. Let me know if there is anything you think I can do to improve it. Also, if you link to my blog, let me know! I plan to create a “blogs” page before too long, and would be happy to link to you, as long as I approve of your content.
Thank you for answering this interesting question! I think we agree in many aspects but there are some things I do not understand. Perhaps I can make clear what I mean by distinguishing your explanation in three parts:
1) We are all sinners because we are transgressors of the godly law.
2) We deserve punishment because we are sinners and fail to do God´s will.
3) The adequate punishment for our sins is eternal punishment.
You see, in 1) and 2) we have a complete agreement. What I do not understand exactly and I would like to hear your opinion is 3).
God is our father, He created us and he consider us as His children. This is His analogy but He emphasises that this analogy has its limits because God is a much better father than we can ever be: “If you then, being evil, know hw to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 8: 11)
So we – as parents – are much worse parents than He is. But if your child is breaking your rules, if your child takes away things from other kids, if he or she lies to you, if he or she disobeys you and treats you in a disrespectful way – the child should be scolded and punished (as we are as God´s children). But would you say that your disobedient child deserves “eternal torment”? I do not think so. And I think that God who is much wiser than we are and more loving – I do not think that in His opinion His children deserve torture.
You know what? I think that nobody deserves eternal torture or torture at all. Even murderer and other criminals are not tortured – in some states they are executed but torture is forbidden. And the reason for that is that torturing a human being not punishment at all. It is a great achievement for the law of a civilized nation that torment is forbidden. And the God who sent us His son Jesus Christ is certainly not a Father who thinks torment a “deserved punishment.”
Gereetings, Maggie