One upon a time I was afraid of this angry God that I had been taught who would send a person to hell forever just because they lived in the rain forests of Indonesia and had never heard the name Jesus. Why would any god do that? We're ALL sinners in the hands of an angry god? Yes on the first count, but hell no (metaphorically speaking) on the second part.
I was taught an angry god! A good example of so much of this "angry God" paradigm comes from people like John MacArthur who wrote, "No one should conclude that because God's love is universally extended to all that God therefore loves everyone equally. The fact that God loves every man and woman does not mean that He loves all alike. Clearly He does not."
Clearly, clearly you say!
God created people to spend eternity in Hell? He knew that in advance (omniscience) and yet he created billions of people with a FLAW that could not be forgiven? This all powerful God (omnipotent) who could be at all places at all times (omnipresence) was hindered by our FREE WILL? Whatever happend to Abba Father? where did He go? I don't get it. I simply don't buy it.
The God that Jesus spoke of would not hate me or you that much, nor dish out retributive punishment without restorative purposes. The God that I know who Jesus spoke of as possessing and giving unconditional love has a CONDITION- or conditions?
God only wanted a select few to spend eternity with Him and the rest (all who never spoke the wod JAY-ZUS) were just out of luck so to speak. Only those who call themselves "Christian" have this MONOPOLY on God? Of course they chose the luck? Or did those who never heard the name JAY-ZUS have any luck at all. I'm going with the impression that Jesus gave me of the Father that He knew because that's the same God I know.
Correction, punishment, sure! Eternal hell? HELL NO! :-)
And THAT my friend is definitely GOOD NEWS!
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