Some interesting points are being made...
I'll try to go in order of the posts above, ending with Sunsilver's post about "the way." Actually I will start there (bottom of page 3) and work back -- everyone after that I crossposted with
Sunsilver wrote:To go back to what Lali said about the judgement of non-believers:
My understanding is that those who are being judged are the ones who never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus. How could they be judged by their belief if they were born many years before Christ?
I think the Gospel makes it quite clear that those who reject Christ are going to be cast into the lake of fire: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
That is my reading of it as well. Though years ago, I was attending a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church and they had a different take on it, calling the straight reading a conspiracy specifically designed to turn people away from God. How could anyone worship such a God?
Through an elaborate assemblage of scriptures they demonstrated that the unquenchable fire of Revelation is the same fire as destroyed Jerusalem at one time. It was unquenchable in the sense that it burned until there was nothing left to burn. And then it went out, otherwise it would still be burning to this day.
The idea they promoted was pretty straight forward: have faith in God and choose everlasting life or reject God and after the resurrection described in Revelation you will be burned up and exist no more (as opposed to being tormented for eternity). Their reasoning seemed sound enough... if a person isn't really interested in living with God for eternity, they just cease to exist. Anyway I'm not sure about their take on it anymore. For me it is I will have to wait and see. But I don't believe anyone should take any chances if they feel convicted about it.
I agree with what you said about those who lived before Christ came.
To Ax, there is a passage that addresses that point. Actually it is covered in some of the verses I trimmed away from Romans 3 (posted above). Paul is referring to that particular philosophical question (that predated his ministry) here:
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just! (Romans 3:5-8)
Okay then there's me, then Maria...
If a god would design a world where people would be punished for thoughts they don't plan to act upon and never did while they had a body to do so ...... well, that's just not very nice.
I agree! But I think that is one of the reasons he came in the flesh, to see what it must be like for us humans to be constantly at war with our fleshly desires that are not good for us (bread for you, opiates for me).
This points at the question of "how you act after you are saved." If a lusty thought is akin to adultery, and if hatred is the same as murder in the eyes of God (I would show you scripture to that effect, but...) then many (including Christians) would be dead in the water before they even get out of bed in the morning.
Sooo while I understand such thoughts are sin in the eyes of God, I do believe, given the state of our minds and flesh, that even after salvation it is still a matter (for most, but not all) of trying to tough it out as best as you can. Why else would Jesus have prayed the famous line: "Lead us not into temptation"?
Alright, that leaves Jewel Song... Your concern here:
The alternative is that a huge percentage of the world is going to hell, simply because they don't believe in the "right" god in the "right" way. And if THAT is how God functions...well...I'll pass.
would appear to be addressed by the SDA mentioned above. However, I am not sure that is how it works (in fact I'm leaning more towards it not working that way, still learning here).
ETA Sunsilver quote for context.