[Orthodox Christianity] Why does God force all people to live, even though a lot of us will be damned for all eternity?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
#22
Here is what EG is teaching, though he will deny it, but it is true; He is saying by the comment you quoted that man is not lost until he rejects Christ (punished for what he didn't do). Um, sorry (not really!) man is already lost and being punished for what he has done.

If EG's nonsense were true (and it's not, it's his false gospel) then stop preaching, the lost aren't lost, they won't be punished for what they have done, they are safe and on their way to heaven in spite of the fact they are already condemned, John 3:17 and under wrath, Ephesians 2:3.

EG says man isn't punished for what he has done, listen up folks, EG is telling you his gospel which is contrary to Scripture!

Yes, yes, they're only *sniff* *sniff* going to be punished for what they didn't do which is pure emotionalsim, NOT the Gospel. (which when you think about all this, it makes his false gospel a works gospel because if they do xxxxxxxxx they'll be saved).
Plus, EG is stating the cross was not enough, nor was the payment. He stated Jesus paid for their sins, yet they have to do ‘x’. So, it is really Christ’s cross + them doing their part that procures their salvation. 🤦🏻‍♂️
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,719
113
#23
Plus, EG is stating the cross was not enough, nor was the payment. He stated Jesus paid for their sins, yet they have to do ‘x’. So, it is really Christ’s cross + them doing their part that procures their salvation. 🤦🏻‍♂️
Yet this simple truth is going to be lost on many, they cannot see it.
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,719
113
#24
Punishment only creates fear, not love - if i was to be beaten up severely for something i did, i would not love my punishers, regardless of whether i was wrong or right in my actions, and be like: "its good you broke every bone in my body for i deserved it"... And don't be a liar - you wouldn't feel that way too...
Yes, more of you describing the god you created in your own image.
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
#25
Punishment only creates fear, not love - if i was to be beaten up severely for something i did, i would not love my punishers, regardless of whether i was wrong or right in my actions, and be like: "its good you broke every bone in my body for i deserved it"... And don't be a liar - you wouldn't feel that way too...
Punishment brings love my friend. Chastening of the Lord is a punishment, as He chastens them He loves(Hebrews 12).
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
113
#26
When I was at tthe University of Illinois,Champaigne-Urbana, I had been active against the war in Viet Nam, even the Weathermen underground were afraid to deal with me becaus I was radical, moreso than they who were cosidered rads.

I became aware of Biafra's separating from from Nigeria. People in Biafra were starving, being besieged by Nigeria, and I saw images of children starving, the living with swollen bellies due to abject malnutrition.

I was terribly heartbroken aout all the killing in the world, and it was made worse when I foundout the US had sent aid to Biafra but parked it all abut three hunted miles way from Biafra because it did not want to pset diplomatic relations with Nigeria.; this hurt me terribly.

I wondered why God, if there was one, allowed such evil in this world.. Now, I had always liked Jesus christ but never actually knew Him but i ALWAYS Bbelieve this man loved all peple

I locked myself in a room determined to talk to Whoever is in charge ofev erything. I shook my fist to heaven and said, "You Are Who You Are, if You are good,, and if you really are in charge of everything, and if there really is a good outcome to all of this, I would like to know you." I said I was not going to eat or leave that room until I got a reply.

For some reason, I know now, I fell asleep, a deep sleep and I dreamed. I was "spoken to, and I was given the layout of the paths of alll men, they varied but all were going to the same destination, mine was not on one of the easy highways, it was up a mountain, a dark mountain on a very bad winding raod full of chuckholes . I was shown a vehicle anad I started to get in the driver's side, but I as told I am not driving....I road shotgun. In the back of the vehicle were may others, passengers. Off on the left there was a lake with people fishing swimmin waterskiing all smiling and waving as the vehicle departed.....There were words for me, but not for others so I will omit that.

I awoke in the morning and I felt exhilerated and content, yet everythig seemed new and strange to me. I went out on Green street which led to the campus, and as cars went by, although I know basically they were cars, they seemed like something unknown. One was blue I recall and I thought it looked lik a blue shape coming down the street.

Arriving to the Student Union I mentioned to a friend that I had had avery unusual experience after prying and I suppose, fasting albeit a very short fast. Then I as going tosee another frind to share this with who as in the astrophysics department. As I as crossing the Quadrangle, I was all I can call it is prayer thinking. I kept saying "Boy is man bad, boy is man ever wicked, he is just plaine wicked" Suddenly it occurred to me, 2Hey, I am a man(with this realization I realized I am part of that evil), and I said, "You are It( It meaning all that is good and in control.) This was turning from this age and this world to the Maker of all that is and truly giveng Him the glory. He spoke to me, a very simple message, there were no words no sound yet it was clear, "Everything is going to be just fine."

More happened, much more................much more.
 
Oct 25, 2018
2,377
1,198
113
#27
Orthodoxy does not quite believe that he punishes people, rather - he lets bad things happen in order to prove to people that without him they are pretty much nothing...
If that was the case, though, if God actually punishes us, measly, weak, mortals for not being so great and holy like him - then he is not a loving God, just a self-loving, psychopathic tyrant... In that case, i wouldn't be interested in knowing him or seeking answers about him - id simply spit in his face...
If you have an unruly child and do not punish him/her, you would be an unfit parent.
 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,889
1,958
113
Germany
#28
Orthodox beliefs are based on works to receive salvation rather salvation by grace through faith as it is written
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#29
case in point.

How can I take anything you say seriously after you say stuff like that? Its like you've never even opened the Bible, yet you have probably read through it a bunch of times. Which fake pastor has reinterpreted the verses to you? It must of been someone.
Because from COVER to COVER, from Genesis to Revelation, people are always punished for what they did.

God isnt playing peek-a-boo with sin. Read the first chapters of the book of Revelation, Jesus had no difficulty whatsoever seeing the sins in the churches in Asia, NO problem.
LOl.

Well thanks, You just proved you know nothing of grace.. Or What revelations says, They shall be tried for their works not sins) or what Jesus himself said “EVERY SIN and BASPHEMY SHALL (not might) Be forgive MEN (all men) but BLASPHEMY of the HS (rejecng his ffer of Grace) SHall never be forgiven.

But hey, If you want to make God a dictator who does not love, Thats on you.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#31
Im asking this from an Orthodox Christian perspective where hell is not a place but our own experience of God's love (for some its hell, for some heaven)...

I find it hard to understand how God can be a "loving God", and at the same time force people to live, even though their eternity turns out to be hell everlasting...
If people (due to their own fault or not, it doesn't matter at all) are made sick by Him, and His presence and His love - wouldn't it be a "loving" thing then to end their misery by making them go back into nothingness/nonexistence?

It is already clear people like that will never learn to accept him and will eternally have a problem with him, and i doubt they will enjoy hanging out with demons and other wicked either... why keep them in existence then, what is the point?

Since it is established (as far as i know, anyway, correct me if im wrong) in Orthodoxy that God does not seek to punish people - the argument of punishment does not hold up, and even if that was the case - there wouldn't be any logic in punishing people eternally for just one short human life of sin, so in that case - God would, without a doubt, be a psychopatic autocrat, so the punishment argument is pretty much senseless to me...
The wages of sin is death.....hell is a place of torment according to Jesus. Hell was created for Satan and his fallen to be confined forever more.
You are right in assuming hell is not a punishment ,it's not , but it is the place where a unrepentant, unregenerated soul ends up..
Good people with good moral standards go to hell. Seems unfair but it's all about Jesus and not about us.

Satan is a liar, a thief, a murderer, there is no good in him at all. He wants to share that m.o. with as many as he can. Why??? Because it hurts God. It hurts the witness of God.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#32
He who is of one mind and always does whatsoever His soul desires. He created us for his own good purposes by performing that which is appointed to us. We reap the benefits as blessings of His work .He did not create us as a free agent that has a will of its own . Which he alone is, having no mother or father beginning of days or end of Spirit life .
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#33
LOL indeed. Americanized Christianity, have it your way, like burger king.
Either God is the god of love like he claims or he is not. You can not have it both ways. Either he is who he is or he is a liar. I chose to take him at his word
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,774
113
#34
[Orthodox Christianity]
Orthodox Christianity belongs to the Orthodox churches. Bible Christianity belongs to Bible churches. And there is a difference.
Why does God force all people to live...
God does not *force* anyone to live. But He gives life to whom He gives life, which is His divine prerogative.
...even though a lot of us will be damned for all eternity?
People choose to be damned when they refuse to obey the Gospel. God wants all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3,4).
 
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
20,402
113
#35
Im asking this from an Orthodox Christian perspective where hell is not a place but our own experience of God's love (for some its hell, for some heaven)...

I find it hard to understand how God can be a "loving God", and at the same time force people to live, even though their eternity turns out to be hell everlasting...
If people (due to their own fault or not, it doesn't matter at all) are made sick by Him, and His presence and His love - wouldn't it be a "loving" thing then to end their misery by making them go back into nothingness/nonexistence?

It is already clear people like that will never learn to accept him and will eternally have a problem with him, and i doubt they will enjoy hanging out with demons and other wicked either... why keep them in existence then, what is the point?

Since it is established (as far as i know, anyway, correct me if im wrong) in Orthodoxy that God does not seek to punish people - the argument of punishment does not hold up, and even if that was the case - there wouldn't be any logic in punishing people eternally for just one short human life of sin, so in that case - God would, without a doubt, be a psychopatic autocrat, so the punishment argument is pretty much senseless to me...
There are so many things erroneous in this post that to begin to address it would take pages upon pages......

Can I ask a few questions

a. Are you serious
b. Do you really believe what you posted
c. Are you even a believer or saved
d. Where do you get the idea of anything posted in the OP

Wow!
 
Dec 28, 2016
9,171
2,719
113
#36
There are so many things erroneous in this post that to begin to address it would take pages upon pages......

Can I ask a few questions

a. Are you serious
b. Do you really believe what you posted
c. Are you even a believer or saved
d. Where do you get the idea of anything posted in the OP

Wow!
Rhombus got zapped.
 

GraceAndTruth

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
2,031
637
113
#38
1. God does not love everyone
2. Good things happen to bad people just as bad things happen to good people.
3. God created good and evil to work His will with His creation.

and #4 there is not one thing you can do about it or change it.
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
400
83
63
#39
Punishment only creates fear, not love -
Wrong, God says if we do not punish wrong doing,
they will continue in the path of self destruction.
They will be a burden on society and would never learn.

If you do not correct wrong that children do , you do not even love them.
Of coarse there is a right way and a wrong way to do this.

Sometimes a swift smack to the ass seems to be the only thing that works.