God does not Reject us. People reject Him.

I'm with lloyd Grandpa, I don't believe what you do but I do respect you for being sincere in YOUR beliefs.

Go with your God my friend!

My daughter is in her thirties and was when she asked me. I did not teach of hell to my children when they were young, I taught them of love.

Many parents do teach their young children fear of hell. I didn't mean you specifically in that part. I apologize. I should have been clearer about that. However, I still wouldn't be able to have that conversation and I'd never be able to find peace knowing my daughter was in torment on another dimension. My mind literally rebels at the thought. I'm also not sure how any parent could think otherwise.

I do want to thank you for sharing this though. I think it clearly outlines and shows why I wrote the hell article I posted earlier. It has also reinvigorated me to fight against such teaching if I can.

I also hope your daughter finds peace. I'm reasonably sure that she feels torn up inside knowing that her father thinks she's going to hell. I also hope she realizes that it's extremely, extremely unlikely in any event.

dakaiser- I can see where you're coming from and all I have to input is breaking a rule is breaking a rule. Even if a man is stealing food to provide for his family, it is still stealing. It is against the law and should be dealt with accordingly, but I do believe in grace because, I do not believe it is fair to equate stealing food with a serial killer since the immediate consequences are very different... or at least should be very different.

Another example, I guess, is driving in your car. If the speed limit is 70 mph and you go 71, isn't that speeding? Now, immediate consequences for going 71 are going to be incredibly small compared to if you were going 88. (Okay, I'm using myself as an example- totally got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago) 71 or 88, speeding is speeding.

I profess to be a Christ follower and believe the Bible to be Truth. But I also believe there have been many, many individuals/people/groups who have taken those words written in the Bible and twisted it for their own personal gain. I wish we could see eye to eye on what we put our faith in, but I do not think any less of you because of our differences.

About time,

Ok, what if the speed limit is 25 due to a nearby school? Should 26 mph be treated similar to 55mph? similar to 80mph?

Sure, they are all breaking the rules. But one of those is just breaking it by technicality, while another is putting lives in terrible danger. And if you were to see someone doing 80mph past an elementary school, you would likely have a very different view of them than someone doing 1 over.

Yes, breaking a rule is wrong. But the punishment should still fit the crime. That is why the size of the ticket, points off the license, and chance of arrest, increase as speed increases.

Cowboy,

We are told that those who do certain crimes are punished with more stripes than others.

First: This would mean that the punishment is given by God, not simply a rejection of God's love and protection. This would mean God is the punisher, the man holding the figurative whip.

Second: you stated in your article "God doesn't grade on a curve, nor does He favor one sin over another. "

dakaiser,

I firmly agree with everything you said. I deserve every penny I paid and every point docked off my license. I would be livid to see some nut job blazing through a school zone compared to probably not even seeing the difference between 25 and 26.

But my point is that a technicality is still breaking the rule. It may sound stupid (and even I believe it's a little stupid), but if the line isn't firmly set somewhere, why even have a line? If it can work in our society, why can't it work in regards to beliefs?

About Time,

Why is it our primitive justice system can figure out means of restitution, rehabilitation, and corrections, but God must resolve an eternity of soul existence on a summation of a short life span?

Sure, at some point you are crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed. The question is, when facing an eternity, is it really impossible to have the punishment match the crime?

There is heaven and hell (whatever version of each you choose is personal). But why isn't hell corrective? Why is it that if your toe crossed the line, you are disposed of as trash in Gehenna?

And the crime isn't even relevant, since everyone has done a trivial, 1mph over crime. Because of that, they are all trash unless they have bribed the judge.

Cowboy,

Yes God does allow the punishment, I'm not sure how, whether it is the amount of sorrow one bears, the amount of anguish one feels, or what it is. But there is definitely levels of suffering.

So there are levels of suffering in Hell, and God controls how much suffering you feel.

If I am holding someone over a fire, I can choose how high above the fire they are, but I'm not the one burning them, the fire is. I am just choosing how much I protect them. right? That would make me good, correct? And the fact that I am fully capable of taking them away from the fire, and I am the one that started the fire, are irrelevant, I am protecting them. right?

Your God of love is starting to look very similar to the evil one I'm supposed to be afraid of.

So there are levels of suffering in Hell, and God controls how much suffering you feel.

Dakaiser,

Hell is aptly named. Just being present in Hell will be unbearable. Levels of suffering have to do with degrees of sin or one's wrong doing. You can understand that, can't you? Why Hitler who exterminated 6 million Jews would suffer more than say a rapist or wife beater?

So don't worry about it. You can be sure you'll get what your deeds deserve. As will all those who wind up there with you. Only there, there is no mercy, no let up, no rest, no death, no end to the torment.

Repent while you can. There is in Heaven a place which GOD has prepared just for you.

Your God of love is starting to look very similar to the evil one I'm supposed to be afraid of.

There is one thing you should know about GOD. Perhaps it will help put things in focus for you. GOD is a Holy and Righteous GOD Who brings judgment upon sin/ wrongdoing. At times, with immediate effect. At other times, eventually as He gives people time to repent, (often a life time,) before judgment comes. But inevitably sin is judged.

GOD didn't make HELL for human beings. He made it for His enemies, Satan and his demonic legions. Sin is what separated us from GOD. And if a person has not acknowledged his sin and repented, when he physically dies in that separated state, he is lost forever.

GOD doesn't want any human being to go to Hell. So He sent Christ Who paid for your sin, and mine, with His life upon the Cross. To prove that this Sacrifice was accepted, GOD raised Jesus from the dead. Now if anyone believes in that Sacrifice, He is reconciled to GOD.

Whoever does not, will suffer the just punishment his sins deserved and procured for him.

And BTW: GOD will not be holding you over the flames. The demons will do that and more.

After this dispensation, God will be too busy enjoying His children in His theocracy, in Heaven and Earth for the next odd trillion years.

I genuinely hope I see you there then.

Rank,

Levels of suffering have to do with degrees of sin or one's wrong doing. You can understand that, can't you?

Of course I can. That's just not what the article said.

Secondly, many Christians believe Hell is simply not having God. (Like the author mentioned on another site) Well, how do you "not be with God" in degrees?

Only there, there is no mercy, no let up, no rest, no death, no end to the torment.

Of course not. And thus you feel a child should be punished for all eternity because they told a single lie and never knew Jesus. And that is why I cannot help but think your religion is morally repulsive.

Repent while you can

Sorry, Blasphemy is an unforgivable sin. I am doomed to hell with no chance of being saved.

GOD didn't make HELL for human beings. He made it for His enemies

It never occurred to him to make a place for human beings after death? He must be a real idiot.

GOD doesn't want any human being to go to Hell.

So he should make an alternative.

Now if anyone believes in that Sacrifice, He is reconciled to GOD.

If not: God doesn't care about you, his love is based on you kissing his ass. So into the trash with you.

GOD will not be holding you over the flames. The demons will do that and more.

Why would the demons punishment be restricted by your sins? That's ridiculous. They couldn't care less, they are immoral. The only ones interested in God's judgement of a soul are God and His angels. So the only ones that would limit punishment are God and his angels. And so they must be the ones doing the punishing, or at least limiting the punishing through only offering limited protection. Hence, my analogy. And thus hell and the demons are the fire in my example, and God is holding you over their flames.

It's because you aren't a good enough father that your daughter disagrees with you?

Wow.... That's awful. You should really apologize for that kind of disgusting comment Spike. Maybe you misspoke or phrased that poorly, but that is just wrong.