You wrote: “Why is it that I cannot openly and easily accept that your "begging" is sincere? I mean no offense, but really.. if you are at least 60 years old and have wrestled or contemplated these things for a good portion of your life, would it not be likely that you have posed these questions to a myriad other people who profess Christianity? "<br><br>I’m sorry that you do not believe that I’m sincere in my questioning, there’s nothing that I can do about that. This attitude of yours tends to get us off to a bad start. You question my sincerity without reason, I suppose that it's an alpha male thing or something, I don't know why your first words to me would be so confrontational. It's quite a surprise.<br><br>I did not state that I have “wrestled or contemplated these things” for a good portion of my life, actually I accepted the doctrine of “hell” without really thinking about it, that’s what the preachers preached, so that must be the truth!<br><br>You wrote: ”And assuming that this is true, in all likelihood, you have heard basically the same answers which have been given to you here and will be forthcoming. Nevertheless, you have asked the question(s) and I do believe you are entitled to a BIBLICAL answer." <br><br>Again, you assume too much, I have not asked those that profess to be teachers of Christianity about this evil that they teach.<br><br>You wrote: "Let's clear up one thing straight away, shall we? Nowhere in all of God's written Word can it be found that God is going to TORTURE human beings and/or their souls." <br><br>I simply don't understand this at all, is God Almighty? Is God in control? Is God the source of Salvation? How can you say that God is not the one, according to your view of Christianity, that is going to punish. If God is not going to do the things that the preachers teach, who is? <br><br>I quoted Christian teachers in my original post, are they wrong in their teachings? Is this burning alive forever not a doctrine of “Orthodox” Christianly?<br><br>You wrote: "What the Scripture teaches is that the wicked are going to suffer by virtue of justice being done for who they are and for what evil they have thought, said and done against God and their fellow men. Now, you may then find it difficult to comprehend how a human being, even "Pharaoh, Nero and Hitler" could be so wicked as to deserve eternal punishment. You have basically questioned this aspect of justice, calling into question even the use of the term, "justice" to describe biblical eternal punishment."<br><br>Not only do I question the justice of infinite punishment for finite crimes but, least we get off the subject, I question how you can make two wrongs a right. If it is wrong, evil, for Pharaoh, Nero, and Hitler to have done what they did, how can you justify such evil that is described by Christian teachers, God burning people alive forever. How can you not see that evil is evil, if what Pharaoh, Nero, and Hitler did is evil, then how can you possible justify eternal torment. Pharaoh, Nero, and Hitler could only torment their victims until they died physically, you would have people worship a god that gives eternal life so that he can torment people forever and ever!<br><br>You wrote: "To be quite honest, personally I sometimes think that eternal punishment is actually far less than what is deserved and that it is actually less than just from God's perspective."<br><br>This statement of yours gave me great anguish, it is so difficult for me to believe that any human being would wish upon another, and think that it just, that any human being be punished in fire forever like these Christian teachers taught. I really find it hard to believe that you believe that human beings in all of there frailties deserve to be tormented forever. I’m trying to visualize what kind of person could believe such a thing and I simply cannot.<br><br>You wrote: "Thirdly, the punishment which Christ endured was exactly that which the elect should have and would have had to endure if they were to have to give an account before the court of God. Thus, God Himself, underwent and suffered no less than any single individual who has been, is now or ever will be saved."<br><br>As I understand it, Jesus Christ was in grave for 3 day, not forever! He was not burned alive forever and ever.<br><br>You wrote: "Whatever punishment men may receive at the Judgment, know this... it is most deserved."<br><br>The Bible teaches that the reason people do not believe the gospel is because Satan "the god of this age" has blinded them and they cannot see, they cannot understand.<br><br>Burning people alive forever, like these teachers taught, is evil, it doesn't matter who does it, evil is evil. To say that men are evil because they do evil but god is good even though he is going to punish people with fire forever is very difficult for me to understand.<br><br>I’m really surprised by the confrontational tone of your reply to me, if I have offended, with my question, in anyway, I apologize. I simply cannot understand how evil is turned into good through Christian doctrine. I cannot worship a god that is going to burn people alive forever, something is very wrong.<br>
