Comments on: Tackling the Big Ones

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:01:02 +0000

This conversation is, I’m sure, long over, but I just stumbled upon it and wanted to throw in my 2 cents…
What if an eternity of damnation is actually for our protection?
Sin = death. We see it, sometimes. Tyrannical leaders like Hitler, gun violence in our inner-city streets, etc. But because OUR personal sin has not yet reached it’s full completion we assume that the wages of sin (or the fullness/completeness of sin) can’t really be death.
But what if it really is? What if God knows that sin truly only does lead to death? That sin, evil, when carried out to it’s full completion, is death.
For the Christ-follower, that sin and evil is covered and cleansed on the cross. Thus, when we are changed “in the twinkling of an eye” we will truly enter into the other side of eternity free from sin and death.
For the one that rejects Christ, the sin and evil of their heart never ends, it’s never cleansed in Christ’s blood. So, if God were to allow such to join Him and to join us, the promise of everlasting joy and peace would be nullified by the eventual fullness of sin that would come into play. Because the sin in their hearts would at some point reach completion (remember, it hasn’t been cleansed by Jesus’ blood). Sin = death.
So, could it be that “eternal damnation” is actually God’s protection for ALL OF ETERNITY for those cleansed by His blood? I mean, if not, wouldn’t the cycle of suffering just continue as the fullness of sin is reached by those still in bondage to sin?
Just a thought.

By: Joe Martino

Joe Martino — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:34:49 +0000

I’ve asked these questions numerous times myself. I’ve debated them in classes and all that good stuff.
Here’s my answer that probably won’t satisfy for all.
I don’t know. I know that God is good and He has promised to sit in my pain with me but that doesn’t explain the why of my pain. I have a friend who believes it is because there is a spiritual war going on around us and there are casualties in any and all wars. I’m still chewing on that but I can’t ask my friend b/c he’s dead. Cancer at 33. Once small child left behind.
So my great Theological answer is “I don’t know.”

By: Renee

Renee — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:59:44 +0000

I always thought there was something wrong with saying “I don’t know.” I always thought I had to have the answers to everything. So I said lame things like, “It’s all in God’s plan.” Lame might be a strong word. It’s how I feel now about those answers though. There’s a humanness to us when we just say “I don’t know, but I’m sure going to keep questioning and searching.” I don’t have the answers, only God does. I’m not in the business of claiming I know what those answers are anymore.

Baxter… whoever you are…. AWESOME.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:57:44 +0000

Sally, may I ask which parts?

By: sally

sally — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:34:22 +0000

i thought about it, and i retract parts of my comment. amen.

By: Sam's Dad

Sam's Dad — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:49:14 +0000

The big problem with answering questions like these is that we try to make the answers sensible in our own context. The context of a world which is not permanent and over which we exert little control (compared to God). Fortunately, I DO have the answers. However, I won’t put them out for you just now. The only good man once said it would be analagous to “casting pearls before swine.” The search, though, is wonderful, because it will lead to God Himself. So, keep asking, my friends.

By: Todd

Todd — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:26:07 +0000

Jared:
1. Is there such a thing as a “good person?”

I think that in the world’s eyes, the answer is “yes.” I suppose, if I were to be honest, the answer for me would be “yes” also.

2. Maybe the nature of God demands such a place. God’s greatness is such that separation from Him is torment. It is something He can’t help.

While I’m not comfortable arguing the nature of God, I find myself asking “why is that the nature of God?” I’m not counting on getting an answer any time soon—and even if I stumbled across it, I doubt my itty-bitty mind could fathom the answer.

Brooklynne, thanks to a crusade from Dr. Elrod, my blog is Harding-approved once again.

By: Brooklynne

Brooklynne — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:01:03 +0000

Holy mackerel! This is the first time I have accessed your blog from the Harding network! When was this wondrous change brought about?

By: kristin

kristin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:51:10 +0000

I dont know who Baxter is but I think what he said is pretty much AWESOME!

By: baxter

baxter — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:29:43 +0000

I don’t have the answers to the tough questions either, and I don’t want regurgitate what I have heard others say if I haven’t read it in the pages of the scriptures. However, I don’t think you can say all suffering is due to ones choices, if so, we wouldn’t have the book of Job. All I can say in confidence and scripturally is “we know in part” 1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
1 Cor 13:10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.,”

and that somethings have yet to be revealed, I Jn 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

And like Job trusted in God, so we too can trust in Him in whatever our afflictions may be. Ps 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”