What good does judgment do?

[MoonWater]

Many of these responses are neglecting the sins that trespass against others and the fairness and justice that is supposed to be given to innocent lives. Also the motivation for God enacting judgment and justice is unclear. Some of these responses are going to have to be re-examined.

Precisely. many have failed to address my basic point in this thread. Say I were a mass murderer and rapist and I died and was judged unworthy of heaven. now perhaps I would be getting what I deserve but what good does that judgment do when it cannot undo that which I have already done. Those I raped will not be "unraped" and those I killed will not be brought back to life. And I'm already dead so I can't do anymore raping and murdering anyway. So what's the point?

 

[.lava]

Precisely. many have failed to address my basic point in this thread. Say I were a mass murderer and rapist and I died and was judged unworthy of heaven. now perhaps I would be getting what I deserve but what good does that judgment do when it cannot undo that which I have already done. Those I raped will not be "unraped" and those I killed will not be brought back to life. And I'm already dead so I can't do anymore raping and murdering anyway. So what's the point?

the point: eating what you've been cooking for a life time at last.

undo: it was said world and dreams were made of the same material.
once it is over, it is not real anymore.

 

[roli]

Precisely. many have failed to address my basic point in this thread. Say I were a mass murderer and rapist and I died and was judged unworthy of heaven. now perhaps I would be getting what I deserve but what good does that judgment do when it cannot undo that which I have already done. Those I raped will not be "unraped" and those I killed will not be brought back to life. And I'm already dead so I can't do anymore raping and murdering anyway. So what's the point?

You may not be able to do anymore raping ,but justice will be served regardless of one's ability to comprehend it, to both you and the one you raped and killed.

What that justice looks like ,I can't begin to describe, your question "what's the point will be made clearer on that day.

 

[cardero]

Yes but since the sentencing and punishment are clearly outlined for the guilty the fate and hope for an innocent victim is very uncertain. To some, it would almost seem that this God has difficulty discerning the importance, respect and value for other life at the expense of allowing individuals free will and on top of that, there are some people proposing that all a sinner has to do is repent to be forgiven? We are still left with what appears to be an innocent an honest life that has been struck down from the right to live, to pursue purpose and prosperity. Is God insinuating that these innocent victims were mere decoys put before our lives to test us? One might even reply that these innocent lives are afforded a special opportunity to secure some priveliged position in heaven but then I would have to question what purpose their physical lives held in the first place. None of this is adding up.

 

[ladybug83]

MoonWater, I think your question is focusing more on those around the person to be judged rather than the individual, but I don't think the point of final judgement is to reimburse the general public for the sins of the individual. The judgement is meant to judge the individual, to either reward or punish him/her.

Let's say a person becomes a criminal because of his violent past--he/she was abused as a child, raped, whatever. However, the person doesn't have mental problems, just emotional problems and a bad upbringing. What I'm trying to get at is, let's say this particular criminal is capable of distinguishing right from wrong, good from bad, and if he doesn't die until he's, say, in his 30's, he would've had that much time to make different choices. But let's say he dies after choosing to fester in evil deeds when he knew he didn't have to...would there be any point in putting that person's soul in paradise?

In other words, judgement is meant to pay the individual his/her dues. We will all have to pay for the choices we make, we will all have to be judged, but like some others have already said, the atonement has made it possible for our sins to be redeemed. Even if we weren't exposed to the gospel while living, we'll be given the opportunity to learn about it after death (before stepping into paradise or that other place)...and if we choose to repent and to accept the gospel, we'll be saved from a post-existence less than decent. Otherwise, well, you can imagine...

 

[Nick Soapdish]

Good question.

I don't only believe in punishment, but I believe that there are people that live tormented lives, under the heel of oppression, starvation, etc, and this will be compensated after death.

Judgment is an act of justice and reflects God's righteous nature.