Originally Posted by thau
Are you referring to whole nations being put to the sword because of their wicked ways, including the children of those tribes? It may very well be some generational sins or curses do get carried forward in their offspring and the Lord saw fit to do away with it in its entirety. As long as no one thinks the heaven the Lord has prepared for them are extended years here on this difficult earth, then there is no problem here.
I find it appalling that Christians believe the killing of children is OK because they are the children of enemies! So I assume you agree that today, if an enemy kills you he then has the god sanctioned right to slaughter your children? After all they might grow up to avenge you - which is what the religions of Abraham always use as an excuse for this evil!
Always use? Oh, I forget, you are impugning Jews and Christians with the acts of Islam, apparently because we share something in common? Let my religion stand on its own evil deeds and good deeds, and then I will not blame you for the reign of Joseph Stalin either.
Do I agree that if my enemy kills me he is then god-sanctioned to kill my children as well because my errors would otherwise be carried on? Only if the cause is truly God sanctioned. I suppose that is for your or me or they to decide based on what we know or claim to know? It is such a cause we willfully accept in making said decisions.
But you are here to tell us it can never be right. Well, then, how do you suggest we take out Germany and Japan without hurting their innocents?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thau
The Lord does not condemn the innocent, he may also not condemn the evil or guilty if the way they inherited such feelings was somehow placed upon them.
LOL! Right! An infant is an evil being that deserves to be put to death. NOT!
Yes, it is no surprise this would become a primary argument for the heathen and fellow travelers. We can no better tell you why God thought it necessary to destroy these innocent children than we can ever satisfy you that suffering was a necessary part of Gods creation and earthly existence. But what we can tell you and do know is of total reassurance.
Originally Posted by thau
But if you are referring to the children for laughing at the prophet's bald head, that will take more convincing to satisfy a non-believer's disgust. But I ask, if one is a non-believer and is angry over such an event then they must believe it occurred? And if they believe that, then why do they reject all goodness and hope and gifts found in Scripture as well?
First let me assure you we don't believe the "miracles," but obviously the murder of children did happen! We find it appalling that you folks do believe it, and consider the sensless murder of children to be OK.
Yes, the senseless murder charge I can see is repeated in your post in several ways. But you also say you do not believe in miracles. Allright by me. But your defense better be more factually based than emotionally based. After all, most of the earliest followers only came to believe in Christ because of His miracles, and not because of his glorious words. I submit most unbelievers are not as clever as they want us all to believe with their many arguments, not too mention their wild theories as to why Fatima was fake and the Shroud is fake and Pios stigmata fake, and so on.
The reason it is of interest to us is because this ILLOGICAL - obviously human flawed - murderous being - is the one we are being told we should believe in - or we will be tortured! Christians want us to be ruled under Biblical law, and ideals! And you folks don't like Islam! LOL! No thanks..
This is one example of what I was referring to above, i.e. you are using emotional arguments and not factual ones. Who is judging you to be tortured or hellbound if you do not believe? Not my Church. In fact, the Catholic Church judges or condemns no man with any of its ruling. But you are putting up this strawman claim to make our God and our religion to be cruel and uncompromising on matters such as belief. Not so.
It is true you can find passages in Scripture that basically say what you are claiming, but I can find ten more that say almost the opposite. Mercy is for all, so is mercy for the ignorant wrong doer. This is why Jesus established His Church to be the authority on earth from whom all proper teachings flow
and not a personal interpretation of Scripture, especially one or two verses and then running with it.
However, you will note I specifically used "personally killed," because these infants of "enemies" are always brought up.
The Bible says YHVH murdered King David's son - because his father sinned! That is murder of the innocent. He was not an enemie's child to rise up later!
The Bible says YHVH made it so Pharaoh COULD NOT let the Hebrew slaves go - because YHVH wanted to show off power/miracles.
Then when Pharaoh did not let them go (because YHVH would not let him) - YHVH unleashes plagues on innocent people - and murders the first born.
That is premeditated torture and murder of the innocent!!!
That is the same as a murderer saying I'm going to let you and your kids live if you do ______, while keeping the man tied to a post, and then carrying out the torture and murder of the man and his kids, because they didn't do _____!!!
It is this very illogical, murderous, hating, threatening torture if we don't follow him, jealous, angry, WORST OF HUMAN EMOTIONS, giver of inhumane laws, being you call god - that tells us these are just the made up writings of angry, inhumane, men.
I really cannot be of assistance here. But I will say this in my defense.
The Judeo-Christian God has revealed Himself throughout history via empirical evidence, historical evidence, eye witness testimonies, and in the sheer volume of connecting reasons and events. It is beyond any doubt whatsoever in my mind and surely in a billion others.
The fact other religions make similar claims has zero bearing on our evidence. I could challenge them on theirs but I already know the answer. Both of us cannot be right.
So I go forward rejoicing in knowing Jesus is our Savior and heaven awaits those who love Him and those who love their neighbor as themselves. What a gift! Who can compare a demand for a peaceful life of 70 years to an eternal life? The path is clear.
The Lord does say My ways are not your ways as a caution not to be so demanding of the mystical and the disturbing parts of His word and our lives. We know enough and need to be willing to sacrifice and endure just as Jesus our Savior has done for us. Rejoice and go forward being charitable towards all and spreading the good news. And trust in Him for all that we cannot know or understand.
