Page 262 … Hope before the grave
Immediately thereafter you then state that, “Without some payment for that awful penalty, human beings would face oblivion through death, with no hope beyond the grave.”
Lucy, I could point out – again – that this particular belief is the dogma of Paul and not reflective of the teachings of Jesus Christ … and I could point out – again – that when Jesus spoke of Heaven he was speaking of the Here & Now and not some “heavenly hereafter” (see Luke 17:20-21 – After all, how can we truly Love anyone in the present while focusing on our own selfish desires to be Saved ourselves someday in the future?) … and I could point out – again – that when Jesus spoke of Hell he used the Greek term Gehenna; referencing an actual burning garbage dump that existed outside the walls of Jerusalem in his day … and I could point out – again – that your view of God as some dysfunctional, codependent, petty tyrant-king is not in line with the all-Loving Father worshiped & praised by Jesus in the Gospels (see Matthew 5:48) … I could rehash those Truths again here in depth, my Friend, but there is really no need. It is enough to know that any God worth worshiping is a God who has established a system of Universal governance that is just and fair and benevolent. The God you believe in, my Friend, exhibits none of these traits, and as such is far more worthy of opposition than praise.
Why are you worshiping Him, I wonder – especially when the Grace-filled Father of Jesus Christ awaits you within the pages of your own Bible? Are you really that shallow – that you could worship such a wicked God forever just because He’s God? Are you really so callous, my Friend – that you can so casually dismiss the massive & eternal suffering of billions of otherwise innocent Souls in Hell merely because “they had their chance” and made an honest mistake?
Frankly, Lucy, I’m not buying it … I will go to my grave believing that you are a far better woman than that! And I have a full & healthy faith – if your version of God does prove to be the correct one – that you too will awaken one day to the Good Woman within you, and ultimately have the courage to approach your God in Heaven (either via prayer or “in person”) and demand Compassion & Justice for all of us who are being imprisoned by your God; who are being tortured in the Hell he made and from which He he won’t allow us to depart.
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