Free will and hell

[Jig]

I think we're coming from different perspectives here. I think I agree with you in that I understand that by sinning, it affects our relationship with God and means we can't be in proper relationship with God unless we repent and are forgiven - but even if we can't go to heaven, there's the issue of where we go to. It just seems to me that torturing people eternally is a bit out of proportion. God puts forth a standard of an eye for an eye in the Old Testament - it just seems to me that the same proportional justice would make more sense in this case, instead of doling out eternal punishment for the smallest of sins, even a white lie.

God is an eternal and perfect being. As I stated in one of my last posts. There can only be two options:

Option 1: Eternal communion with God
Option 2: Eternal separation from God

Tell me where you see middle ground? Your either with God or not. Also, you must remember that God is not torturing anyone. Hell is torturous because those who are there are not in direct communion with God. Since God is love. Hell is absent of love.

This is not what God wants for us. But He can not make decisions for us. We are not slaves or robots. He has offered a FREE gift (salvation through a substitute) and has made it extremely EASY to accept (by faith - and He even gives us this). Yet, still some will reject it. It's insanity!

You talk about the punishment being proportionate, but in reality it is God's grace to us that is not proportionate. We deserve to be rejected by God. I truly don't see Hell as a punishment either, I see it more as the reality away from God. However, we are talking about committing an offense against the most awesome Being in existence.

Tell me, what would happen if you went and hit your neighbor in the face. You may get charged with assault and get a a year unsupervised probation. But what would happen if you hit the president of the USA in the face? I highly doubt you will walk away with a slap on the wrist - you probably will be seeing at least 5 years and a lifetime of surveillance. Your crime garnishes greater consequence when the person to whom you commit the crime against is of greater value or importance.

How much more important and valuable is God over your neighbor or even the president? Infinitely more! Just think about that.