Questions from an atheist

[JamesTheAtheist]

Alright guys. Ive got some questions. Actually, i have quite a few questions. Ill ask one and when I feel it has either been answered or wont be, ill move on to a new one.
First up is:
If god is all powerful and all knowing, why cant he put a stop to "Satan" for good?

 

[Dondi]

Because He doesn't want to. He is testing Man to see if Man will follow Him or the ways of evil. Read Job.


Actually, according to revelations, God eventually will stop Satan, for good. See Revelation 20.

 

[tapero]

Hi James,

I think since God made all angels and people - people and creations of free will that He does not go against their will. He works within the realm of 'working all things to the good for those that believe in Him.'

If God just got rid of Satan then we may as all be robots, though at one point satan will meet his final doom. Meanwhile, I think the point of our being on earth is that we come to Christ to know Him and grow in Him.

He could readily kill all that do wrong, but that would include all of us for we all do wrong. The bible says that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

I don't necessarily think it is a test really though. We are in a fallen world, and people alone do much evil because our hearts 'are desperately wicked.'

However, Satan sets out to decieve and many will be decieved into thinking that there is no God or that He doesn't care.

Don't think I answered real well, but that's what I came up with.

Thank you for the question.

Tapero

 

[BelindaP]

He has a purpose for keeping Satan around. Once that purpose is fulfilled, Satan will be destroyed.

 

[JamesTheAtheist]

hmmm. so its just to make it interesting then?
Ok, new question.
If he is only testing us, why is the punishment for following Satan (eternal torture) so harsh?

 

[BelindaP]

Eternal torture is not the punishment for following Satan. That is a common misconception borne out of misreading the scriptures. Those who follow Satan will be burned with eternal fire. It doesn't mean that they will exist forever. Each sinner burns for as long as their sins have merited. Then, they are extinguished--forever. They cease to exist.

Satan, of course, will burn the longest, since he is responsible for all the sins committed.

 

[JamesTheAtheist]

still, being burned for said amount of time is pretty harsh.
Why is there a punishment at all?

 

[BelindaP]

Think of it this way. Imagine that a scientist manages to create artificial intelligence software for use in dolls. He programs the software to actually seek out its creator and acknowledge that it was created by him. Instead it ignores him, pretends he doesn't exist, and then becomes verbally abusive when confronted with this. Wouldn't the scientist be within his rights to delete the software and start over since it hadn't fulfilled his purpose?

 

[Mickal]

still, being burned for said amount of time is pretty harsh.
Why is there a punishment at all?

I agree, i personally dont believe in hell or the devil.

Though i can't say what happens to ones who do not take the gift of eternity, i nor can anyone really say what will happen to someone that doesnt accept Christ.

Thats a big question, that everyone seems to open thier mouth about. Muslims? Jewish? are they all going to hell? Unless you are God you shouldnt say anything because you dont really know, yes i know the bible says that, but i dont think fear is the right path to God.

People shoud not be scared into accepting Christ.

I actually feel very sad inside that people do not believe, i had no peace and no light in my life.. and with some of the things Chrstians say to the people just pushes them away further.

I never say or judge anyone, but i will tell them that accepting Christ will bring you peace in that area.

Either way, its God's judgement upon us to decide where the eternal part of us goes, not us.

 

[LavenderLeaves]

well hello again James. Why can't he put a stop to Satan? Well he can, but he doesnt want too Yet.. why? Well because once he does those are arent saved like unbelievers and those who dont know God at a relationship level like atheist will perish with Satan. Reglardless of how good or bad people are. God is definately all knowing cause he knew enough to be patient with us and to give us time to reach out to as many possible. Why? Beceause he doesnt want us to perish. He doesnt want his children to perish. Even those who dont believe in Him, they are still his children because God created human begins and you'll be overtaken at the reasons he would want to wait...

Simply because he cares for us. Like a real parent who loves their child, no parents wants their child to be harmed. Not even God can stand what he sees... but he can't set loose his ultimate decisions yet because there are billions, not saved.. not registered in heaven's namebook, and not able to save their souls bceause they wouldnt know how.

Try thinking beyond your own bubble of thought because there are others who have never heard of God and might want to grab hold of Jesus's hand. Even if atheist refuse to believe there are none... God knew that when its time to get up and go from one ideology of individuals then he would and set foot toward reaching those who might choose to repent. might choose to have faith. and might choose love over intellect. Cause not everyone is as fortunate to live in contentment as we do. God is the only thing they'll ever have... God breathes life.

 

[LavenderLeaves]

still, being burned for said amount of time is pretty harsh.
Why is there a punishment at all?

we are being punished. we're living in a world of deformities. in a world that leds to death. in difficulties in our live everyday. discrimination and hate crimes. violence, bloodshed, and money. s*x trade and illegal drug smuggling. abduction, r*pe, and starvation. poverty and diseases... but you know even though there are all these problems i rather choose to remain firm and pray, hope and have faith in God and his promise to provide rather then narrow myself, fret, and figit that won't be a mass number of people anygood.

 

[dvd_holc]

Alright guys. Ive got some questions. Actually, i have quite a few questions. Ill ask one and when I feel it has either been answered or wont be, ill move on to a new one.
First up is:
If god is all powerful and all knowing, why cant he put a stop to "Satan" for good?

hmmm. so its just to make it interesting then?
Ok, new question.
If he is only testing us, why is the punishment for following Satan (eternal torture) so harsh?

still, being burned for said amount of time is pretty harsh.
Why is there a punishment at all?

God has raised Satan up in the position Satan is in that God might His power through Him and His name might be known throughout the creation. It is not about Satan, but God alone. God has set Himself to work within the creation to do specific things on specific appointed times. One of which sends Satan to Hell.

God created and life was produced. Satan went to humans and disconnection with destruction and death was produced. Each action that Satan and those who listen to him causes destruction...Satan causes destruction but God life. The effects of the choices are permenant. Why would God allow a thing that is devotted to destroy to remain for ever? Would not the cancer attempt to destroy all things? Why shouldn't the cancer be removed? Would you say to a person found to have a small cancer it is good for you that your cancer consume you? No one dreams of allowing a small cancer to remain in the body because it only kills. So then, God removes all those who are devotted to killing.

 

[swordofspirit]

Alright. So for your second question, why would He send us to hell for something so seemingly insignificant as us not believing in Him?

Tell you what, that is a great question, something that trips a lot of us up.

It does seems very unfair and harsh. But let's try looking at it from God's point of view.

God is perfect, holy, righteous, he is above the presence of sin. Therefore, we aren't allowed to be with Him in His perfect dwelling, Heaven, unless we are perfect! He cannot be in the presence of sin. Sooooo, we must be forgiven by the power of Jesus so that He is unable to see our sins any longer. Anything less than perfect deserves eternal death, because we do not meet His standards.

Romans 3:23 sums it up well. "And all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Oh, and for the record, this wasn't initially God's plan. He intended for us to be perfect, so that we could always be with Him. Instead, because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, He introduced an alternate plan, where we must be forgiven first.

 

[calidog]

Alright guys. Ive got some questions. Actually, i have quite a few questions. Ill ask one and when I feel it has either been answered or wont be, ill move on to a new one.
First up is:
If god is all powerful and all knowing, why cant he put a stop to "Satan" for good?

He does'nt want to; yet.

 

[calidog]

hmmm. so its just to make it interesting then?
Ok, new question.
If he is only testing us, why is the punishment for following Satan (eternal torture) so harsh?

He wants us following Him.
The end result will be that all who exist in the future will be His children.

 

[JamesTheAtheist]

Alright. So for your second question, why would He send us to hell for something so seemingly insignificant as us not believing in Him?

Tell you what, that is a great question, something that trips a lot of us up.

It does seems very unfair and harsh. But let's try looking at it from God's point of view.

God is perfect, holy, righteous, he is above the presence of sin. Therefore, we aren't allowed to be with Him in His perfect dwelling, Heaven, unless we are perfect! He cannot be in the presence of sin. Sooooo, we must be forgiven by the power of Jesus so that He is unable to see our sins any longer. Anything less than perfect deserves eternal death, because we do not meet His standards.

Romans 3:23 sums it up well. "And all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Oh, and for the record, this wasn't initially God's plan. He intended for us to be perfect, so that we could always be with Him. Instead, because of Adam and Eve's disobedience, He introduced an alternate plan, where we must be forgiven first.

well that doesnt make much sense, but whatever floats your boat, as long as its not a battleship.
So, if hell is the punishment for our sins, why do humans take it upon themselves to punish sinners?
If god was all powerful, he could certainly take some time to zap a r*pist with a holy bolt of lightning. and if i saw sinners getting zapped everywhere then i might believe in him, but I guess he isnt if he has to employ Humans to do his bidding. Answers?

 

[Adstar]

Alright guys. Ive got some questions. Actually, i have quite a few questions. Ill ask one and when I feel it has either been answered or wont be, ill move on to a new one.
First up is:
If god is all powerful and all knowing, why cant he put a stop to "Satan" for good?

Because He must demonstrate conclusively to the Heavenly Host that satan is totally unworthy and unable to be a god.

satan's main challenge to God is his claim that he can also be god. The conclusive debunking of this claim takes time and creation is the arena in which that debunking takes place.

As it has already been stated, God will put an end to satans scheming for good. But only when the time is right.

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[BelindaP]

Jesus told a parable about that very question. It's called the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. The story goes like this:
A man went out and sowed his field with wheat. In the middle of the night, an enemy sowed weeds into the same field. When the weeds sprouted, the man's workers asked him if they should go pull the weeds. His answer was to let them grow together. They could be separated out at the end. He didn't want any wheat to be accidentally uprooted with the weeds.

The interpretation goes like this: It is impossible to know who will be a "weed" and who will be the "wheat". God will sort them out at the end of time.

There are murderers and rapists who will eventually turn to God for forgiveness. If He zapped all the sinners (which would annihilate the human race in about 15 seconds, by the way), then there would be nobody left to repent and turn to Him.

 

[Adstar]

hmmm. so its just to make it interesting then?
Ok, new question.
If he is only testing us, why is the punishment for following Satan (eternal torture) so harsh?

He is giving us the opportunity to either accept His will and embrace the truth. Or reject His will and embrace a lie. Those who embrace His will demonstrate that they love what is good. Those who embrace a lie demonstrate that they love evil. Those who Love Good will spend eternity with Him those who embrace evil will spend eternity in torment. You might ask why is it so harsh, But then again in the same breath why do you not ask why is it so good? Eternity with God is eternity in paradise. No one has earned that, but you do not see many people attacking Eternity with God as an unjustifiable reward do you?

God has His will and He has total wisdom. So while it is hard for us to understand why it is by trust in God that we come to the conclusion that God knows best and we trust in His will on the matter.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Adstar]

So, if hell is the punishment for our sins, why do humans take it upon themselves to punish sinners?

Well the authorities of this world use punishment as a deterrent to crime and people do seek revenge for evil perpetrated upon them. But Jesus teaches that we should forgive those who have done wrong to us and that we should not judge others. The Lake of Fire is the end result of a life spend in hatred of the Will of God. God does discipline His followers in this world. A loving Father always disciplines their children because He loves His children.

If god was all powerful, he could certainly take some time to zap a r*pist with a holy bolt of lightning. and if i saw sinners getting zapped everywhere then i might believe in him, but I guess he isnt if he has to employ Humans to do his bidding. Answers?

If God zapped sinners then we would all be killed within a few years of our birth and the human race would cease to exist. God is long suffering towards sinners so that they may come to a point where they regret their Evil thoughts and deeds, He puts up with the bad because some of them will change their minds and seek to do Good.

It is not Gods Will that we the followers of the Messiah Jesus should be used as bringers of wrath upon the earth. It is His will that we be ambassadors of His loving kindness, messengers of the forgiveness through the Messiah Jesus to all peoples.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days