Originally Posted by Faith

These "fear tactics" are the same things which keep our children from touching the stove when we tell them not to, "because it will burn." The same thing which keeps our children from doing drugs, "because it will harm you." What happens if our children say to themselves, "They are only trying to use fear tactics on me to keep me from touching the stove. It wont really hurt, I will touch it myself and see." Well, we know. It is the same with God. He tells us not to do things because they are harmful to us. But when we reach out and touch the stove to see for ourselves, we inevitably realise He was right. God Said, "Do not commit adultery." What happens if we don't listen? We cause problems in other peoples families, heartache and sometimes even deseases such as aids. But when people die of this disease, it is asked "Where is God?" The real question is, why didn't you listen?

These "fear tactics" as an unbeliever would call them, are actually nessecary for us as parents to teach our children that there are consequences. We complain and ask God why He doesn't punish evil if someone is not put to death before they commit the sin. But if God does punish evil, He is cruel. If I steal, get caught and am sent to prison, should I curse God because my sin was punished and I was caught doing it? God sees all our sins, and eventually the time will come when we will get what we have all been asking for; for God to destroy evil. We, as mankind, are quick to put off our "little sins" as acceptable. If I stole a car, and someone else stole a choclate bar or whatever cheap item they may have stolen, would not everyone look upon me as the one more guilty? God does not see any sin more acceptable than the other. Whether I killed my worst enemy or my best friend, I am equally guilty. Should I be more innocent just because I put less value personally on that particular mans life? No, it was still murder. Or perhaps if I lied to my mom about where I actually was yesterday, but lied to someone else that I wasn't guilty of a particular sin and blamed somebody else and got them into trouble for it when they had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Am I less guilty for the lie about where I was yesterday just because it didn't have obvious consequences? No, I lied, therefore I am now a liar, and will always be a liar. A thief is always a thief, a murderer always a murderer.

But there if forgiveness through Christ from this. Think about it, if we are all sinners and we all have to be judged by a righteous and holy God who will punish all evil without a blind eye to any sin, and there is only one way to be completely forgiven and be saved from God's holy judgement, what more would an evil one want who himself must be punished than to keep us away from loving and merciful salvation? It is a free gift, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)." This salvation is a free gift from God, it is so simple to receive this forgiveness, all we have to do is take it. We have our inheritance set before us by our Father, but will you accept this inheritance? Or will you just grumble about God's "cruelness" and how He hates you so much He would only sacrifice Himself to become a man for you and be beaten and scoffed by you and still cry "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

God told us what not to do, how can we complain? If God gave us not any commandments, then would we not say on the day of judgement, "But Lord, You didn't tell me not to do that!" And then He could rightfully say, "Well, you confessed with your own mouth you didn't want to hear what I had to say." God lays His commandment before us always, and we are without excuse. Just as God loves us, He loves justice, and righteousness. Just as God's love desires mercy, so His holiness requires justice.

Originally Posted by VenomFangX

God does not rule by fear; if He did, the moment you sinned God would zap you.

Instead, God became a man and died for you, so that you would realize He unconditional act of love for you, by which you can be forgiven, cleansed, saved, and made holy. Such is the greatest gift anyone could ever offer.

Originally Posted by Faith

These "fear tactics" are the same things which keep our children from touching the stove when we tell them not to, "because it will burn." The same thing which keeps our children from doing drugs, "because it will harm you." What happens if our children say to themselves, "They are only trying to use fear tactics on me to keep me from touching the stove. It wont really hurt, I will touch it myself and see." Well, we know. It is the same with God. He tells us not to do things because they are harmful to us. But when we reach out and touch the stove to see for ourselves, we inevitably realise He was right. God Said, "Do not commit adultery." What happens if we don't listen? We cause problems in other peoples families, heartache and sometimes even deseases such as aids. But when people die of this disease, it is asked "Where is God?" The real question is, why didn't you listen?

These "fear tactics" as an unbeliever would call them, are actually nessecary for us as parents to teach our children that there are consequences. We complain and ask God why He doesn't punish evil if someone is not put to death before they commit the sin. But if God does punish evil, He is cruel. If I steal, get caught and am sent to prison, should I curse God because my sin was punished and I was caught doing it? God sees all our sins, and eventually the time will come when we will get what we have all been asking for; for God to destroy evil. We, as mankind, are quick to put off our "little sins" as acceptable. If I stole a car, and someone else stole a choclate bar or whatever cheap item they may have stolen, would not everyone look upon me as the one more guilty? God does not see any sin more acceptable than the other. Whether I killed my worst enemy or my best friend, I am equally guilty. Should I be more innocent just because I put less value personally on that particular mans life? No, it was still murder. Or perhaps if I lied to my mom about where I actually was yesterday, but lied to someone else that I wasn't guilty of a particular sin and blamed somebody else and got them into trouble for it when they had nothing whatsoever to do with it. Am I less guilty for the lie about where I was yesterday just because it didn't have obvious consequences? No, I lied, therefore I am now a liar, and will always be a liar. A thief is always a thief, a murderer always a murderer.

But there if forgiveness through Christ from this. Think about it, if we are all sinners and we all have to be judged by a righteous and holy God who will punish all evil without a blind eye to any sin, and there is only one way to be completely forgiven and be saved from God's holy judgement, what more would an evil one want who himself must be punished than to keep us away from loving and merciful salvation? It is a free gift, "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)." This salvation is a free gift from God, it is so simple to receive this forgiveness, all we have to do is take it. We have our inheritance set before us by our Father, but will you accept this inheritance? Or will you just grumble about God's "cruelness" and how He hates you so much He would only sacrifice Himself to become a man for you and be beaten and scoffed by you and still cry "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

God told us what not to do, how can we complain? If God gave us not any commandments, then would we not say on the day of judgement, "But Lord, You didn't tell me not to do that!" And then He could rightfully say, "Well, you confessed with your own mouth you didn't want to hear what I had to say." God lays His commandment before us always, and we are without excuse. Just as God loves us, He loves justice, and righteousness. Just as God's love desires mercy, so His holiness requires justice.