Originally posted by @romans1009If vengeance belongs to God, what relevance do you have for raising it in a thread about forgiveness.
The vengeance belongs to God. People who take the Bible seriously take the verse that says do not avenge yourselves seriously.
God as a perfect and perfectly holy and just God will mete out whatever justice is appropriate. People who believe that don’t relish the punishment happening; they just recognize justice will take place.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeBecause I think it’s easier to forgive if one follows God’s command to avenge not yourself and if you know justice will be served.
If vengeance belongs to God, what relevance do you have for raising it in a thread about forgiveness.
Originally posted by @romans1009So you are in fact the second type of Christian I referred to:
Because I think it’s easier to forgive if one follows God’s command to avenge not yourself and if you know justice will be served.
They link forgiveness with vengeance/divine punishment. - This way they can forgive someone who sins against them with their mouth, but in their heart is saying "Sure I forgive you, but only in the security that God will punish you for all eternity in the fires of hell).
The second group of Christians, in my opinion, are not demonstrating the forgiveness asked of them by Christ. It is a defamation of his message.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeWrong. That’s not at all what I’m saying. You don’t understand what I’m saying because you can’t conceive of a perfectly holy and just God who will handle things appropriately.
So you are in fact the second type of Christian I referred to:
They link forgiveness with vengeance/divine punishment. - This way they can forgive someone who sins against them with their mouth, but in their heart is saying "Sure I forgive you, but only in the security that God will punish you for all eternity in the fires of hell).
The sec ...[text shortened]... re not demonstrating the forgiveness asked of them by Christ. It is a defamation of his message.
You and other atheists just write “burning alive in the fires of hell” for shock effect.
Originally posted by @romans1009 to Ghost of a DukeI've known countless Christians over 35 years of adult life work and travel. You've been a Christian for just 4 years. Ghost of a Duke's summary was on the nail.
You haven’t met many Christians or misunderstand their positions based on your atheism.
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Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeSo if someone walked into your home and murdered your family when you were away I'm guessing you would just forgive them without hoping for any form of divine retribution for what they have done?
So you are in fact the second type of Christian I referred to:
They link forgiveness with vengeance/divine punishment. - This way they can forgive someone who sins against them with their mouth, but in their heart is saying "Sure I forgive you, but only in the security that God will punish you for all eternity in the fires of hell).
The sec ...[text shortened]... re not demonstrating the forgiveness asked of them by Christ. It is a defamation of his message.
-Removed-You can mischaracterize and misrepresent me all you want. I obviously can’t stop you and you have no shame in doing it.
When that guy walked into a Bible study class in South Carolina in 2015 and shot nine people to death, and some of the survivors said they forgave him, what do you think their forgiveness was based on? I would wager it was based on knowing the deceased were in heaven and that justice would be served by God.