Originally posted by josephw
I appreciate your making the distinction vistesd.
Is it a threat though? In the light of the facts of human history coupled with the facts of the condition of the human race and the obvious depravity of man, I think it's an act of God's grace to warn each of us of the consequences of unbelief.
Do you really think that the Bible was constructed for the ...[text shortened]... ose of control. Through faith the believer acknowledges his absolute dependency on his maker.
I think it’s important to keep in mind that the Bible is a collection of writings by various authors using various literary genres to a number of purposes over a substantial period of time. (As you know, I do not hold to “divine authorship”, but even so—even if it were in some way direct divine revelation—the point still holds.) Some things may have been written for the purpose of control, others not. So, no, I would not say that, at least not in any general sense.
I do not think that there is any way to argue the consequences that you speak of are not imposed by God—at least if the consequences involve eternal punishment. However, if you are one that holds that the consequence is simply death (or even if you hold to something like C.S. Lewis’
The Great Divorce), then you might argue that there is no threat at all, simply—as you say—consequences.
Otherwise, God’s warning is simply a warning about the fate that God himself has ordained for non-believers. And then I think the word “threat” is warranted.