Re: "Calvin and Calvinism"

Matthew Johnson <matthew_member@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in part:

> See, for example, the short bio of St. Silouan of Mt. Athos
> (http://silouan.narod.ru/indexe.html), who really _did_ achieve this, as he
> showed so clearly when he rebuked a "fire-and-brimstone preacher" asking him:
>
> Tell me: if you were in heaven, looking down on the suffering in hell,
> could you be happy with their fate?
>
> And F&B preacher answered:
>
> It can't be helped.
>
> To which the saint replied:
>
> Love could not bear that.


There are a number of people whom I love. There is a "person," if in
fact he is worthy of the term, that has hurt those people more than
any other - possibly more than all others combined.

My love, though horribly weak and imperfect, and barely even worthy of
the name, nonetheless could not bear to see that person go unpunished,
unless he repents, which he certainly shows no outward evidence that
he has or ever will.

The harm that this person caused, to the people I love, is lasting and
probably eternal in nature. It seems entirely fitting that the
punishment ought to be eternal in nature.

If God does not torment and torture that person in hell forever, then
I will completely and totally fail to understand how justice has been
served.

Sadly, I happen to be that person.

But that does not in any way change the nature nor the validity of my
argument.

I do not see how God could be just if He does not punish me in a
manner consistent with the wrong I've done, against Him and against
people He created in His image.

I believe that He does everything consistent both with His nature and
ours to protect those whom He loves.

If this requires that He allow people to place themselves outside the
boundaries of His love, or that He punish those people in the most
just fashion possible, then I see nothing contrary to His revealed
will in this.

The same fire will harden clay, but melt ice cream.

The infinite intensity of His love and holiness will likewise result
in the eternal blessing of some, but the eternal torment and curse of
others. The difference is not in God, but in the nature of those
destined for blessing by His grace, and those destined to torment due
to their own actions.


Joe

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "Calvin and Calvinism"
    ... >>>I do not see how God could be just if He does not punish me in a ... >> Then let God see the way. ... God is a _complete_ mystery only to those who are still outside the Church. ... And what do you think the difference is between 'nature' and 'essence'? ...
    (soc.religion.christian)
  • The Nature of Disbelief
    ... The Nature of Disbelief ... recognise his Lord and Creator and misuses his freedom of choice by ... Kufr literally means 'to cover' or 'to conceal'. ... God is called Kafir because he conceals by his disbelief' ...
    (alt.religion.islam)
  • The Nature of Disbelief
    ... The Nature of Disbelief ... recognise his Lord and Creator and misuses his freedom of choice by ... Kufr literally means 'to cover' or 'to conceal'. ... God is called Kafir because he conceals by his disbelief' ...
    (alt.religion.islam)
  • THE NATURE OF KUFR
    ... Remaining one throughout his life, does not exercise his faculties of reason, intellect, and intuition for recognizing his Lord and creator and misuses his freedom of choice by choosing to deny Him. ... Kufr literally means 'to cover' or 'to conceal'. ... The man who denies God is called kafir because he conceals by his disbelief what is inherent in his nature and embalmed in his own soul-for, indeed, his nature is instinctively imbued with 'Islam'. ...
    (alt.religion.islam)
  • THE NATURE OF KUFR
    ... Remaining one throughout his life, does not exercise his faculties of reason, intellect, and intuition for recognizing his Lord and creator and misuses his freedom of choice by choosing to deny Him. ... Kufr literally means 'to cover' or 'to conceal'. ... The man who denies God is called kafir because he conceals by his disbelief what is inherent in his nature and embalmed in his own soul-for, indeed, his nature is instinctively imbued with 'Islam'. ...
    (soc.culture.arabic)