Good News.

Many Old Testament prophets claimed that war was the result of "doing evil in the sight of the Lord" which usually took the form of worshipping foreign gods.

Therefore, they claimed, God raised armies against Israel.

And they put words into the mouth of God to fulfil their theory of vengeance.

But there is no evidence that God acts in this way.

"Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.
Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them."  Job 21:7-9 (NRSV)

God does not punish the wicked.

Because God punishes no one.

The theory that suffering in life is punishment from God (or Karma) is bankrupt.

It doesn't happen.

Because God punishes no one.

He is our loving Father.

And He does not punish His children.

Instead He tries to help us.

This is why Jesus says to love your enemies and pray for those who abuse you.

God will write off their debts and let them start again.

And he who is forgiven the greater debt will love Him the more.

This is Good News.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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