No Punishment.

The controversial statements made by Israel Folau about gays and lesbians going to hell raises the subject of divine punishment itself.

Does God punish people?

My experience of God tells me no!

I believe that God punishes no one.

And there is Biblical confirmation of this.

Jesus constantly told parables about the master writing off debts. (Matthew 18:23-35 & Luke 7:41-43)

And in John Jesus says: "'The Father judges no one.'"  John 5:22 (NRSV) and: "'You judge by human standards; I judge no one.'"  John 8:15 (NRSV)

Our human expectation of Natural Justice is not borne out by the Biblical witness.

And this is because God transcends our human expectations.

God is our loving Father.

And a loving father does not punish his children.

Even the most wicked criminals are His children.

The time has come to leave behind all notions of divine punishment.

God is all Love.

And all are loved by Him.


[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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