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John 10:10-29 King James Version (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
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God is certainly not merciless. You would know this if you cared to read the bible. The bible tells us in John 3:16 that Jesus died for our sins. What bigger act of mercy could their possibly be?
The Jews of Jesus's day wanted to crucify Him because Jesus claimed to be the Messiah or Son of God. They expected Jesus to become a political leader and end the Roman occupation of Israel. When Jesus failed to meet these expectations, He was captured, abused, and taken before Pilate where it was demanded that He be executed for falsely claiming to be God. Pilate questioned Jesus, but found no fault with Him. This is the story where Pilate washes his hands meaning that it isn't he who is putting Jesus to death, but rather the Jews.
---------- Post added 09-24-2016 at 09:38 PM ----------
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Also, the Bible makes statements about those who worshipzfalsezgods as wrong, evil, and condemned. So, before Christianity, before Jesus, and before the God you are referring to here, many civilizations worshiped and believed in different Gods. So, what happened to them? What happened to the Greeks and Romans who believed in the Titans and the Olympian Gods? What happened to the Mayans and Aztecs and Native Americans that truly,ztruly, believed in many different gods, and not just the oneztruezGod from the Bibles? What of the Egyptians who worshiped and prayed to Osiris, Ptah (believed to be their god of creation), ect? Were they all condemned and sent to Hell? Did they go to a Heaven they didn't even believe in?
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God makes it quite clear in the first two of the Ten Commandments the He doesn't tolerate worship of any gods but Him. I am reading in the book of Ezekiel that God is killing those who worshiped false gods in His Temple. The fate of those killed is that they are ccondemned to destruction.
---------- Post added 09-24-2016 at 09:42 PM ----------
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Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
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This verse deals with the Greek or Gentile who lives ignorant of God's word and/or is outside of God's covenant with Israel. There is greater explanation of this verse online if you care to research it.
---------- Post added 09-24-2016 at 10:35 PM ----------
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And where did the forgiving, caring God come from? When Christianity first came into play it was a VERY condemning religion. People were murdered if their beliefs differed. They were thought to be truly evil if they didn't go to church to worship God. And yet, the religion leaders of the time it first came into presence were so strict and had the power to condemn a man, woman, or child to death because they had different views. Wars actually broke out. And people were TERRIFIED of God. Terrified of his wrath. Terrified if they sinned they would immediately go to Hell. And the religious leaders spread is word and spread his terror. They used it to control the population, to control their subjects. And God gave them the power to do so. Not directly, but he didn't object either. In fact, he didn't lift a hand when millions of people were killed in His name. Murder is a sin. Yet it was not considered a sin if it was for God and made by the religious leaders.
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If you read the book of Genesis then you will know that the loving and caring god has always existed. What you are telling me about here is the Catholic church abusing its powers utterly, thoroughly, and completely. It was the Catholic church that has put to death more Christians than any other group. But just because a church or an individual kills in God's name, hardly means that God has ordained this killing. God forbids murder in the Ten Commandments.
God and His Word are not about terror and never have been. Again, you would know this if you actually studied the bible for yourself. Those who use the Word of God to spread terror and control people do so for their own selfish gain. Jesus instructed he disciples to take His Word to the four corners of the earth. At no time did Jesus ever command His followers to kill those who were deemed heretics.
The first name given to Satan is slander. We know that Satan comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. This is what slander does. To assassinate one's character or reputation. In other words, to lie. How best to slander Christians or Christianity than to slander it by saying it was Christians who committed these evil deeds rather than those actually responsible?
My father was very fond of telling me repeatedly while I was growing up that just because that mouse is in the cookie jar doesn't make that mouse a cookie. You know this saying better as "Things aren't always as they seem."
Read the book of John. This book of the gospel is all about Jesus ministering to those He encountered in His journeys. Jesus never made anyone terrified of Him and He never condemned any sinner. Satan is the one who condemns. It is Satan who says to you that you are no good. When God finds fault with you, He convicts you. He calls out your sin and wants you to repent. This is why we feel guilty when we do something we know is wrong.
---------- Post added 09-24-2016 at 11:11 PM ----------
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The beliefs in God has led to so much violence, pain, and suffering which is all linked to sins. Jesus died painfully and he suffered greatly for us, so why, WHY do Christians specifically resort to violent acts still today? It simply shows that religion dealings with God has always been linked with violence and not just by those nonbelievers who were considered evil.
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The opposite of what you contend here is true. Believing in God has NOT led us to violence, pain, and suffering. Sin leads us to violence, pain, and suffering. The trouble starts when we stray AWAY from God and His Ten Commandments. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is so that we DON'T get hurt.
And again I address those committing acts of violence in God's name as being wrong. Those who commit murder in God's name are still doing just that...committing murder. So why do these acts of violence still persist? Because of our failing to heed God's Word. God is to take vengeance. We are not.