Board Thread:Community Engagement/@comment-29487450-20161006215517/@comment-29487450-20161009144435

SouthWriter wrote: HorridInsidious wrote:
 * God can't tolerate you being different than what he had planned. What's the main argument against homosexuality, for example? "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve". But only a really retarded creator hates his creation for turning out unexpected way.

What is "tolerance"? The Bible presents God as being very patient with those who are "different" in following lifestyles that are "against the rules." Open rebellion never meets with instant anihilation.

Look at the most notable examples, it is patience, not hatred, that characterizes God when it comes to dealing with mankind. The Flood, as horrible as it is, came after waiting as long as a thosand years of decline in morals. Finally, He showed mercy toward one family, commissioning Noah to not only build a way out, but to warn the world of what world about coming disaster.

Then, after the Flood, God had to force mankind's hand when they trusted themselves to build a fortress rather than spreading out like they had been told. Instead of "starting over" as he had done with Noah, God simply scattered them out so they could more easily "do their own thing" if they wanted to. Hundreds of years later, when civilizations had started based on mostly man-made rules, Abraham was told that the land promised to him would be given once the Canaanites had a chance to live out the consequences of their false religions.

Once in the land, 400 years later, almost all of God's people "did what was right in their own eyes" with disasterous results. Instead of living in peace they were slaves to tyrants. For about 400 years they had ups and downs until they became an organized kingdom. Even then, they didn't last but about 120 years before civil war broke the land in two. Both north and south faced hard times, one lasting about 200 years, and the other about 400. All along, they had prophets warning them. God was patient, waiting to punish.

And then, God showed LOVE, not HATE, by taking the consequences of His people's sins upon himself. As Paul wrote to the Romans, God showed that love by dying on the cross! Yes, Jesus was God in a human body, a very special gift to a very special people. This people turned out to be more than just Jews. The ultimate love of the Creator for mankind was open to all, but the majority rejected him. But the love was not in letting just anybody INTO heaven, but rather in Keeping billions OUT of Hell (the "natural" consequence). Even those who end up in Hell go there because they do not want to be with God. They are happy to live life on their own terms. They have what they want in this world.

Paul told the Romans that those who live like there is no God, willfully go their own way. God lets them do what they want -- no rules. That is quite tolerant of Him, don't you think? " And then, God showed LOVE, not HATE, by taking the consequences of His people's sins upon himself." By outright KILLING them.

" Even those who end up in Hell go there because they do not want to be with God. They are happy to live life on their own terms." But the thing is, he condemns ANYBODY who disagrees with him to eternal torture in Hell.