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Re: Justness vs. Mercy
Posted By: Sam, on host 207.41.147.75
Date: Tuesday, December 15, 1998, at 20:34:52
In Reply To: Re: Justness vs. Mercy posted by Dave on Tuesday, December 15, 1998, at 15:48:45:

> However, I do not subscribe to the "sins of the father" line of belief. I am not responsible for nor will I be held accountable for something I never had any choice in.

I don't particularly want to get sidetracked on the "sins of the father" issue, partly because I don't think it's terribly important and partly because I am simply not educated in the philosophical side of that area. I don't know how that works (maybe Issachar does?), but I believe that that conception is at least in part, if not in whole, simply to convey that we are born with a sinful *nature*. Every biblical reference that I can find on the subject indicates that children who die before they attain any sort of moral understanding go to heaven. God judges according to our capacity and opportunity to understand, as far as I can tell. That seems to be what the Bible indicates, and beyond that I have the faith that God is just and would not condemn anyone incapable of discerning right from wrong or comprehending what Jesus Christ did. But this is neither here nor there, because I assume it doesn't address the specific situations of anyone present.

> I am imperfect through no fault of my own. I will remain imperfect no matter what I do. Judging my involuntarily imperfect exsitence against perfect standards is not my idea of perfect justice.

Hence Jesus Christ. Imperfect or not, I guarantee you somewhere along the line you made a conscious decision to sin. Everyone who has reached some level of mental maturity has, myself included. Blame it on your birth if you like, but it was your conscious and purposeful decision. But God understands that we were born imperfect, and God's love is strong enough that he provided a way out by sacrificing his Son. He didn't have to.

> All that free will and there is only ever one thing worth exercising it for?

I never said that, nor did I mean it. Accepting Jesus Christ is hardly the end of human responsibility. You don't believe that, nor should you, and I know you don't believe I believe that.

> If Hitler is in heaven, I don't want to be there.

Nor, I suppose, would I. But I don't think Hitler would have sacrificed his Son for us. He'd have turn his back, let us rot, and not even provided the option.

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