There are times we see blog postings or bumper stickers or online comments from atheists who question the love of God. A summary tag line of the position might read for example, “Would a God of unconditional love send me to Hell?” The reasoning is based on the notion that a loving would not send someone to Hell or eternal punishment. Since the Bible speaks of this punishment, the God of the Bible is self-contradictory. He cannot be all loving and sentence people to an everlasting judgment.

It seems that implicit in the argument is the idea that God has no problem with judgment and punishment. Some even see the God of the Bible as being a mean spirited God who enjoys inflicting pain on those who do not follow Him. But is this view of God accurate?

Ezekiel writes to the exiles of Judah flooding Babylon after Jerusalem is destroyed. This is their punishment for rebellion against God as a nation. Notice God’s comments, “Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord God, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'” (Ezekiel 33:11, NASU).

God does not find pleasure in punishing those who rebel against Him. Israel knew God and knew His expectations as found in the Law of Moses. They had chosen to ignore the consequences of rebelling. God did not want the men of Israel to die, but it was the path they had chosen. God does not want “…any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pt. 3:9b).

www.benbrookchurchofchrist.com