I never said that and I gave a perfectly good reason why eternal torment is "fair."
I must have missed it.
In your opinion the scriptures don't explicitly really say that. Mine says different. Let's argue in circles about it and never change each other's mind!
My mind was changed on this topic by another while talking on a forum.
Depending on who is right, you certainly may have
Let's say for the sake of argument on some off chance that God does punish people eternally. It is not wrong for me to question what I know to be wrong. God cannot condemn me for what I know to be true and right. I know it is wrong for a person to punish another beyond what their crime calls for. Seeing God is Holy and righteous, how much better is God? My point is that if there was a slim chance you are right (Which is not the case), then God would see that I am condeming an action based on the available evidence I have in the real world about what I know to be right and wrong. In other words, I know God would never want me to get drunk and have intimate relations with many women. I don't need a Bible to know that such a thing is wrong. For I can see the fruits (or the results) that such a thing is wrong. It is the same with someone who punishes another in such an extreme way that goes beyond their crime(s). In other words, God is not going to fault me for defending that which I know to be good. For God is good.
Please do not call me dude.
I know. Many struggle with it.
Not only do they struggle with it, but they can't explain the goodness of it, either. I know. I tried to defend ECT when I used to believe in it. It was a hollow pursuit. The excuses are shallow. Trust me. I really tried to find good reasons for it. But they do not exist.
There is nothing I can do to the contrary then because the bible says what it says and I choose to take the view that requires the least amount of redefining terms, no matter how it may be hard to swallow. Why is it hard to receive? We don't view rebellion and transgression like God does.
Actually, when I was on the fence between ECT and Conditionalism, I created a chart that shows that the ECT view spiritualizes Scripture more than the Conditional View on Gehenna. Words that talk about destructtion, destroy, perish, ashes, burned up, and death, etc.
Again(3rd time now) had no trouble explaining God's Judgments(does He need me to defend Him? Ha!). It was either ignored or deemed insufficient. Others who share my view have done a fine job as well.
I know all the hollow excuses in trying to defend ECT. Some of the ones I thought used to be good were not even mentioned here.
This must be some kind of fallacy(straw man? Dunno). We certainly can question immoral behavior and I do. But God punishing people forever who hate Him, hurt Him and others their entire life and spit in His face when He offered His life for them is not immoral in my opinion.
Yes, unbelievers rejection of Jesus Christ (Who died for Him) is horrible. But Jesus showed His love for even those who were crucifying Him when He said to the Father to forgive them, for they know not what they do. That is God. The love of God. Even in their rejection of Him. God loved them. For God is love. So if we are to believe in your version of God, then where was this vengeful Jesus during the time of when He was on the cross?
In other words, it would be like a person torturing one of their old best friends forever just because one day they decided to do something bad torwards them one day. Yes, God deserves worship. Yes, God deserves love because He died for us. But God also sends rain on the just and the unjust. God is fair and good in His Judgments.
You too brother. I've said all I care to say on the subject. I feel like this topic and many like it are so fruitless to debate.
God bless you
My mind was changed from ECT to Conditionalism because of these types of debates. So no. They are not unfruitful, my friend.
In any event, peace be with you from the Lord Jesus Christ.