Knowing God's Will (3rd edition)

“Who are you, a human being, to argue with God? … And indeed,
[God] says: Those who are not my people I will call my people, and those
who are not beloved I will call beloved … They shall all be called
Children of God.” ~ Paul in Romans 9:20-26
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To all who
are thirsty, I give the gift of water from the Spring of Life. Those who
conquer will inherit these things … Let everyone who is thirsty come. Let
anyone who wishes take the Water of Life as a gift.”
~ Revelation 21:6 + 22:17
In Truth, it is the church that teaches us that “non-believers” are damned to
Hell for eternity and that God is a God of vengeance, and yet Jesus encouraged us
to “Love your enemies … Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful … Do not
condemn and you will not be condemned.” (Luke 6:35-37)
In Truth, it is the church that teaches us that Salvation comes after mentally
professing a faith in Jesus as one's “personal Lord & Savior”, and yet Jesus
himself noted that “No one is Good but God alone” (Mark 10:18) and that “If you
wish to enter into Life, uphold the Commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)
In Truth, it is the church that teaches us that some wars are “holy” and that
others are “justified”, and yet Jesus noted clearly that “Blessed are the
Peacemakers.” (Matthew 5:9)
In Truth, it is the church that teaches us that Divine Justice is a punishmentbased
“eye for an eye”, and yet Jesus informed us that “The Father judges no one”
(John 5:22) and that “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Matthew 12:7)
In Truth, it is the church that often still quotes some of the more violent
passages of the Hebrew Bible (a.k.a the Old Testament) to justify non-loving
behaviors, and yet the New Testament makes it quite clear that “In speaking of a
New Covenant, [Jesus] has made the first one obsolete.” (Hebrews 8:13 -- see also 2
Corinthians 3:15-16).
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