Въпросът за наказанието – Част II

Въпросът за наказанието – Част II

И така, ако Бог не налага активно наказания, болка, страдание и смърт на нечестивите, тогава как постъпва с тях?

Какво прави с онези, които са заразени с грях и отказват да Му позволят да ги изцели? Какво бихте направили като майка на вашето дете, умиращо от левкемия, което категорично отказва трансплантация от костния ви мозък? Не бихте ли уважили неговия избор? Не бихте ли го „пуснали“?  И ако го направите, какво ще се случи? Бихте ли измъчвали детето си? Бихте ли го убили? Не! Но дали то ви ще страда и ще умре? Да. Защо? Заради собственото си болестно състояние и поради отказа си да бъде излекувано. Точно това казва Библията.

В Римляни 1:18-31 четем, че Божият гняв се разкрива срещу нечестието и безбожието и след това ни казва три пъти в стихове 24, 26, 28 точно какво прави Бог за това, че някои Го отхвърлят и не Го допускат в живота си. Прави нещо конкретно. Бог „ги пуска“. „Отстъпва“ пред техния избор, уважава го. Точно както един любящ родител в крайна сметка ще отстъпи пред избора на своето пълнолетно дете, което отказва лечение, така и Бог „оставя“ децата Си, които отказват Неговото лечение. Това е Божият гняв.

„Няма вярност, нито милост, нито знание за Бога по земята (…) Людете Ми загиват, защото не Ме познават; вината е ваша, свещеници, защото самите вие не желаете да Ме познавате (…) Разменихте Божията слава за позора на идолите” (перифраза по Осия 4:1,6-7).

Защо загиват? Като се отделят от Бога, като не Го познават, те се откъсват от кръга на любовта, от закона на живота, който произлиза от Бога, което води до разруха и смърт.

„Защото огън се накладе в гнева Ми и ще пламне дори до най-дълбокия ад; ще пояде земята с произведенията й и ще изгори основите на планините. Ще натрупам на тях зло; всичките Си стрели ще изхвърля върху тях“ (Второзаконие 32:22-23 )

Обърнете внимание на силните думи на Бога! Но какво всъщност прави Той? Библията казва: „О да бяха мъдри, да разбират това, да смисляха сетнината си! Как би могъл един да прогони хиляда и двама да обърнат в бяг десет хиляди, ако Канарата им не би ги предала и Господ не би ги предал!“ (Второзаконие 32:29-30)

Забележете отново, че Божият гняв ги „предава“ („оставя“, „пуска“) точно както всеки родител би направил за дете, което упорито настоява да го напусне.

„Защото Го разгневяваха с високите си места и с ваяните си идоли Го подбуждаха към ревност (…) Тъй че напусна скинията в Сило, шатъра, който бе поставил между човеците, и предаде на пленение силата Си, славата Си в неприятелска ръка“ (Псалми 78: 58-61).

„Ще излея негодуванието Си върху теб, с огнения Си гняв ще духна върху теб и ще те предам в ръцете на скотски мъже, които са способни да погубят“  (Йезекиил 21:31).

Забележeтe отново силния Божи език. Но какво всъщност прави Бог? Какво е Божият гняв? Той ги изоставя поради техния собствен избор. Пуска ги. Позволява им да имат свой собствен път. Предава ги на техния избор. Не е нужно Бог да нанася наказанието, защото грехът ни отделя от Него – Извора на живота – и автоматично води до разруха и смърт.

Един от основателите на моята църква през XIX век, осъзнава същите тези истини и стига до същите изводи, като го изразява много силно: “Ние не трябва да гледаме на Бога като на чакащ да накаже грешника за греха му. Грешникът сам донася наказанието върху себе си. Неговите собствени действия започват да създават множество обстоятелства, които дават сигурен резултат. Всеки акт на прегрешение рефлектира върху грешника, променя характера му и прави по-лесно за него да съгреши отново. Като избират да грешат, хората се отделят от Бога, откъсват се от канала на благословението, а сигурен резултат от това са разрухата и смъртта” (Уайт, Е. Избрани вести. Т.1, стр.235 – англ. издание).

„При започването на великата борба Сатана заявява, че Божият закон не може да бъде спазван, че справедливостта е несъвместима с милостта и че ако бъде нарушен законът, грешникът няма да може да бъде помилван. Всеки грях трябва да получи наказанието си, призовава лукавият; и ако Бог отмени наказанието за греха, няма да бъде Бог на истината и справедливостта“ (Уайт, Е. Копнежът на вековете. Стр. 762 – англ. издание).

Забележете, че библейските доказателства по-горе разкриват, че Бог не налага наказание върху нечестивите. Тяхното собствено състояние ги отделя от Бога и ги води до разруха и смърт. Християнският автор по-горе заключава, че онези, които казват: “… всеки грях трябва да получи наказанието си и ако Бог трябва да отмени наказанието за греха, той не е Бог на истината и справедливостта”, насърчават евангелието на Сатана, неговите аргументи, неправилното характеризиране на Бог от негова страна.

Добре, ако Бог не трябва да използва силата Си, за да налага наказания; ако действително използва Своята мощ, за да възпрепятства разрушителното действие на греха и в крайна сметка просто „пуска“/„оставя“ грешниците да умрат в резултат на собственото им заразено състояние и избор, тогава как да разбираме всички текстове в Библията, които говорят за огън, сяра, ад, изгаряне и т.н.?

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Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 48

I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.

 

Testimony 71

When I was 9 years old, I remember setting at our devotional table with a hunger and thirst for God that wanted more, deeper, BETTER. I can remember literally crying and pounding on the table, “I know these teachers didn’t mean to give us error. They taught what THEY had been TAUGHT, but didn’t ANYBODY READ THE BOOK?!?!?” It mattered to me then. It mattered to me as a teenager. It matters now as I teach bible classes. It didn’t have to be so hard as I watched so many give up and lay God’s great plan and gift of salvation aside as being “impossible.” Then, a friend sent me a link to Come And Reason’s website. I grew excited. YES! FINALLY! Then another friend told me to stay away, saying her son had just broken up with a girl because she was involved with Come And Reason and that “Tim Jennings preaches a false gospel.” But, AFTER many years of developing an authentic and, dare I say FUN relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit I see this message has been around a LONG time, since the apostle Paul, Ellen White, Graham Maxwell, Ray Foucher, and yourself (though I admit, you’ve made me back up, rewind and replay the clips, and get out my well-worn Bible on a few things.) I’m so thankful I have found LIGHT during these DARK days. I am not alone.

Vicki DiNitto

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 44

We were given a gift of the DVD set, “God and Your Brain,” and we just finished watching it. The truths in this are so powerful and truly an answer to a prayer. We’re seeing hope where once we thought God wasn’t answering our prayers to be free of certain mindsets. He answered with these DVDs and we are hungry for more. Thank you!

Daniel T., Easley, SC, USA

 

Testimony 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

S. G., TX, USA

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana