God's judgement - what have you been taught?

[BethD]

My very fundy hubby believes something about God's judgement that I find frightening. He believes that if someone is a believer, truly saved, and has gone completely astray, God will kill him. He says that if God knows that person will not serve him anymore, and can not be used by God any more, God will take him home. We can not lose our salvation, but if we're useless to God on this Earth, bye. Any one else been taught this?

[pastor's wife]

I've heard that God MAY choose to "take that person home early", not that He WILL.

[Historian]

I've heard this before, too. I think it's so sad that their view of God is that He is so pitifully helpless that waits about, cajoling and threatening and manipulating through feelings and impressions, hoping people will help Him out. Then when they don't, He strikes them dead because they are useless? After Christ Jesus' perfect righteousness is theirs, and His death has bought their freedom from condemnation?

To which I'm sure at least part of the reply would be that God "doesn't NEED anyone because he can do anything, but..." It really doesn't matter what comes after this part, because it is utterly illogical to say that God doesn't need anyone because he can do anything and accomplish His plans: but then turn around and say that He has no control over me (and, therefore, over anyone), to the point that I might just go off and do anything, forcing him to respond with execution. If He has no sovereignty over anyone, how can any sensible person trust Him to keep even one of His promises? That's like asking you to prepare dinner, but informing you that you have no control over the refrigerator, the stove, the oven, the lights, the sink or the microwave. You can put stuff in there, but everything will do whatever it wants and you can only react. Such a soverign is no soverign, and is not worthy of worship.

[redhot]

Yeah my mom used to say that God would basically "take someone home " if they were bringing reproach to God's name. She also regularly prayed (during my brother's brief teenage rebellious stage that God would take her "home " in order to "get his attention".

[Zadig]

(07-02-2012 12:30 AM)BethD Wrote:  My very fundy hubby believes something about God's judgement that I find frightening. He believes that if someone is a believer, truly saved, and has gone completely astray, God will kill him. He says that if God knows that person will not serve him anymore, and can not be used by God any more, God will take him home. We can not lose our salvation, but if we're useless to God on this Earth, bye. Any one else been taught this?

Fear tactics are the cultist's best friend.

[Bob M]

(07-02-2012 12:30 AM)BethD Wrote:  My very fundy hubby believes something about God's judgement that I find frightening. He believes that if someone is a believer, truly saved, and has gone completely astray, God will kill him. He says that if God knows that person will not serve him anymore, and can not be used by God any more, God will take him home. We can not lose our salvation, but if we're useless to God on this Earth, bye. Any one else been taught this?

Yes, I have heard it and it is a major twisting of 1 John's reference to a sin unto death.

Personally I think it is a way for Mennagawd to strike fear into their people lest they don't serve enough, or skip a service, or wear jeans to the mall.

[ElizabethCovedale]

I have heard this with reference to the parable of the unfruitful tree.

[NotUnderLaw]

But the parable of the unfruitful tree is fairly obviously a reference to Jesus Christ's ministry on earth (the 3 years) and then the final year (the disciples) before the dispersion and persecution in Jerusalem. At least, that's what I thought it was...

But yep, I have heard this. And it didn't seem to make any sense at the time, and still doesn't now. But I don't believe it anymore. I don't believe that God punishes us if we fail to live up to perfection.