Trying to fit God into our human way of thinking doesn't work. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It doesn't work. God is not limited to our time budget, to our thoughts or our ways.
Reading the book of Job shows you how one man sought to ask questions of God with answers that boggled his mind and understanding, and he finally had to come to this conclusion:
Job 42:1-6
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.
Job realized in all his questioning, and searching of God, that there are many questions and things that he couldn't understand, and too wonderful for him to know.
In all our human reasoning, thought processes, and searches, we will NEVER truly understand God, because He is the creator, and we are the created.
Job says in Job 42:5 "but now mine eye seeth thee" - this is what it takes - ultimately it boils down to FAITH. I believe he was saying, I see you now God with eyes of faith. I may not understand you, or comprehend your greatness, but I see you now with eyes of faith.
It does us all well to ponder the greatness of God, and remember the insignificance of our flesh. Puts things into perspective, and makes the tough questions you ask easier by just learning trust, and not have to know and understand it all, but just to have faith... as did Job.
That's convenient.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Why just convenient? It is a biblical answer. Job is full of God's answers to man's questions. Have you read the book lately?
What would your answer to this question be?
It's convenient, because it can answer any and all criticisms. Just as any religion could. Does Scientology seem wrong? Oh, that's just because of your faulty human thinking. Mormonism, Islam, you name it. Anyone can say anything they want to (and write it down), and nobody can complain.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Back to your original question - am I as forgiving as God is?
The answer is no. No one human being, as created by God, could ever say to the one who created him that I am better, or smarter, or wiser than you.... No matter how hard man tries, he will never outsmart, or outhink God, the creater of this universe.
As for all the religions of the world - I agree... religion stinks, and you can find as many religions possibly as stars in the sky... but religion does not change who God is, and the fact that Jesus did live and die to save us from our sins. Following the Scriptures as the closest thing we have to God's heart and mind, is what we have to do. And then from there, it takes faith....
.... which maybe you need a good dose of.... in fact.... all of us need lots of it!!
Are you implying the Bible does not promote unconditional love?
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When a newspaper posed the question, "What's Wrong with the World?" G. K. Chesterton reputedly wrote a brief letter in response: "Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G. K. Chesterton." That is the attitude of someone who has grasped the message of Jesus.
Are you implying the Bible does not promote unconditional love?
I listed a few conditions the Bible puts on forgiveness. You don't think God's forgiveness is unconditional, do you?
We could consider God's love to be unconditional, if we believe that He loves us as even as He is throwing (some of) us into hell. Those of us who don't bear good fruit (hewn down and thrown into the fire), for example.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I listed a few conditions the Bible puts on forgiveness. You don't think God's forgiveness is unconditional, do you?
We could consider God's love to be unconditional, if we believe that He loves us as even as He is throwing (some of) us into hell. Those of us who don't bear good fruit (hewn down and thrown into the fire), for example.
God hasn't thrown anyone into hell, as hell does not exist yet. Most of your angst is, I believe, due to our death-centric approach in the West.
Do you forgive people who offend you if they repent and are baptized in your name and love you more than anyone else and have faith in you and call you lord? Will you "hew them down" and "cast them into the fire" if they are not fruitful -- i.e. if they don't serve you well enough?
I forgive easily and don't hold a grudge.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Do you think God will send some people to hell and allow others into heaven, or not?
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