The million dollar question

Most of you know my friend Club. She has just received a million dollar bill and wants help in spending it. If you are anywhere in Pen just give her a shout-out.

The bill had a challenge which we thought we should share with you our dear readers. It reads

Will you go to Heaven when you die? Here’s a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything or used God’s name in vain? Jesus said “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things, God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heard. The Bible warns that, if you are guilty, you will end up in Hell. That’s not God’s will. He sent his Son to suffer and die on the cross for you. You broke God’s law, but Jesus paid your fine. That means He can legally dismiss your case. He can commute your death sentence: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death. Please repent (turn from sin) today and trust in Jesus alone, and God will grant you the gift of everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it.”

The thing about this challenge is in my view it has impossible standards. It is the basis for thought crime that one finds in George Orwell’s 1984. We lie all the time and for various reasons. If by lying to a cop I can get away with a traffic offence, throw all the stones you want to, but I will lie through my teeth.

Who cares about heaven when we have other people headed the other way? How can you be so insensitive to think there is nothing wrong with your god punishing people for eons for crimes he could have prevented with his omni-powers. Who trusts a god who instead of a blanket forgiveness killed his son to save men from his anger?

I know people who have used god’s name in vain, and they are countless. Listen to those making out, how many times god is invoked is countless, and tell me if this is not in vain :-P?

The Christian should know the world is bigger than Jerusalem. If a god existed and it loved the world, it would have made it a point to address each person at their own time in their own language. It is asking too much us from us to believe on the say so of men who every evidence show that they were ignorant, tribal and susceptible to believe the most ridiculous things.

I will plead guilty to not being able to accept incredulity. I will tell the judge that I can’t believe something just because it is impossible and that I don’t choose what to think, what to believe. If this god is powerful, who can win against it? Am I as powerful that I could defeat its will?