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Is God fair?: Difference between revisions
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=The argument= | =The argument= | ||
The meme at the top right of this page represents the fundamental principles outlined in Christianity which can lead to this scenario | The meme at the top right of this page represents the fundamental principles outlined in Christianity which can lead to this scenario. | ||
= | The non-Christian simply asks the question after one reads the meme: '''Is this fair?''' | ||
And of course, as presented, it isn't fair. | |||
The reasoning behind the meme: A person is saved when they repent and believes, which could happen with a rapist or murderer. But a person is condemned if he or she doesn't believe, as in the example of the rape victim who dies in an unbelieving state. | |||
=Is this argument valid?= | |||
The meme and the argument presented have a couple of significant problems. | The meme and the argument presented have a couple of significant problems. | ||
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==Straw man argument== | ==Straw man argument== | ||
The first problem with this argument is that it is a straw man argument. Here is a detailed discussion of [[Logic and the Message#Straw_Man|why a straw man argument must always be rejected out of hand]]. | |||
The meme presents a distorted view of Christianity that is not an adequate representation of what Jesus actually taught. | |||
William Branham taught a type of decisionism where an individual's salvation was based on a decision to follow Christ but this is a false understanding of Jesus' teaching. Arthur Pink, a theologian from William Branham's era stated the following: | |||
:''"The way of salvation is falsely defined. In most instances the modern 'evangelist' assures his congregation that all any sinner has to do in order to escape hell and make sure of heaven is to 'receive Christ as his personal Savior.' But such teaching is utterly misleading. No one can receive Christ as his Savior while he rejects Him as Lord!"<ref>Alex McFarland and Elmer L. Towns, 10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2011).</ref> | |||
===What did Jesus teach?=== | |||