Is there =really= a place in heaven for serial killers, rapists, etc?

Exactly. Great post, Brain.

 

I strongly disagree, unless you're referring to death. When you die, it's too late.

While this did happen in the OT, I no longer believe that is the case now, in the age of grace.

This, I agree with wholeheartedly.

'Past the point of remorse' is a place some have gone, I'm sure, but I don't believe that's true for all criminals. Probably not even most of them. Mortality may be the greatest and most powerful tool God has in His possession to create a repentant spirit within all of us.

 

I do not suggest that most criminals have reached this point but I think a lot of the ones who committ particularly bad crimes have. If you read Romans chapter one and verse twenty eight it talks about God giving people up to a "reprobate mind". I basically think this means that after they refuse God long enough that he gives up on them. I think if God does not draw you to him that you can not obtain salvation. While God will not refuse someone who asks with a sincere heart, that sincere heart will not come to them with out his drawing.

I also think that people can surrender their free will to satan or to evil. I think people can be possessed of demons. I do not think it manifests itself like a hollywood movie where they puke out green projectile vomit or where they turn thier head 360 degrees. I think somone who is demon possessed does things like killing his or her loved ones. We have had a lot of domestic violence in my town lately and I think it is very possible that men who kill their wives, especially in front of their children, have surrendered to evil.

 

Actually, I like Ecilam's take (the highlighted part) better, because, in my example, and experience, there are some death row inmates who truly are remorseful, yet at the same time, know they are not safe in society (propensity to repeat does not invalidate their remorsefulness).

I'm still thinking about your fulfillment point hasbeen. That one really resonated.

 

for one, I was kinda hoping this wasn't a setup to slam what somebody else said. Thelt or not.

Which, I don't see the direct correlation between what the law does and what's moral. I don't see the direct correlation between religious forgiveness and law or punishment, either.

Otherwise, good starting topic, I just wish it weren't setup in the format of leaping over to the context of "proving Thelt wrong."

 

I do tend to generate a lot of that huh? At least I make people think on here. They may not agree with me very often but they do end up thinking about what they believe and why they believe it when they are coming up with arguments to debunk me.

 

Actually, Sly brought that up, not me. I was trying to have a discussion with Hasbeen.

 

I'll leave this at "you're making a very arrogant misstatement" and leave it at that, out of respect for HB's forum rules.

 

Well, your thread. And good discussion. Like I said, I just wish it hadn't been framed in that context, even if it is Thelt.

 

You obviously feel the need to create threads to counter things I have posted. Regardless of how you feel about me or my opinions you do tend to respond to me.