The Holy War — Page 166
166 compared to air. These are all examples of one being relatively subtler than the other, yet they are all dense things. You declare the statements from the Word of God to be mere claims and ask for arguments by way of proof for them. From this, it seems that you are either wavering regarding belief in the Word of God or do not believe in it at all. Once this is settled, then we will reply to this also. Fourth— The argument which you gave for mercy without rec- ompense, is that it is the practice of God that just as He shows mercy without any recompense, similarly He shows His wrath without any recompense. Thus, many innocent animals are killed; some die for the sustenance of others and some for other reasons. The answer to all these complaints lies in the suffering, and in my opinion, sufferings are of three kinds: Firstly, that which is by way of punishment; secondly, that which serves to perfect one’s appre- ciation of ease; and thirdly, that which comes as a test. Think how wrong you are when you conclude from the sufferings of beasts that this is wrath without any recompense or any apparent reason. You have not only included three different sufferings in one punish- ment but also you stated that anger and mercy could also be shown without any reason. If we accept this, then the Divinity of God will become the darkness of atheism. Fifth— Lord Jesus did certainly say that you should continue to forgive the sins which are committed against you and do not retali- ate, but the Gospels also say not to take any vengeance because God says that vengeance is My work. And although there may be many different types of sin, the true sin is that which goes against God. God says not to retaliate and that if it is necessary, then He will certainly take vengeance. So, what is against the teachings of Atonement in this? The one against