So why would a loving God, who wants us to believe not show Himself to us so that we would all believe? The answer is simple, He tried that once. Look at the life of Jesus; He taught here on earth for 3 years, and many people did believe but many still did not. He healed the crippled and made them walk, he healed and blind and made them see. He even raised people from the dead. Still many people did not believe that He was the Son of God.
So your saying God isn't giving the full disclosure treatment because it didn't work by appearing in a repetitively isolated location of the world, during a time when the most popular method of spreading information was word of mouth. Rather then appearing during a time when he could easily have a global audience, could record the miracles on numerous media, and could have his claims verified.
Anyway if Jesus did do all those things you claim he did where is the physical evidence of it? In some cases there were huge crowds of people witnessing these events, yet the only story speaking of them is in the Bible.
We talked before about how the disciples were changed after seeing Jesus after His death, but they did not have a clue until they saw Him. (John 20:27-29 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
This is a pretty poor lesson to teach people, seeing as it's saying it's better to believe without first verifying the claim. So in a way Thomas had the right idea to question that Jesus had risen.
However this is also making the stories look false. Thomas along with the rest of the people follow Jesus around sure seem like they have short term memories. They constantly see Jesus preforming these miracles and yet are always surprised that he could do it. Sure it would be a surprise maybe the first few miracles but after that you'd think they would figure out that this guy can do the seemingly impossible and while still amazed wouldn't find it unbelievable that he could pull it off.
I believe God gave us many of the same emotions that He has. For instance lets say that you are on one side of a deep pit and another person is on the other side. There is a bridge over the pit but you know that it is not safe so you tell the other person not to go out on it but they tell you they don't believe you. They then go out on the bridge and start jumping up and down, and sure enough the bridge gives way and they are killed. What will your reaction be? Will you admire them because they checked everything out for themselves? Or will you think they were stupid, because they would not listen to you? They could not see that the bridge was weak, so why should they believe you?
We know from past experience that bridges can be unsafe. We could verify that the bridge was unsafe without harm. Even if we ddidn't test it we could reasonably assume it was unsafe based on past experience. However the claim is far more incredible then that. It's like telling the person not to cross the bridge because an alien is going to fly down and destroy it and a troll is going to grab you as you fall and eat you. It's unlikely the person would believe you unless you showed them the troll and alien ship first.
The more incredible the story the more incredible the evidence has to be.
Does it make you feel good when people trust you? Does it make you mad when people refuse to trust what you say? I think God feels the same way. He has done many things to prove to mankind that He exists but we keep refusing. He takes trust and belief very seriously. (John 3:18 NIV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
I wouldn't expect a supposed all loving being to be mad.
For such a supposed all powerful being doing things 2000+ years ago that was only recorded in a rewritten, and rewritten, etc. collection of books that reads like fiction with no physical proof to back up the claims made in them is hardly effort.
As for the quote it comes off as emotional blackmail and makes God look kinda like a petty @$$hole. Believe in me or get %^(&ed! I would expect a truly loving all powerful deity to say something like "Don't worry if they believe or not they can see for them self after they die. If the still don't want to be with me after seeing what I'm like for them self then so be it."
People claim that because God does not show Himself to them proves that He does not really want to save everyone. That is a lie: (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Actually God did have his chosen peoples, but anyway. Seeing as those who do nothing more then deny Gods existence is unforgiven I would hardly call his patience unlimited but rather misplaced.
Beat your slave to a bloody pulp? not even a blip on the screen.
Rape someone? Have them marry you, no problem.
Have sex with a child? Don't even talk about it.
Murder and steal? Make some arrangement and we can forgive you.
Say you don't believe? NOW YOU'VE GONE TO FAR!
Don't blame God if you refuse to believe. The decision is up to you now. Don't forget that you can only make this decision while you are still alive. Once you die it is too late, your fate is sealed.
As I stated God hasn't shown us anything. We the only so called "
roof" can't be verified, as such can't be relied on. Also to say we only have until we die to get right with God is doing nothing more then pandering to fear of the unknown.
Though I do want to commend you for not using the tired and ridiculous free will argument as to why God doesn't pop his head out of the clouds and say "Hello world".
