Here's a question I see often in the inbox, but we're just getting to it now.

Why does God threaten to end the lives of some Christians?

Today's email comes from a baffled listener named Mike.

Hello Pastor John, every time our church celebrates the Lord's supper, the appropriate warnings

are sounded.

It's not for non-Christians.

It's not for Christians harboring resentment.

But I remain rather confused about 1 Corinthians 11 verses 27 to 32, a text that appears to be

delivered to true Christians.

So their abrupt discipline will prevent their eventual condemnation.

Why would God physically kill one of his children and end their earthly lives early?

Couldn't he sustain them to the end just as easily?

Can you explain the merciful judgment on believers Paul is talking about here?

My guess is that this question will seem strange to some of our listeners.

Why would God physically kill one of his children?

That's what he's asking.

Or even if we soften it and avoid the word kill, why would God take one of his children

home as a means of discipline to prevent condemnation?

And he might have prevented it another way, that's the gist of the question.

But it is a very good question and it's demanded by 1 Corinthians 11, 27 to 32.

So let me read that.

So everybody is with us in this question.

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