Sorry, it’s not that simple.
Also, My focus is on eternal life. The fate of non-believers is relevant only when discussing the “hell thing” with non-believers hostile to Christianity. They post inflamatory stuff to be viewed by both Christians and those who have not yet been saved. It throws them off when They say Christianity believes in a god that will torture you for ever and ever if you refuse to believe. They show how nuts it is and then when I say, “but the bible doesn’t teach that”, it throws them for a loop. This is when we discuss the good news.
And no, the eternity thing does not work both ways. Even john 3:16 says one perishes and the other goes to “eternal” life. It does not say “life forever and ever”. Look at any scripture that discusses the fate of the dead. Yes, their fate is eternal. Just as the fate of my old car is eternal. But only one eternal fate is LIFE.
It is not eternal “life vs suffering”. It is eternal “life vs death”. And death is a simple term that any english speaker can understand.
“The fate of non-believers is relevant only when discussing the “hell thing” with non-believers hostile to Christianity.”
I don’t base my theology based on what non-believers find offensive or not. If I did, I’d be Joel Osteen.
“It throws them off when They say Christianity believes in a god that will torture you for ever and ever if you refuse to believe.”
It is the Holy Spirit who effectually calls and reveals Christ to the unbeliever, not the outward calling by preachers, who are merely the tools of God.
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Unless God chooses to reveal Himself to the sinner, there is no way that the sinner, no matter how much you water down Christianity, will ever come to the Lord and Savior. Instead of trying to find ways to make the Gospel more appealing to a world that hates it, I’d be more focused with preaching the Gospel exactly as it was delivered. Those who preach a false Gospel are in danger of hell fire:
Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
“And no, the eternity thing does not work both ways.”
Of course it does. Look at the scripture:
Mat 25:41-46 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
To the sinner, everlasting punishment. To the righteous, life eternal. The same word is used in both instances.
“Even john 3:16 says one”
To perish is to go to a place where you will suffer eternally and your “worm dieth not.”
Mar 9:42-44 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. (43) And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (44) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
“Yes, their fate is eternal.”
Their torment is eternal:
Rev 14:10-11 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Sorry, but no matter how much you philosophize, you cannot “interpret” away something that is clearly taught.