Yes, Xians love to refer to "the law." Actually it isn't "law" at all but rather "instruction." Torah is life's instruction book.

G-d is our Father. The job of a parent is to raise their children to be good, responsible people. If a parent does the job well the child matures into a happy, stable adult who is a productive member of society.

What happens if a parent were to say "as long as you love me, your father, you don't have to go to school. You don't have to obey the laws (go out and murder someone if you feel like it). You can steal anything you like" and so on.

This is the real contrast between Judaism and Chrstianity. Judaism says that G-d loves all of His children (even the murderers) -- but He weeps for those who go down the wrong path. He wants us to grow up to be good people -- and we do that through learning the way to be good. The Torah.

G-d is very loving and forgiving in Torah. Certainly He judges us, but He always tempers that judgment with an over abundance of mercy. His Ruach Kodesh (holy spirit) has been given to man. He breathed (ruach) an eternal soul into man (Genesis 2) -- our neshama -- the holy, divine spark that most refer to as "soul."

I recently posted this, but it answers your question of how do you deal with the delusion that idolatry brings folks the feeling of being near to their god. Now is a good time to give a link to But Look How Believing in Jsus Changed my Life! by R' Tovia Singer.

Here is a part of the article:

. . .Ever since I began working to help Jews return to Judaism, I have received numerous letters and listened to many stories from people like yourself filled with personal anecdotes recounting how their lives were miraculously changed as a result of their newfound faith. . .

While I was speaking in Southern California a number of years ago, I met four young men who were members of Ha-re Kris-hna. . .

each of them carefully described how their newfound religion had transformed their lives. They joyfully spoke of their joining this eastern sect and I could sense the elation and inner peace they felt. They were certain that what they believed was true and it was quite apparent that they were more spiritual now than they had ever been in their former lives. . .

When considered individually, such moving accounts seem quite impressive. Once these remarkable testimonials are examined as part of a larger pattern, however, they present us with a serious theological problem. Although each of these extraordinary stories may appear to the novice as evidence of the validity of their newly acquired faith, the fact remains that these variant religions cannot all be valid. . . .

In fact, the life-changing experience that you describe in your letter is a universal phenomenon produced by virtually all faiths, and people from just about every religion can claim "almost unbelievable change in the character and personality" of the people whom they touch, regardless of the truth of the doctrines they preach. In essence, there is no relationship between spiritual transformation which occurs in the heart of the faithful believer and the spiritual truth which he espouses. . .

Bear in mind, our planet is brimming with world religions such as Hind-uism, Budd-hism, and Islam, each of which boast many hundreds of millions of adherents. The multitudes of these devout believers in their diverse faiths all remarkably speak of the very same "character and personality" transformation which you describe within the context of your religion, Chrstianity. . .

According to your doctrinal barometer, however, billions of these devoted faithful are lost souls merely following a "false religion." Realize, therefore, that their startling religious experiences cannot possibly speak of the validity of their theology. . .

The question that naturally comes to mind is:
Why would Gd allow all religions, regardless of the theological untruths they espouse, to ignite a spiritual passion within the heart of the believer? The Bible contains a record of many individuals and nations who possessed fervent devotion to their idolatry. Nonetheless, their spiritual adultery is condemned as an utter abomination, regardless of the spirituality and transformation they derived. Why would the Almighty permit religions whose fundamental teachings have no basis in truth to produce life-transforming experiences and miraculous occurrences in the lives of their devout followers?

The answer is found in the beginning of Deuteronomy where the Torah addresses this dilemma in an even more startling scenario. In Deuteronomy 13:1-2 the Bible raises the question of what to do when a "prophet" offers to show a miracle in order to lend credibility to his message. How are we to respond if, in fact, the promised miracle comes to pass just as he predicted? Should we then follow this "prophet" even if he encourages us to worship other gods which are unknown to our people? "You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer," the Torah emphatically declares. G-d did not send him.

The obvious question is: Why would the Almighty permit religions and prophets who teach unsavory doctrines to produce spiritual transformations and miraculous events? The answer lies in the verses that follow.

The L-rd your G-d is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the L-rd your G-d you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

G-d is truly testing you with the experiences and observations you have had and made. This is your choice in a world where free will hangs in its perfect balance. Will you worship the G-d of Israel alone or turn to gods whom the nation of Israel has not known? If we lived in a world where only one religion could produce spirituality and miraculous life-altering experiences, that precious balance of free will could not exist. . .

A careful reading of the Bible reveals that, in fact, G-d does not lead mankind away from His true path. This was always man's decision alone, and it will forever remain in his domain. And your Creator never removed that decision from within your reach. As the Torah declares in Deuteronomy 30:15-19 . . .


G-d permits man to become enraptured with false religions for the same reason He permits a married man to be attracted to women other than his wife.

Free will is within your grasp. If this ordained tender balance of free will were ever compromised, virtue would remain beyond the reach of mankind.


Don't, though, look to spirituality and miraculous life-changing events as your guide to truth in faith.
Look to the Bible alone for this eternal instruction.


Once you have committed your life to truth in the G-d of Israel, joyously take part in the spiritual food it provides. Never permit spiritual ex-pressions to become your barometer for truth. Your foundation must be the Jewish *****ures.



סופי

And everything that Sarah tells you, listen to her voice. Bereshit (Genesis) 21:12