I do believe that God give us free will and he does want us to love him. Jesus said love your God with your whole heart, your whole mind, and your whole soul. second to love your nieghbor as yourself, he also stated that is where the rest of the commandmets hang. Mathew 22, 37-40
Do I beleive man or even a Jw's should judge? no. only the creater has that right.
Do I beleive that God punishes people? no. God has made rules and he is a just God and follows his own rule. ( God is love 1 John 4;8 )
God did warn Adam and Eve that if they eat from that tree then they will positively die. Flat out he told them. Just as he tries to tell us now.
I can-t find the scripture right now, the one that says God does not test that he can not be tested so he doesn't test anyone.
Satin he challanged God as well as man, Satin told God that he coud turn all man against him. Satin told good skin in behalf of skin man will curse you to your very face. Don't worry so much my friend God would not allow us to be tested by satin if he did not think we could pass the test.
God could have destroyed Satin right then but what would that prove? That he is the most powerful or just a bully? he does not have to prove that he is the most powerful?
Why does he do it that way? I do not know I guess if he wants to he can, he was the one that created us and he should know what is best for us.and that we should trust God that he will do the right thing and everyting wil come out for the best in the end.
( Just supposing that we are made of clay and God is a potter) and the potter is at the potters wheel building something made of clay and the clay for some reason falls down. Would you not think the potter would or could lift the clay back up?