I started thinking...I couldn't remember a single time when I saw anyone upset and
broken at the thought of millions of people dying and going to Hell..
Have you?
Have you been upset about people going to Hell forever? How can we be so passive about it?
Do We Care?
Do we really believe it?
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Are We Sure We Believe In Hell?
When Jesus talked about a few going in through the narrow way and many going
down the broad way to destruction, do you understand Him to be talking about
Heaven and Hell after we die?
Well, I did. But do we really realize what that is saying? Do the math
Why are you browsing a web site and why am I working on one when the
majority of people in the world are headed for hell? Why aren't we out in 24 hour shifts warning them of a fate that no human being can possibly imagine?
down the broad way to destruction, do you understand Him to be talking about
Heaven and Hell after we die?
Well, I did. But do we really realize what that is saying? Do the math
Why are you browsing a web site and why am I working on one when the
majority of people in the world are headed for hell? Why aren't we out in 24 hour shifts warning them of a fate that no human being can possibly imagine?
What Changed My Mind About Hell
I was watching the movie, "The Perfect Storm," when I started to question my beliefs about the end result of humanity.(at that time I DID believe in an endless Hell) I was noticing the looks of total resignation on the faces of the fishermen as they realized there was no way to survive the storm they were in, In an instant a scripture popped into my thoughts.
" But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that
were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,"
The world was headed for Hell and here I was WATCHING A MOVIE!!! How much sense does that make? That was the greatest "life-changing" realization I have had since experiencing faith in Christ. In the movie the looks on the actor's faces knowing their death was imminent was... fear, dread and
Saddam Hussein pales in comparison to anyone who would, knowingly, bring a child into the world with the full knowledge that eternity in Hell could be his fate. At least the victims of a terrorist get to die!
" But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that
were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,"
The world was headed for Hell and here I was WATCHING A MOVIE!!! How much sense does that make? That was the greatest "life-changing" realization I have had since experiencing faith in Christ. In the movie the looks on the actor's faces knowing their death was imminent was... fear, dread and
hopelessness. I guess that is what really got my attention. I was overwhelmed with so many emotions at the time... fear, shame, regret, shock. I believe God used this movie to shake me up enough to realize what I really believed.....more importantly what I did not believe....
The fishermen in the movie are watching a monster of a wave that is headed straight for them. They know there is no surviving it.
Seeing the hopelessness in the faces of those fishermen caused an explosion in my soul. It forced me to face what I believed about the ultimate outcome of humanity: a fate much worse than death.
That was eternity in hell.
I was overwhelmed with grief and very ashamed that I didn't care anymore than I did for people. I had been walking with God for about twenty five years at that time and I knew He would answer prayer that was in line with His will. So, I got real honest with Him and confessed that I didn't love
people, but I wanted to. So...you know God...He changed my heart! I am absolutely in love with people now... Christian and non-Christian alike. We are all made in God's image and are all reconciled to God by Christ. It is a privilege to love people! It is a privilege to see God answer prayer!
When I had my "epiphany" at the theatre I became obsessed with hell and who would go there. I found this particular image on a site that shows 31% of the world's population affiliated with Christianity. I found other statistics then but can't find them now but I do remember that 22% of the 31% were Roman Catholic. Well, us good Ole fundamentalists aren't brought up believing that anyone will go to heaven without being born again and that leaves the Catholics out completely.
So, we are left with about 9% that could possibly go to heaven or are we? That 9 % includes Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. For one who was taught that the Missionary Baptists would inhabit the New Jerusalem (because we were the "real" Baptists) and the Southern Baptists would live outside the great city, the picture was bleak indeed. You know, it's a wonder anyone survives religion isn't it?
Finally, I started to question....could we have missed it somehow on this hell thing? Could we have misinterpreted the Bible? Could the Bible have been mistranslated? On purpose?
I have concluded the answer is YES!
Could it be possible that we just think we believe in an endless Hell? Have you ever picked up the phone to warn a loved one about a tornado headed their way? A gas shortage? Have you warned visitors to stay away from your house because your family had a stomach virus? Honestly now, how many people do you warn about Hell?
I remember one woman who actually believed in endless hell. Her name is Andrea Yates. She killed all of her children, believing that she was saving them from the possibility of spending eternity in Hell. As far as she knew she ended their lives before they could reach the age of accountability, reject God, die and go to hell for eternity. Personally, I don't see how anyone in their right mind, who actually carries out the thought process of Hell, could bring a child into this world.
The fishermen in the movie are watching a monster of a wave that is headed straight for them. They know there is no surviving it.
Seeing the hopelessness in the faces of those fishermen caused an explosion in my soul. It forced me to face what I believed about the ultimate outcome of humanity: a fate much worse than death.
That was eternity in hell.
I was overwhelmed with grief and very ashamed that I didn't care anymore than I did for people. I had been walking with God for about twenty five years at that time and I knew He would answer prayer that was in line with His will. So, I got real honest with Him and confessed that I didn't love
people, but I wanted to. So...you know God...He changed my heart! I am absolutely in love with people now... Christian and non-Christian alike. We are all made in God's image and are all reconciled to God by Christ. It is a privilege to love people! It is a privilege to see God answer prayer!
When I had my "epiphany" at the theatre I became obsessed with hell and who would go there. I found this particular image on a site that shows 31% of the world's population affiliated with Christianity. I found other statistics then but can't find them now but I do remember that 22% of the 31% were Roman Catholic. Well, us good Ole fundamentalists aren't brought up believing that anyone will go to heaven without being born again and that leaves the Catholics out completely.
So, we are left with about 9% that could possibly go to heaven or are we? That 9 % includes Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. For one who was taught that the Missionary Baptists would inhabit the New Jerusalem (because we were the "real" Baptists) and the Southern Baptists would live outside the great city, the picture was bleak indeed. You know, it's a wonder anyone survives religion isn't it?
Finally, I started to question....could we have missed it somehow on this hell thing? Could we have misinterpreted the Bible? Could the Bible have been mistranslated? On purpose?
I have concluded the answer is YES!
Could it be possible that we just think we believe in an endless Hell? Have you ever picked up the phone to warn a loved one about a tornado headed their way? A gas shortage? Have you warned visitors to stay away from your house because your family had a stomach virus? Honestly now, how many people do you warn about Hell?
I remember one woman who actually believed in endless hell. Her name is Andrea Yates. She killed all of her children, believing that she was saving them from the possibility of spending eternity in Hell. As far as she knew she ended their lives before they could reach the age of accountability, reject God, die and go to hell for eternity. Personally, I don't see how anyone in their right mind, who actually carries out the thought process of Hell, could bring a child into this world.
Saddam Hussein pales in comparison to anyone who would, knowingly, bring a child into the world with the full knowledge that eternity in Hell could be his fate. At least the victims of a terrorist get to die!
My Statement Of Faith
I believe there is one God, the God of the Bible, who created everything. He
manifests Himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He may have zapped
creation into being instantly or in 6 literal days. Or, He may have used the
process of evolution for millions of years for some of it. Personally, I don't care
how He did it, I just believe that He did it. I am really blown away by the fact
that He chose to create you and me. :-)
I believe the bible tells us what we need to know about God. I believe it is
inspired by God. It was probably inerrant in it's beginning, but since going
through many translations, there are flaws found in our copies we have now-a-
days. I believe it is still trustworthy to lead us to know God and to know how
to live in the way that He expects His people to live. I believe that, because, I
experience it.
I believe Jesus of Nazareth, who died on the cross and was raised from the
dead, is the messiah that was prophesied in the Old Testament. I believe His
death and resurrection was for the redemption/salvation of every single
individual on the planet...because of His love for us. He made us FOR Himself.
In order to reap the benefits of that salvation, it is a no-brainier that one must
believe it to be a fact. Jesus said, we are already condemned if we don't believe.
I believe God's wrath will abide on unbelievers UNTIL they believe, thus,
fulfilling Jesus' words in John 12:32..."I will draw ALL to myself."
I believe in the physical resurrection of every individual. Those who believe in
Christ and overcome in this life will be raised to blessings beyond belief and will
be partnered with God in His plan for the ages to come..... Those who reject
God will be raised in the last resurrection and will suffer great loss and
correction until they come to the end of themselves and confess that they are
not the lord of their own lives....however long that may take.
I believe every knee will bow to God and every tongue will confess Christ as
Lord, eventually.
I believe Christ will reign until everything and everyone is in submission to
Himself and when that happens, however long it takes for it to happen,
We Will All Live Happily Ever After.
manifests Himself as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He may have zapped
creation into being instantly or in 6 literal days. Or, He may have used the
process of evolution for millions of years for some of it. Personally, I don't care
how He did it, I just believe that He did it. I am really blown away by the fact
that He chose to create you and me. :-)
I believe the bible tells us what we need to know about God. I believe it is
inspired by God. It was probably inerrant in it's beginning, but since going
through many translations, there are flaws found in our copies we have now-a-
days. I believe it is still trustworthy to lead us to know God and to know how
to live in the way that He expects His people to live. I believe that, because, I
experience it.
I believe Jesus of Nazareth, who died on the cross and was raised from the
dead, is the messiah that was prophesied in the Old Testament. I believe His
death and resurrection was for the redemption/salvation of every single
individual on the planet...because of His love for us. He made us FOR Himself.
In order to reap the benefits of that salvation, it is a no-brainier that one must
believe it to be a fact. Jesus said, we are already condemned if we don't believe.
I believe God's wrath will abide on unbelievers UNTIL they believe, thus,
fulfilling Jesus' words in John 12:32..."I will draw ALL to myself."
I believe in the physical resurrection of every individual. Those who believe in
Christ and overcome in this life will be raised to blessings beyond belief and will
be partnered with God in His plan for the ages to come..... Those who reject
God will be raised in the last resurrection and will suffer great loss and
correction until they come to the end of themselves and confess that they are
not the lord of their own lives....however long that may take.
I believe every knee will bow to God and every tongue will confess Christ as
Lord, eventually.
I believe Christ will reign until everything and everyone is in submission to
Himself and when that happens, however long it takes for it to happen,
We Will All Live Happily Ever After.
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