Okay so I got your attention with the title and now you are going to start reading and have that reaction to this little entry. Oh well guess that is the chance I take for having a catchy title.
I heard a podcast talking about hell, I guess there are two camps (there are probably thousands actually) but two that are sort of opposites. Both use scripture even some of the same scriptures to make their case. On one side is the there is no such thing as hell as we have been taught in the bible camp. Basically "ultimate reconciliation" saying if God is love how could he live with himself by torturing us for eternity. Basically they would believe that there may be a hell but it is more of a temporary or that God will redeem them from that place. On the other side there is the classic hellfire and brimstone believers who almost need an angry God. A God who damn right you will burn and be tortured for eternity. So which is it? Maybe a better question, WHO CARES! No one has been there and people can back up their stuff and you can look at the same verse and have each side tell you what it means. I guess I have less time than they do, because I don't have time to worry about that. No one has been to hell so no one really knows and does it matter? It may be somewhat important, but I run away from the arrogance of saying I have all of anything figured out. I am learning and I want to learn...how to hear Jesus, how to follow the Holy Spirit in my life, how the Father's love fits with his judgment....
On another front I heard a guy just ranting about the prosperity gospel...if you believe in Jesus everything will go great for you and yours, you will get riches, your pig won't die, well won't run dry etc. Disgustingly this is presented in some third world countries! So you go to the poorest place on earth tell them believing in Jesus will prosper them...of course they believe! But not because they know Jesus loves them. It is awful to manipulate people in this way. Again on the other hand you have the scare the hell out of people gospel believe because if you don't YOU WILL DIE FOREVER! What a reason to believe, again not the loving relationship that Father invites us into.
I find myself being less extreme (sounds crazy but spiritually) and more gracious, that includes gracious to God to allow Him to be God and to allow Him room to rescue people from hell or not. He is God I am not, and I just want to learn what it looks like to walk with him daily. I feel like right now I am fumbling around a lot, but I also feel as though I am headed in the right direction.
K
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Hey Kris, I enjoy reading your blog from time to time and have thought several times about telling you about a podcast I think you'd find interesting. I've assumed that our mutual friend (R.E.)would have encouraged you to check it out, but in case he hasn't, it's through Windsor Crossing Community Church. The website is [www.wcrossing.org] Our pastor Greg Holder just finished a 16 week series on the book of John that was phenomenal! He has a way of fleshing out stuff I've read in the bible since I was a child, yet he ALWAYS brings out facts and details I've never heard and then wraps it all up in a way that totally applies to you--no matter who "you" are. He has made the point that if you could understand everything about God and if you could make sense of why He does what He does, is that a God you would actually want to give your life to? to worship?...a god that fits inside the box in your mind. I'm not remotely doing him justice, so I hope you'll check out the podcast sometime! And keep writing!
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