It is curious how often we believe a particular idea, without giving it any thought. The concept of the particularities of hell is one that comes to mind.
We often hear of hell as being a place of eternal torment for those who didn't "accept Jesus". Or if one is from the Reformed camp, hell is for those not chosen or predestined into eternal life. Either way hell is presented as place of punishment for those are to suffer under the wrath of God. In the same vein, early American Presbyterian minister, Jonathan Edwards, delivered his famous serve, "Sinners in the hands of an angry God." Just the title should make one shudder.
All of these illustrations are prime examples of un-thought-through beliefs. They all contain the same foundation and it's not the Bible. Several centuries ago, a Roman Catholic author wrote a famous trilogy entitled "The Divine Comedy." The three parts, translated into English are: The Paradise, The Purgatory and The Inferno. Contrary to practical use, the book was never intended to be a work of theology. The books were written as a critique and social commentary on the political situations of the day. Unfortunately, the religious world of the day and ever since, seem to have taken this poem as a literal or practically literal description of hell. This is very unfortunate. The poem by Dante describes hell as a place of demonic dominion, where Satan and his minions torture and abuse hapless humans, forever. This, to be perfectly honest, is heresy.
The God of Scripture, the God of the Christian church and the God of history, all one God in the same, is a God of love and forgiveness. God, in the person of Jesus Christ, took on human flesh, lived among us and died for us, removing the power of death so that we could come back into communion with the Triune God, the very thing for which we were created. His resurrection finished his work, pointing toward the day when we too would rise from the dead, wholly perfected and immortal.
The point here is this. The wrath of God against sin and death has been taken away by the work of Jesus Christ. The gates of heaven are open to any who would come. Access to this life is only through the work of Jesus Christ. There is no other means of salvation. Hell is for those who reject Jesus' work and do not want to be with God. In other words, God wants to be in a loving relationship with every single person. Hell will be that state of living forever in the presence of God and not wanting to be in that presence. Remember, God is everywhere and he loves all men. Those who reject him and his Son, will experience his love and presence and not want it. They will have formed their hearts, minds and souls to not want God. That is hell.
Satan will be destroyed, as we are told in the book of Revelation, but all men will live forever. The state of mind in which they live will be up to them. Will they work out their salvation, striving to love God more and more, preparing for an eternity of loving relationship with him, eternal joy? Or will they live only for their own pleasure, ignoring God and forming their souls in contrast to Him?
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Unquestioned belief
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Another early preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said that a lie will travel around the world while the truth is still pulling its boots on. From comics & cartoons to album covers to movies & tv shows, we have no shortage of imagery depicting hell as fiery caves where demonic staff tend to our torture but all it takes is a little Biblical reading to see that this isn't really the case. Many people don't want to investigate even a little in order to ascertain the truth, they just want to believe what sounds good and assume they've got a good handle on things. They'll point to the Epicurean Paradox and presume they've dropped a showstopper on Christians, even when shown the (theo)logical flaws. They demand to know how/why a loving God could/would send people to eternal damnation. You point out that He sends nobody anywhere, they go to either place by their own choice...and they jump to the next complaint as though you have said nothing.
ReplyDeleteA popular modern comedian remarks "You can't fix stupid." To that end, people seem bound and determined to resist the obvious truth if it doesn't give them the feelgoods but when all is said and done, and the Doors are opened to some and shut to others, they will regret all that sophistry they thought was so clever and all those pursuits they thought were so important. It's unfortunate that most will choose destruction but that's how God said it would be, so I believe it. Whatever His nature is, who am I to question it, and how does His existence hinge upon whether I approve of His ways? There is no part of Him that I do not accept, and I want nothing more than to be reunited with the Creator of the universe. Would that all men felt the same...