Showing posts with label hell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hell. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
confronting the truth & contending for the faith
Francis Chan is my human hero. Seriously.
If you are going to read Rob Bell's new book than you have to read Francis Chan's too. I can't wait to compare them and see what kind of buzz Chan's book gets versus Bell's book.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
even in hell they still don't get it
The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)
"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
I have been thinking about this story from Luke ever since Rob Bell's new book buzz. Something I hadn't noticed before suddenly dawned on me; if light bulbs appear overhead when awareness strikes, I would have had a big, blinking light bulb overhead. From just this story it is clear that Jesus is telling there are no second chances after death nor are there opportunities to effect change on earth after death. Jesus is also clearly saying that if one is not convinced here in this life by the Scriptures, they will NEVER BE CONVINCED not even if a dead man visited them. The rich man during his life on earth had a lot of things - wealth, abundant provisions, lush living. It wouldn't be unfair to also say that these riches afforded the rich man a certain praised status in high society, a sheltered existence that was completely unaware of the quality of life existing just outside his gate. Lazarus was poor and thus despised, which is not much different from the way the poor are treated now. The narrative describes "dogs coming to lick his sores", this does not a blessed picture make. The poor have always been treated with a degree of contempt by many in high and privileged society. The poor are often blamed for their poverty and misfortune. In some societies the destitute are treated as less than human, forced to scrap out survival among trash heaps.
The new thing that dawned on me about this story is that the rich man even in death does not get that Lazarus is not "lesser" or inferior or contemptible. The rich man even in death was treating Lazarus as someone who should do his bidding and ease his suffering ("send Lazarus with water for me", "send Lazarus to my brothers"). The idea that he had treated Lazarus wrong never dawns on him or occurs to him. The idea that Lazarus was his equal, someone who should directly be addressed, directly be asked for a favor - is still completely missed by the "rich" man.
The way the poor and those on the fringes of society are treated is important to God; what is important to God is important to those who love God. May we look at who is lying right outside our own "gates", may we see them as our equal which they are and seek to help them as they need. May we also realize that there are no second chances after this life is over and appreciate that the greatest need mankind faces in not the physical but the spiritual. "...We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"
I have been thinking about this story from Luke ever since Rob Bell's new book buzz. Something I hadn't noticed before suddenly dawned on me; if light bulbs appear overhead when awareness strikes, I would have had a big, blinking light bulb overhead. From just this story it is clear that Jesus is telling there are no second chances after death nor are there opportunities to effect change on earth after death. Jesus is also clearly saying that if one is not convinced here in this life by the Scriptures, they will NEVER BE CONVINCED not even if a dead man visited them. The rich man during his life on earth had a lot of things - wealth, abundant provisions, lush living. It wouldn't be unfair to also say that these riches afforded the rich man a certain praised status in high society, a sheltered existence that was completely unaware of the quality of life existing just outside his gate. Lazarus was poor and thus despised, which is not much different from the way the poor are treated now. The narrative describes "dogs coming to lick his sores", this does not a blessed picture make. The poor have always been treated with a degree of contempt by many in high and privileged society. The poor are often blamed for their poverty and misfortune. In some societies the destitute are treated as less than human, forced to scrap out survival among trash heaps.
The new thing that dawned on me about this story is that the rich man even in death does not get that Lazarus is not "lesser" or inferior or contemptible. The rich man even in death was treating Lazarus as someone who should do his bidding and ease his suffering ("send Lazarus with water for me", "send Lazarus to my brothers"). The idea that he had treated Lazarus wrong never dawns on him or occurs to him. The idea that Lazarus was his equal, someone who should directly be addressed, directly be asked for a favor - is still completely missed by the "rich" man.
The way the poor and those on the fringes of society are treated is important to God; what is important to God is important to those who love God. May we look at who is lying right outside our own "gates", may we see them as our equal which they are and seek to help them as they need. May we also realize that there are no second chances after this life is over and appreciate that the greatest need mankind faces in not the physical but the spiritual. "...We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
Friday, April 15, 2011
the warning Bell
"This is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
"And now I ask you, dear lady— not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning— that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." 2 John 1:5-7
I have been thinking about God a lot this week, so much so that I realize how much I haven't been thinking about Him over the last many months. These last days I have been bringing my issues with God out onto the table instead of harboring them in darkness; issues like my deep mistrust of God and His love, my anger that Jesus had to die for me and my confusion about who is right when it comes to understanding God. Let me say that bringing these issues out was scary but ultimately I am finding that only through honesty and contemplation can anything really be dealt with.
The flip side to bringing out my issues with God is that God reminds me of his issues with me (and the rest of humanity). It is built into man to more readily take issue with God than to realize that it is really only he who has just cause to be at issue. The truth is, mankind isn't what he was created to be; the other truth is that it's not Gods fault.
Rob Bell has a new book coming out called "Love Wins." There was an article in TIME about it and the buzz has been all over the Internet. Evidently in the book, Bell claims that no one goes to hell; there is no hell. It's a pretty controversial things for pastor, teacher, shepherd of God's people, even just a proclaiming Christian to say. I haven't read the book and I really have no desire to expect that I know a lot of people my age are going to read it at face value, love it and believe it: that is what scares me.
Why do so many think that God allowing for a Hell is a bad thing for God to do? Can man (the created thing) call God (the Creator) unjust? I don't think so. The argument I have heard from some goes like this: "It would be unjust of God to punish man infinitely in hell for the things he did and believed in a finite lifetime." To that I say, "Well than I guess let hell stand to show you that mans life is not finite." What we believe here, right now, in this breath and the next one to come - really matters! How what we believe affects what we do, what we say, what we think - really matters! It matters! Instead of pointing us into an approved stupor of existentialism and nihilism shouldn't a brother in Christ be going in the other direction and point is into abounding hope and unspeakable joy that exists in Christ Jesus!?! Instead of plunging us into a fatalistic love affair with ourselves shouldn't a brother in Christ be plunging us into a love affair with "the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus"!?! Instead of encouraging a man-centered gospel with a bent on loving man created art, man-centered labels and titles and pleasures shouldn't a brother in Christ be encouraging a primary love of God and furthering a passion to glorify God utmost in the things we mere men make and do!?!
This is an official warning bell against Rob Bell with a call to get your face to the ground in prayer that God transforms his heart, mind and soul. And till that happens keeps his false doctrines from harming other people, believing and not.
Below is a link to a God-centered review of Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins":
God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School Is Still True: A Review of “Love Wins”
"And now I ask you, dear lady— not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning— that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." 2 John 1:5-7
I have been thinking about God a lot this week, so much so that I realize how much I haven't been thinking about Him over the last many months. These last days I have been bringing my issues with God out onto the table instead of harboring them in darkness; issues like my deep mistrust of God and His love, my anger that Jesus had to die for me and my confusion about who is right when it comes to understanding God. Let me say that bringing these issues out was scary but ultimately I am finding that only through honesty and contemplation can anything really be dealt with.
The flip side to bringing out my issues with God is that God reminds me of his issues with me (and the rest of humanity). It is built into man to more readily take issue with God than to realize that it is really only he who has just cause to be at issue. The truth is, mankind isn't what he was created to be; the other truth is that it's not Gods fault.
 |
| Bell's version of love is ultimately toxic |
Rob Bell has a new book coming out called "Love Wins." There was an article in TIME about it and the buzz has been all over the Internet. Evidently in the book, Bell claims that no one goes to hell; there is no hell. It's a pretty controversial things for pastor, teacher, shepherd of God's people, even just a proclaiming Christian to say. I haven't read the book and I really have no desire to expect that I know a lot of people my age are going to read it at face value, love it and believe it: that is what scares me.
Why do so many think that God allowing for a Hell is a bad thing for God to do? Can man (the created thing) call God (the Creator) unjust? I don't think so. The argument I have heard from some goes like this: "It would be unjust of God to punish man infinitely in hell for the things he did and believed in a finite lifetime." To that I say, "Well than I guess let hell stand to show you that mans life is not finite." What we believe here, right now, in this breath and the next one to come - really matters! How what we believe affects what we do, what we say, what we think - really matters! It matters! Instead of pointing us into an approved stupor of existentialism and nihilism shouldn't a brother in Christ be going in the other direction and point is into abounding hope and unspeakable joy that exists in Christ Jesus!?! Instead of plunging us into a fatalistic love affair with ourselves shouldn't a brother in Christ be plunging us into a love affair with "the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus"!?! Instead of encouraging a man-centered gospel with a bent on loving man created art, man-centered labels and titles and pleasures shouldn't a brother in Christ be encouraging a primary love of God and furthering a passion to glorify God utmost in the things we mere men make and do!?!
This is an official warning bell against Rob Bell with a call to get your face to the ground in prayer that God transforms his heart, mind and soul. And till that happens keeps his false doctrines from harming other people, believing and not.
Below is a link to a God-centered review of Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins":
God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School Is Still True: A Review of “Love Wins”
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