The truth about hell – part 3

In part 2, I stated that there are two main categories of thought on the nature of hell.  One of them limits the impact of hell and the other sees it as a real place of eternal torment/punishment.  Today, I want to briefly look at this last category and examine the two main viewpoints that fall under it.

Traditionally, Christianity has viewed hell as both a place and a state.  The differences that arise are due to an interpretational understanding of the nature of hell.  One viewpoint is that the Scriptures descriptions of hell are to be taken literally.  When the bible speaks of hell as a place of eternal fire, it is to be understood as a literal flame that burns without consuming.  When the bible speaks of eternal darkness, it is to be likewise understood in a literal fashion.  In a simplified defense of this viewpoint, it is pointed out that Scripture should be taken literally when it speaks literally.  The sheer number of times that the bible uses fire and darkness to describe hell lends itself to a literal interpretation.  As well, if one believes that the Scripture does not represent something as true that is false or something that is false as true, then when it speaks of the nature of hell, it does so in a literal fashion.

The second viewpoint that falls under this same category is that the description of hell is to be taken metaphorically.  Some of the arguments for this viewpoint is that fire and darkness are two opposing images and cannot exist at the same time.  Defenders of the metaphorical view also point to passages in the Scripture that use fire in an obvious metaphorical manner and then they apply this to the other uses of the word.  While not denying the reality of hell, the metaphorical view sees the horrors of hell as being far worse than the literal understanding can describe.

The question for the interpreter is which of these views is correct?  I would suggest that there is a middle ground between them.  The bible represents the nature of hell in human language and in human terms.  This does not suggest that it is not describing a literal representation of hell.  The repeated use of fire and darkness to describe the nature of hell suggest to me that these are accurate terms, even though I cannot reconcile how you can have fire and darkness co-existing.  Yet, I believe that the horrors of hell extend far past the punishment of eternal suffering in a lake of fire and the weeping and gnashing of teeth in the eternal darkness.  While literal, they are also representative of the completely horrific nature of hell.

The doctrine of hell is not pleasant.  I would be abhorred by someone who said that it was their favourite aspect of the Scripture.  However, we cannot be faithful to the Word of God by denying that it exists and that it is the final destiny for those who reject Christ.   While there is no pleasure in believing it, there is an obligation.  But, that belief should be a driving force for the sharing of the gospel.  As I have spent time over the last couple of weeks thinking about hell, my heart is broken to know that hell is the destination for many that I work with unless they repent.  I am unable to fanthom the eternity of hell and so part of me wants to not think about it.  But it is exactly because of the eternity of hell, the finality of hell that I have to think about it and be more faithful to present the gospel.

The truth about hell – part 2

There are several prominent views on hell within evangelicalism.  Each of them preports to interpret the Scriptures correctly and at the same time, each of them claims to be a cure for the decline in the acknowledgement of hell as a doctrine of the church.  Although it is a simplified reduction of the arguments, they fall in one of two categories.

The first category is a view of hell that eliminates the eternal aspects of the punishment.  This is accomplished in one of several fashions.  For instance, the annihilationist claims that hell is a cessation of existence.  It adherants include Clark Pinnock, the Jehovah Witnesses and some parts of the Seventh Day Adventist movement (I don’t mean to put all of these people under the same theological tent, but in this one doctrinal aspect, they do have agreement with each other).  Under this viewpoint, the idea of God eternally punishing unsaved men make Him into a bloodthirsty and sadistic God.  They are unable to reconcile this with the revelation of a God of love and mercy.  Therefore, they see hell as the destruction of the person.  This viewpoints Scriptural support relys on an interpretation of mostly Old Testament passages and some NT passages which speak of the wicked being destroyed or facing destruction at death (Ps 37:2,9-10, 20; Mal 4:1-2; Matt 10:28, 13:30).   Unfortunately, this viewpoint fails to account for the eternal justice of God in favour of His love.  In trying to make hell less of hell and focussing in on God’s love, they have ignored the truth that eternal justice requires eternal punishment.  Cessastion of existence just doesn’t seem like hell to me and doesn’t seem to play out well in the overall Christian worldview. 

A second viewpoint that falls under this same category is the viewpoint that hell has a form of purification.  This teaching is found more in the Roman Catholic theology of purgatory.  While Catholicism still recognizes hell as a place of torment, they also have added a place of purification after death.  I won’t go into the details of this doctrine other than to say that it depends on a revision of the biblical doctrines of justification, grace and forgiveness and relys on extra-biblical foundations.  The obvious conflict with Protestant theology makes it an unteniable position but one that does fall under a cover of eliminating the more hellish parts of hell.

The other main category of viewpoints is one that acknowledges the reality of hell as a place of eternal and horrifying punishment.  Under this category falls the literal interpretation of Scriptures teachings and a more metaphorical understanding of the what Scripture teaches about the nature of hell.  In the next installment, we will see how these two interpretations view the biblical record and why one may be more preferrable over the other.

The Gathering

We bought a trampoline this weekend.  For most families, that isn’t big news.  But for us, it turned into a gathering.  In the seven and a half years that we have lived here in Belgium, we have had an incredibly difficult time breaking into the lives of our neighbors.  Belgians are notorious for being private people and although they are friendly, at the same time they are distant.  So we have very good relations with one neighbor (he is Italian), but the rest have pretty much maintained their distance from us.

Saturday, as I was setting up the trampoline, you would have thought the circus had come to town.  The neighbors came out and stood around watching Jed and I struggle to get this thing together.  The kids in the neighborhood stood at the fences wide-eyed.  Kellie and I just laughed at our “spectator sport”.    But it made me think that perhaps this may be the one thing that allows us to build a relationship with some of the people around us and perhaps God can use this to open a door for the gospel.  Its risky (I can see kids falling off….ect), but it is worth it.  We will have to see what God does.

Now its your turn.  What are some things that God has used in your life to give you the chance to share the gospel?

Happy Birthday Levi!

Today is Levi’s birthday.  10 years is a mighty long time, especially for one so young:)  We pray that God blesses you in a mighty way, Levi.  I know that He has a special plan for you.

The truth about hell – part 1

This last week, I’ve been thinking about hell.  I know that is a rather unusual thing to do and part of it is thanks to some school work that has been going on.  Hell isn’t discussed very much anymore.  I’ve been a Christian for 20 years now and really can’t remember but 1 sermon on hell.  Of course it is mentioned on occassion.  This usually has to do with encouraging people to avoid it by trusting in Christ.  But a real treatment on hell as the main subject of a message seems to be avoided by most preachers/teachers. 

I guess that is to be expected to some degree.  The fact that those who are without Christ suffer for an eternity is an uncomfortable truth.  Furthermore, the traditional viewpoint on the nature of hell is, well, hellish.  I don’t think this avoidance of discussing it has anything to do with people not believing that “hell” exists.  Barna did a survey back in 2003 that indicates the vast majority of people do believe in a version of hell. 

“While there is no dominant view of Hell, two particular perspectives are popular. Four out of ten adults believe that Hell is “a state of eternal separation from God’s presence” (39%) and one-third (32%) says it is “an actual place of torment and suffering where people’s souls go after death.” A third perspective that one in eight adults believe is that “Hell is just a symbol of an unknown bad outcome after death” (13%). Other respondents were “not sure” or said they that they do not believe in an afterlife (16%).”  Read the full survey here.

So, if there is a foundation of belief in some type of hell, why don’t we talk about it more?  Why don’t we deal with the very nature of hell?  Scripture surely gives us some indications of what hell is like and even if we are uncomfortable with it, we shouldn’t shy away from expounding on those truths.

As can be seen in the Barna report, there are different views of what hell is like (i.e. its nature and extent).  Over the next couple of days, I’d like to explore what the Scripture has to say, examine a couple of the main views on hell and then see if we can find some application to pull away from this important biblical truth.

Godly Gambling?

Ronald Kluber is a civilian contractor with US Forces in Korea.  He recently won $285,000 at a poker tournement in Las Vegas.  According to the Stars and Stripes, “Kluber beat more than 6,000 other Texas Hold ’em players for the right to call himself one of the best. Among his opponents were some of professional poker’s star players.  Despite sitting next to stars like Gus Hansen, Huck Seed and Scotty Nguyen, Kluber said he wasn’t worried about his chances. “I wasn’t intimidated at all,” he said. “I know how to play poker.””

The part of this story that caught my eye though was Kluber’s appeal to his faith in helping him win. 

“Kluber said his faith also was crucial to his playing — he plans to donate 10 percent of his winnings to the Village of Jesus Church in South Korea.

“This was one of the most nerve-wracking events of my life, and I’ve been in four combat zones during my military career,” said Kluber, a retired Army colonel. “It wasn’t luck that got me through this. It was God’s grace.”

Read it here

I’m not sure about that last part.  Does God’s grace allow us to win at Texas Hold’em?  I know we are used to seeing professional sports figures give credit to God for winning the Super Bowl but gambling?  I’m not sure how that floats.  It seems to be one thing to say that in my moral nuetral profession, I can give glory to God for His grace and enabling in my life, but to do the same in a profession that promotes vice goes overboard.  I would put that in the same category as a window prostitute in Amsterdam saying that she it is God’s grace that landed her this great job.

What do you think?

Those “aha” moments

I am constantly amazed at how ordinary days and moments can turn on a dime into an “aha!” time.  Yesterday I was working in one of the boys room getting it ready to be painted.  I had messed up an earlier paint job by putting on latex paint over oil.  How was I supposed to know that you can do that?  Anyways, Levi and I were stripping the old paint of the wall and having a fairly good time doing it.  As we are working away and out of the blue, Levi asks me why wars begin. 

We talked for a few moments about what was behind that question (which had everything to do about why we were involved in a war now and how previous wars had started).  Its amazing to me how a 10 year old can be so perceptive about the state of the world!  Towards the end of this simple conversation, I shared with Levi what God had to say about why wars begin.  James says that we have quarrels and fights because we have these desires within ourselves.  “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.  You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.  You do not have because you do not ask.” (James 4:2)  From a simple question we were able to have a frank discussion of not only why wars start, but why we even fight with our brothers. 

Just another example of God’s graciousness to allow our faith intersect with real life.

Hello world!

Wow.  Why would someone want to start blogging?  That is a question that I ask myself, even as I start my own journey.  I think for me it has everything to do with giving an answer for myself about what God is doing in my life.  I need this form of expression to put on “paper” the faith journey He is leading me on.  I guess I also need a way to express for family and friends, what is going on in my life.

I have very simple goals here.  One, to be honest about this journey we call salvation.  Thankfully, God doesn’t leave us to ourselves, but calls us into relationship with Himself that grows and develops.  Secondly, I want to work out how this faith in Christ intersects with real life.  How does it work itself out in the day in and day out rigors of life?  Lastly, I want to be able to encourage others and be encouraged by the faith of others.

Guess that is it for right now.  When I have time, I’ll be back with some other thoughts.  For today, its enough to know that “He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6)