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Why didn't God tell Adam and Eve about hell?
Why didn't Paul tell the idol worshipers in Athens about hell? Did Jesus ever say the word hell?
shouldn't He still be there? Do you "try" to love God because you feel you have to? Be honest... Are you afraid that someone you love will go to hell? Would you like to know that no one will spend eternity in hell? |
The Bible is where we get our traditional view of hell. With some study we find that it's original languages shed quite a different light on punishment and it's purpose. |
People from mainline denominations are coming to accept the fact that the salvation of all mankind can be Found in the scriptures. Some are in the middle on this issue but are at least admitting that there is a great likelihood that it is true. One minister in particular has written a book about it but because he is known as a mainline denominational leader, he wrote the book under a pseudonym. It is "The Evangelical Universalist" by Gregory Macdonald. Other than the fact that it makes a lot more sense than believing God created most of humanity to burn in Hell, believing it can drastically affect how we relate to people. Yes, I know the argument is that God created none to go to Hell, people go there of their own choice. I used to believe that too. That would mean that God is totally out of control, that someone else is more powerful then He is. If we are genuinely interested in finding out about what the Bible really says about Hell, we just have to set aside our present ideas and start to search. I know for me, I see God in a whole new light. I can see the heart of God. See Him in the woman who lost her coin and swept her house until she found it. See Him as the good shepherd who goes to find the one sheep that is lost. Granted, He may have to break the little thing's leg to keep him in the fold, if he is a wayward sheep, but He will do that. Wayward or not, He belongs to the shepherd. See Him as the merchant man who found in us a pearl of great price and gave everything He had, including His life, to purchase it. We were made FOR Him. For His own sake, He blots out our iniquities. That should comfort your heart! It has been said that we become like the "God" we serve. If we see Him as cruel and demanding we have a good chance of turning out like that ourselves. On the other hand, if He is viewed as a loving Savior willing to give His life for every man and not only willing but able to see to it that they all end up in His good graces, it actually makes it possible for us to learn to love people like He loves them. It's not about right rules and bylaws, right methods of baptism, right hairdos, right denominations, it's about love. It's about being conformed into the image of God's dear son. It's about change, and that is something we will all experience. It's about forgiveness. Feed my enemy, you say? How can that ever happen unless the fire of God burns the selfishness out of us? To use a well worn expression in the world of Christian Universalism which is a little on the light hearted side but should cause us to think, I ask..Would God tell us to love our enemies when He plans to fry His? Why I Believe No One Will Stay In Hell I am using the word "Hell" here strictly for the benefit of those of you who do still believe it is a literal place of fire, pain, and torture. When it comes right down to it, not only do I believe no one will stay in Hell, I believe no one will GO to Hell, because "that" Hell doesn't exist, nor has it ever existed. God defines Himself as “Love”. God is sovereign. There is no greater power. He gets what He wants. He will have ALL MEN to be saved. He instructs us to pray for ALL MEN. We were created FOR God Man nor devil can overthrow His plan. God planned the fall of man, in Adam. (Lamb was slain before foundation of the world) God created vessels of honor and dishonor(Judas, Pharaoh) for His plan. God created all of creation in corruption and futility. God created all of creation with the hope of being delivered from it. Our view of Hell does not come from the Bible. None of the 4 words translated “hell” indicate endlessness. The Lake of fire appears to be God, Himself. (see interesting words) If punishment of unbelievers is endless, some scriptures must be ignored. God commands all men everywhere to repent. Christ will reign until all are in submission to Him. Every knee will bow in worship and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord Jesus is the only way to God. No man comes except through Him. No man comes to God unless He is drawn by God’s spirit. Jesus said, if He was crucified that He would “draw” all men to Himself. The Greek word for “draw” literally means drag.(check it out yourself) Jesus tasted death for every man. God has concluded all in unbelief that He may show mercy to all. God's punishments are corrective. This is an excerpt from Ryan Healy's "The Greatest Love Story Never Told" Read whole article.
hundred years ago.
thought of before, but had never been able to Biblically support. Here is what Knoch says... The grand truth concerning the eonian times, now recovered from Scriptures, will relieve the minds of many noble men. So said a trained theologian, after having spent seventy years of his life without ever hearing it mentioned. No normal human being desires to believe in everlasting torment, even for his worst enemy. Some of its strongest and noblest advocates have expressed their profound sorrow that they were compelled to teach it, and declared that God Himself would have it otherwise, were it in His power. Those who gloat in it and enjoy preaching it, expose the baseness of their own hearts. The fact that the Bible teaches it may demand acquiescence, but it cannot command heartfelt accord. The fact that everlasting torment is contrary to God's revealed character and clashes with every human instinct does not disprove it. If God's Word teaches it, it's true. But the fact that it is repugnant, not merely to the nature we have by creation, but especially to the spirit we receive as a seal of God's salvation, should lead us to investigate the grounds on which it rests. The original Scriptures are infallible, but the Bible we have is only a translation, into which a measure of human fallibility is mixed. Does the Original teach endless punishment? |
| We believe what we believe about hell because of the way our Bibles read. As traditional church goers, probably, very few of us have been encouraged to voice our fears and questions when it comes to hell. As much as I didn't understand the whole concept of hell, I felt I had no choice but to believe it because of what the Bible says. Well, in the last few years, I started to see some of the other things the Bible says. One of them is .."Come, let us reason together..." I knew that verse existed, I just never did what it said. I guess I didn't know I could "reason" where Hell was concerned. Why are we uncomfortable with reasoning when it comes to hell? Perhaps we just feel inadequate to even speculate. Are we afraid that God will send us to hell if we question it? Jesus didn't say, "whosoever believeth in hell shall have everlasting life." He said, "for God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." We are encouraged from the scriptures to search them, to rightly divide them, to study like the Bereans to see if what we have been taught is true. God is the perfect father. He disciplines His children as any father would, but, His punishment is for our good, not for our endless torture. Who would benefit by eternal torment? Seriously...think about it... For me, finding out that the doctrine of hell is not as "set in stone" as I thought it was has been too good to be true, but I believe it is. Jesus said, "fear not" way too many times for us to be afraid to enjoy life to the fullest. Enjoying life became an impossiblity for me, believing so many people would burn in hell forever, especially, some of my family. |
quit being mistaken, or cease to be honest....
Think About it.....
| It's not doctrinal positions that bring repentance, it's the goodness of God. How many people have you been good to today? |
| So, you say you believe sinners will be cast into hell forever? How many people have you tried to keep from going today? |
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You know, if you really believe in an endless Hell,
you should have yourself sterilized so you won't
bring more humans into existence and risk their
going there forever.....
Read this testimony of a man that did just that.
Personally, I think it's the only sensible thing to do.
Debbie
you should have yourself sterilized so you won't
bring more humans into existence and risk their
going there forever.....
Read this testimony of a man that did just that.
Personally, I think it's the only sensible thing to do.
Debbie
Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?
A Few Last Minute Thoughts On Hell
If you favor the idea of no one burning forever in Hell, but are
afraid it's not scriptural, think about this:
What's the BIble about? The exploits of the heathen? No. God's
people.
The Bible is mostly written to God's People, not the heathen. The Old Testament is a lot of history and prophecy and just
everyday common sense and wisdom that could benefit anyone, but if one is not concerned with God in some way, he
would probably not be interested in reading it.
Now, think about the New Testament. How do many of the books start? By addressing CHURCHES, right? The Bible is a
collection of books about God to people who were chosen by God to be a special people to Himself, to people
concerned with or seeking God, and to those of us who are believers.
Jesus even said that He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Yes, He came as the savior of the whole world
but He also came as a teacher to His people.
Many of the Hell scriptures are addressed to the people who were supposed to be God's chosen people, They were
being warned of the regret they would experience if they chose their own way over giving up their preconceived ideas
of who the Messiah was. The message to them was "repent". Or, change your ideas about the Messiah and the kingdom.
everyday common sense and wisdom that could benefit anyone, but if one is not concerned with God in some way, he
would probably not be interested in reading it.
Now, think about the New Testament. How do many of the books start? By addressing CHURCHES, right? The Bible is a
collection of books about God to people who were chosen by God to be a special people to Himself, to people
concerned with or seeking God, and to those of us who are believers.
Jesus even said that He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Yes, He came as the savior of the whole world
but He also came as a teacher to His people.
Many of the Hell scriptures are addressed to the people who were supposed to be God's chosen people, They were
being warned of the regret they would experience if they chose their own way over giving up their preconceived ideas
of who the Messiah was. The message to them was "repent". Or, change your ideas about the Messiah and the kingdom.
We know we are all born condemned because of John 3...But what does that mean? It seems we just naturally assume it
means we go to Hell at death if we have not believed. But what if "condemned" simply means that, like Paul said in
Roman 7, we have a sin making machine in us(my version) and sooner or later it is going to get us into loads of trouble.
Perhaps THAT is why we need saving. NOT saving from Hell.
Looking up the Hell words in the Bible, it seems that we are creating our own definitions that just bolster our "sacred"
beliefs instead of seeing what the Bible really says. All the Hell words in the OT are Sheol and everybody went there
when they died. Tophet, the valley of Hinnom, and Daniel 12:2 are the only references in the OT that could even be
slightly thought of as the Hell that we know, unless I am totally wrong. And these all seem to refer to the physical demise
of God's people. Daniel does indicate a resurrection but he only mentions that some will be raised to shame and
everlasting contempt....no mention of endless torture. And if Daniel is writing about the people of God, then he is not
writing about rank sinners..he is writing about the PEOPLE OF GOD, which also happen to be the recipients of the Hell
warnings(ref: Gehenna NT,Tophet, valley of hinnom in OT) in the New Testament.
If Hell is not the fate of unbelieving mankind then we don't have to worry about babies, our loved ones, or anybody else
going there.
It seems logical to me that only those who were given the oracles of God would be the ones raised to everlasting shame
when they find out they were doing their own thing instead of God's thing, which is what they were supposed to
do.(except for the fact that some of them were blinded by God for a time, for a purpose)
(side note... Now, those of us who think we are pleasing God by tallying up all that we do for Him, may one day find that
we have been pleasing our own ego instead. That could have a good bit of shame with it...so, check your motives
Christian. Why do you do what you do? If we learn to judge ourselves, we won't be judged.
I don't think the Hell Christianity knows about was ever God's Hell in the first place. And, I think that is the "glitch" in our
theology.
means we go to Hell at death if we have not believed. But what if "condemned" simply means that, like Paul said in
Roman 7, we have a sin making machine in us(my version) and sooner or later it is going to get us into loads of trouble.
Perhaps THAT is why we need saving. NOT saving from Hell.
Looking up the Hell words in the Bible, it seems that we are creating our own definitions that just bolster our "sacred"
beliefs instead of seeing what the Bible really says. All the Hell words in the OT are Sheol and everybody went there
when they died. Tophet, the valley of Hinnom, and Daniel 12:2 are the only references in the OT that could even be
slightly thought of as the Hell that we know, unless I am totally wrong. And these all seem to refer to the physical demise
of God's people. Daniel does indicate a resurrection but he only mentions that some will be raised to shame and
everlasting contempt....no mention of endless torture. And if Daniel is writing about the people of God, then he is not
writing about rank sinners..he is writing about the PEOPLE OF GOD, which also happen to be the recipients of the Hell
warnings(ref: Gehenna NT,Tophet, valley of hinnom in OT) in the New Testament.
If Hell is not the fate of unbelieving mankind then we don't have to worry about babies, our loved ones, or anybody else
going there.
It seems logical to me that only those who were given the oracles of God would be the ones raised to everlasting shame
when they find out they were doing their own thing instead of God's thing, which is what they were supposed to
do.(except for the fact that some of them were blinded by God for a time, for a purpose)
(side note... Now, those of us who think we are pleasing God by tallying up all that we do for Him, may one day find that
we have been pleasing our own ego instead. That could have a good bit of shame with it...so, check your motives
Christian. Why do you do what you do? If we learn to judge ourselves, we won't be judged.
I don't think the Hell Christianity knows about was ever God's Hell in the first place. And, I think that is the "glitch" in our
theology.
Do you have a grudge
against God? Have a hard
time trying to figure out
why bad things happen to
good people when God
just stands by and does
nothing to prevent it?
Have trouble relating to
God? Read this little book.
It is awesome! I just read it
and I highly recommend
it.....
Debbie
against God? Have a hard
time trying to figure out
why bad things happen to
good people when God
just stands by and does
nothing to prevent it?
Have trouble relating to
God? Read this little book.
It is awesome! I just read it
and I highly recommend
it.....
Debbie
Scared Of Hell ?
How many times have you looked at that little tract called "The Roman Road To Salvation"? And read the
scripture that it uses to convince sinners that they need saving?
We know it uses Romans 6:23 ,,,For the wages of sin is eternity in Hell; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
scripture that it uses to convince sinners that they need saving?
We know it uses Romans 6:23 ,,,For the wages of sin is eternity in Hell; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Oops! I quoted it wrong didn't I? It doesn't say the wages of
sin is Hell, it says death, just as plain as the nose on your
face.....
Go figure...I didn't see it myself until about 7 years ago.
Gary Amirault of Tentmaker website has written a thorough
article about this subject...Take his Hell test and see how you
do.
Click on Hell Test to the right >>>>
"Abandoned Houses On The Roman Road"
(excellent short article)
sin is Hell, it says death, just as plain as the nose on your
face.....
Go figure...I didn't see it myself until about 7 years ago.
Gary Amirault of Tentmaker website has written a thorough
article about this subject...Take his Hell test and see how you
do.
Click on Hell Test to the right >>>>
"Abandoned Houses On The Roman Road"
(excellent short article)
Here are some quotes from people who believe in a
literal, burning Hell. After finding the real meaning
of the "Hell words", it is so hard to understand how
one can be so hard and calloused as the people who
made these comments.
Click Here to Read the Comments.
You know, reading some of those comments, I get the
feeling that the "commenters" are coming up with the
best explanations they can to make some sense out
of of a rediculously, unbelievable, situation.
Think about it.....what kind of parent could look at
their child suffering horribly and not have one bit of
compassion? I am so thankful that I was allowed to
find what the original languages of the Bible say
about God's judgment and the purpose for it. It
makes so much more sense.....
God Is Reasonable! Religion is not.
literal, burning Hell. After finding the real meaning
of the "Hell words", it is so hard to understand how
one can be so hard and calloused as the people who
made these comments.
Click Here to Read the Comments.
You know, reading some of those comments, I get the
feeling that the "commenters" are coming up with the
best explanations they can to make some sense out
of of a rediculously, unbelievable, situation.
Think about it.....what kind of parent could look at
their child suffering horribly and not have one bit of
compassion? I am so thankful that I was allowed to
find what the original languages of the Bible say
about God's judgment and the purpose for it. It
makes so much more sense.....
God Is Reasonable! Religion is not.
Cindy's Birthday Card