Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reflections on this sensitive topic. It's clear that you've given it much thought, and your passion for sharing the truth of God's Word is commendable.
It's important to remember that the God we serve is a loving and merciful God, but also a just and righteous one. It's true that many people may struggle with the concept of hell, but as you've pointed out, it is a reality that cannot be ignored. It's vital for us to seek the truth and not fall into the trap of creating a god that suits our own desires.
However, let's also remember the power of grace and compassion in our conversations with others. We are all on a journey, and each person's understanding and relationship with God can grow and change over time. By showing love, patience, and understanding, we can help others see the beauty and truth of God's Word.
Let us pray for those who are struggling with their faith or have misconceptions about God's character. May we be a light to them, guiding them towards the truth and love of our Heavenly Father.
The old testament teaches there are gods, Exodus 20:3, and Jesus believed in gods, John 10:34. Perhaps some gods have a hell while other gods do not. Then both sides can be happy with their chosen god.
Thank you, David. The gospel of libertinism takes God’s grace and says since you are under it that it doesn’t matter what you do. I think many in this arena end up forming God in their image rather than understanding that in fact they were formed in His. God Bless!
I have heard a version of “My god ... loves people and wouldn’t send them to hell" from two pastors (one retiring and being succeeded by the other) at one of my former churches. I visited them both after I left, and compared gospels with them. Their version simplified to "God is love -- only -- no wrath". They didn't try to change the Bible, they just didn't believe quite a lot of it. Not exactly postmodernist, but rather simply modernist. One was UCC/Congregationalist and the other was PC(USA).
I grew up in a conditionalist church, returned to it as an adult, and belonged to a different one after that. I have questions about tradition vs. scripture in this regard, but my questions don't have any bearing upon what God is going to do, and I don't take a hard stand on the matter. God's wrath, Gehenna, and the Lake of Fire are clear in scripture.
The question is, do the lost also "have eternal life", but of a different character. The answer evidently comes easily if you were raised in a tradition that says "yes". I have sifted through various other "different" things I was taught growing up, rejecting them based upon scripture, bringing me into alignment with orthodox teaching. This matter, however, is proving more difficult.
You'll never be able to save all of humanity. There are too many who create a god in their own image. One who is a believer pushes forward to know and learn more from Gods Word. There were men who were chosen to write His words down for us. I know there are too many today who scoff at Christianity. Cults and unbeliefe run rampent. The spiritual evil is unseen and after all it can tempt. I'll keep them in prayer. Thank you for the substack today. I appreciate it. Keep reaching out. Ppl are in need of the Lord now more than ever. Blessings
Your reasoning is circular. "Doctrine" is determined by humans. Humans wrote the books of the OT, NT and all the other religious texts from around the world. That these texts are the "word of God" is simply a matter of assertion on the part of humans. In fact, the "doctrines" of Christianity were developed by very human theologians during the several hundred years after Christ, arbitrarily putting their stamp of approval on some assertions over others, rejecting some texts and keeping others, often with senseless and terrible violence. What your friend was saying was that she did not believe the texts asserting that the angry Christian god sent people to hell after death. As a matter of fact, there is little in the scriptures that supports such a belief, which is why Jews don't believe in hell, and neither do some Christian sects like Jehovah's Witnesses. The scriptural support is not strong.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reflections on this sensitive topic. It's clear that you've given it much thought, and your passion for sharing the truth of God's Word is commendable.
It's important to remember that the God we serve is a loving and merciful God, but also a just and righteous one. It's true that many people may struggle with the concept of hell, but as you've pointed out, it is a reality that cannot be ignored. It's vital for us to seek the truth and not fall into the trap of creating a god that suits our own desires.
However, let's also remember the power of grace and compassion in our conversations with others. We are all on a journey, and each person's understanding and relationship with God can grow and change over time. By showing love, patience, and understanding, we can help others see the beauty and truth of God's Word.
Let us pray for those who are struggling with their faith or have misconceptions about God's character. May we be a light to them, guiding them towards the truth and love of our Heavenly Father.
The old testament teaches there are gods, Exodus 20:3, and Jesus believed in gods, John 10:34. Perhaps some gods have a hell while other gods do not. Then both sides can be happy with their chosen god.
Thank you, David. The gospel of libertinism takes God’s grace and says since you are under it that it doesn’t matter what you do. I think many in this arena end up forming God in their image rather than understanding that in fact they were formed in His. God Bless!
I have heard a version of “My god ... loves people and wouldn’t send them to hell" from two pastors (one retiring and being succeeded by the other) at one of my former churches. I visited them both after I left, and compared gospels with them. Their version simplified to "God is love -- only -- no wrath". They didn't try to change the Bible, they just didn't believe quite a lot of it. Not exactly postmodernist, but rather simply modernist. One was UCC/Congregationalist and the other was PC(USA).
I grew up in a conditionalist church, returned to it as an adult, and belonged to a different one after that. I have questions about tradition vs. scripture in this regard, but my questions don't have any bearing upon what God is going to do, and I don't take a hard stand on the matter. God's wrath, Gehenna, and the Lake of Fire are clear in scripture.
The question is, do the lost also "have eternal life", but of a different character. The answer evidently comes easily if you were raised in a tradition that says "yes". I have sifted through various other "different" things I was taught growing up, rejecting them based upon scripture, bringing me into alignment with orthodox teaching. This matter, however, is proving more difficult.
You'll never be able to save all of humanity. There are too many who create a god in their own image. One who is a believer pushes forward to know and learn more from Gods Word. There were men who were chosen to write His words down for us. I know there are too many today who scoff at Christianity. Cults and unbeliefe run rampent. The spiritual evil is unseen and after all it can tempt. I'll keep them in prayer. Thank you for the substack today. I appreciate it. Keep reaching out. Ppl are in need of the Lord now more than ever. Blessings
Your reasoning is circular. "Doctrine" is determined by humans. Humans wrote the books of the OT, NT and all the other religious texts from around the world. That these texts are the "word of God" is simply a matter of assertion on the part of humans. In fact, the "doctrines" of Christianity were developed by very human theologians during the several hundred years after Christ, arbitrarily putting their stamp of approval on some assertions over others, rejecting some texts and keeping others, often with senseless and terrible violence. What your friend was saying was that she did not believe the texts asserting that the angry Christian god sent people to hell after death. As a matter of fact, there is little in the scriptures that supports such a belief, which is why Jews don't believe in hell, and neither do some Christian sects like Jehovah's Witnesses. The scriptural support is not strong.