Preacher Loses Job

Good Morning!

Fox News carried an article yesterday about a Methodist preacher who was dismissed because he posted on Facebook about his lack of belief in a literal hell. He was commenting on a book by another preacher who heads a 10,000 member congregation – and also questions the existence of hell. As of this writing there have been almost 2,900 comments on this article.

What do Christians believe about heaven and hell? Well, apparently there are a number of beliefs … if you read the postings on the article. This Christian believes that God has provided a means for you and me to have eternal life with Him or eternal death without Him.

Jesus believed in hell. Matthew makes seven references where Jesus told people about their actions resulting in them ending in hell. Peter (through Mark) relates three instances. And in his second general letter, Peter talks about false prophets / teachers thusly:

2 Peter 2:1-10 (New International Version, ©2011)
False Teachers and Their Destruction
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[a] putting them in chains of darkness[b] to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh[c] and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;
Footnotes:
a. 2 Peter 2:4 Greek Tartarus
b. 2 Peter 2:4 Some manuscripts in gloomy dungeons
c. 2 Peter 2:10 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 18.

So I believe there is a literal hell to which a person can end up … on his own accord. A number of the respondents to the article talk about God sending people to Hell – which shows that they are still playing the blame game – shifting the blame for their dilemma to “someone else”. God doesn’t send anyone to hell – the person chooses to ignore God’s offer of eternal life in Christ Jesus. The result of that choice is eternal separation from the fellowship with the Father.

The above mentioned preachers who have questioned the existence do so from the perspective that preaching a literal hell scares people away. And I can understand that to a point … but as one who proclaims God’s Word, I believe we have to be truthful in presenting both sides.

Now I know you know that I don’t major on the punishment that comes from rejecting God. I much prefer to share the benefits of knowing God. But that doesn’t mean that punishment doesn’t await those who reject God’s free gift of eternal life. There is a judgment that will come – even if we don’t want to talk about it.

Oh, well, we come to the end of another week. God has been good to us all week long and I cannot wait to see what He has in store for us this weekend. God bless you throughout this weekend.

Agape’


Mr. Jim