What The Hell

 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4: 8 NKJV 

It's a message which has caused a great deal of controversy in the mainstream church over the years.  Who is it that is damned to hell?  What mistakes are so outrageous that a loving God would turn His back on the one who made them?  Many times in scripture it is referred to as the "Lake of fire" where unbelievers end up after their lives here on earth are complete.  One thing is certain, only the Lord has the power to save or condemn anyone.  For most of my Christian life, hell was a place which I feared I would end up if I didn't do what the pastor told me to do.  That is, live my life in such a godly way that the Lord would be hard pressed to condemn me.  To live my life "Like Jesus," emulating His holy example.  Well, if you ask me, Jesus set the bar pretty high for someone like me to attain.  I mean, I was but a sinner right?  How can sinful flesh ever be seen as worthy of being loved in the eyes of God?  This was the question I asked myself many times as I struggled to align myself with who I thought God wanted me to be.  The trouble with this way of thinking is that when we engage in it, we're eliminating Christ from the conversation.  For it is Jesus who took our sins to Himself at the cross {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  It is also Christ who has declared sin to be dead once and for all {Romans 6:11}.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have understood that Jesus needed to eliminate my own sin for me to be reconciled to God.  After all, this is the desire of the Lord, that ALL might be saved {John 3:17}.  Over the years, I've had a difficult time grasping how a loving God could turn His back on one of His children and condemn them to hell.  This caused me to approach the Lord out of the fear of what punishment He would give me.  In the end I was faced with two choices, either God was a Lord to be feared...or what the church had been teaching me for so long was wrong.  

Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6: 6 - 11 NKJV 

Is it that far of a reach to say that believers have been taught something which just isn't true over the years?  Do you believe in a God of love...or a God of fear and punishment?  Because at the end of the day, this is the question that will determine how it is you view God.  This will be the filter which you see Him through.  As a young believer, I believed in the teachings that Gods anger could be roused to the point where He would condemn one of His own to a eternity of punishment.  That His love is conditional upon our behavior.  I wanted God to love me for me ALL of the time.  Well, it turns out that He does love me, and I am assured of this in scripture.  He loved me enough to create me in His own image {Genesis 1:27}.  He also loved me enough to allow His own Son to suffer on the cross that my own sins would be washed away.  I will never believe that a God who loved me this much would suddenly condemn me to a eternity of punishment.  What I will believe is that God is a God of love for His children.  That through Christ, we have now become one with Jesus and the Father {John 17:21}.  For Jesus did not come into this world to condemn...but to save.  As far as the question about hell goes, I believe if I was misled once by the teachings of the church...that it could certainly happen again.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4: 18 - 19 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Through The Looking Glass

 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come; For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.  And from such people turn away! 

2 Timothy 3: 1 - 5 NKJV 

The other day my friend sent me a news story of some political angle along with the quote..."This will make your blood boil."  My response to him?  Not really.  For many of the injustices and events described in this video I have been aware of for some time.  I guess I pride myself to being a follower of most things political as well as history.  The late Rush Limbaugh had a saying that he knew liberals like he knew himself.  Why?  Because those on the left end of our political arena have been using the exact same tactics for years on end.  So, not much of what they do surprises me anymore.  While thinking about this the other night I asked myself, is it possible to be a Christian in todays world?  Now, I know that many a believer might have asked the same question at some point, so I cannot claim to be the first.  From what I know about my faith and the God which I serve, I know in my heart that one can indeed be a Christian in this world without falling victim to it.  Indeed, we are warned in scripture of just how many troubles and tribulations which we will face in life.  We have warnings from Jesus {Matthew 6:25-34}.  We also have the apostle Paul warning young Timothy about the ways of this world {2 Timothy 3:1-5}.  So, the warning bells have been there for some time.  I cannot say for sure, but I believe that one of the reasons which Paul gave such a strong warning to his young apprentice was to prevent him from falling victim to the desires of this world.  Even back in Paul's day I'm sure that there were plenty of temptations to go around.  That will never change.  For as long as we are living in this physical world, we will always be faced with situations and temptations which will run contrary to our faith and beliefs.  On a personal note, I have fallen victim more than a few times to bad behaviors and thinking wrong of others.  I would venture to say that anyone who claims to have never engaged in such things are lying to themselves {1 John3:10}.  

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater then he who is in the world.

1 John 4: 4 NKJV  

I am not naive enough to trust that all Christians will stick to their beliefs like white on rice.  Hey, if I could stumble and fall before then it's possible for any believer to follow that wayward path.  My advice to these people is simple, never forget who you are.  I've been through many occasions where I've acted out and followed what the world believes.  Does this change the fact that Jesus is my true identity?  Not in the least.  One of my favorite passages from scripture is that of the prodigal son {Luke 15:11-31}.  With this parable, Jesus tells us that in spite of ourselves, the love of the Father is absolute.  That is the wonderful thing about God, His love is unchanging throughout our life journey.  I have heard many a Christian claim that God has changed over time.  Brother, God hasn't changed, WE'VE CHANGED.  I believe that this nation of ours once had a deeper faith and respect for the Lord.  However, over time we as a people have chosen on more than one occasion to follow the path of the world over the path the Lord has given us.  Granted, since He is in all of His creation and is all knowing, He most certainly knew we would do just that.  Just as He was aware that His chosen people, Israel, would follow the ways of the world as well.  Does God withdraw His love for us once we decide to follow the worlds lead?  No, but He does allow us to make that choice despite it being the wrong one.  At the end of the day, when we're weary and beat up from what the world has dished out to us, God is there to love us.  There is nowhere we can go that is out of His reach.  There is also nothing we might do that His grace and forgiveness cannot overcome.  

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

John 16: 33 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Ego Eimi

 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled?  And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  "Behold My feet, that it is I myself.  Handle Me and see, for a Spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

Luke 24: 38 - 39 NKJV 

It must have been tough for the disciples of Jesus to accept the man who was standing before them claiming to be their former teacher.  Let's face it, not that long ago many of them had witnessed Jesus die at the hands of the Romans and Jewish religious authorities.  Although He had spoken many times as to  what must take place in His life, these men still were late for lunch when it came time to accepting what Jesus had predicted as true.  What I love about these scriptures from the physician Luke is that Jesus does not condemn His friends for their unbelief.  Instead He shares a meal with them by the shore of the sea.  One of my bibles declares the scriptures immediately following Jesus sharing this meal with His disciples as His "Ascension."  We can get into exactly what it is that is taught about this journey of Jesus at some point, but for now we see Him leaving His friends.  Jesus leaving?  Yes, that is what we're told in these scriptures.  We're told that Jesus "Was parted from them and carried up into heaven" {Luke 24:51}.  My first thought in reading this verse is that Jesus is gone.  He is no longer around, but has separated Himself from us by rising to be with the Father in heaven.  Now, if you are a hardcore church teaching believer, you will indeed accept this as truth.  But what if that which we have been told about the after ascension life of Jesus is not true at all?  Would you believe?  Or, would you simply be like one of the unbelieving disciples by the sea on that ascension morning?  Personally, I find it far more encouraging to hold on to the trust and belief in the truth about Christ Jesus.  The truth which tells me that Jesus is still very much part of my life.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV

How much closer can I be to Jesus than to have that realization that He is in me?  I don't need to follow church teachings which encourage me to "Be like Jesus."  I AM Him.  If you have ever heard of this truth of Christ in you and have struggled to accept it, join the club.  It is this truth which the apostle Paul deemed the 'mystery among the Gentiles" {Colossians 1:27}.  That is, people in Paul's day found that accepting the truth of Christ in us just as difficult as those of us today.  Does this make the reality of Jesus any less true?  Absolutely not.  Do I, at times, still feel like one of Jesus' disciples talking to Him by the sea that morning?  Absolutely.  Growing up in the realm of Christian teaching, it was difficult for me to accept that Jesus could be within me.  Yet, here He is.  We know that God has reconciled us to Him through Christ Jesus {2 Corinthians 5:18}.  We also know that through Him that we will be one with the Father {John 17:21}.  So, yes, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I should have no fear...for Christ is with me.  It is something which we can proclaim with all confidence.  Who am I?  EGO EIMI!  

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Redemption Morning

 

"But go, tell His disciples - and Peter - that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."

Mark 16: 7 NKJV 

I can't imagine how Peter must have felt in that moment.  Here he was, only days removed from what I'm sure Peter saw as his betrayal of his friend, teacher and Lord.  However, this is also exactly why the angel mentioned Peter by name that resurrection morning.  It was never His intent to allow Peter to keep his own failure in his heart.  This was Peters redemption day.  No matter how strong your faith or belief, across the world this morning millions of people will celebrate what can only best be described as a miracle.  A man put to death on a cross.  That same man buried in a tomb.  Then, as the sun rose on the third day...death became life.  I've been told that Easter brings about new beginnings.  That it is a good example of reconciliation.  I agree.  However, once again on this Easter Sunday, my thoughts turn to something far less than redemption.  See, for me Easter represents something completely different than it might for many people.  I agree that the scriptures are correct, that Jesus walked out of that tomb that morning, defeating death once and for all {Romans 6:9}.  I also agree that those who came to His tomb that morning were not expecting what they ultimately found there.  One thing that Easter represents for me is failure.  Failure?  Yes, failure.  For it was on Easter morning in 2010 that I walked through the doors of a church for the last time.  For those who have been reading these pages for awhile, you know the story of my Easter revelation and how it put me on the road to knowing who Jesus really is.  It was on Easter morning that I sat and listened to another pulpit pounder give his sermon on the wonders of the risen Christ.  How Jesus had bled and died to free us of our sins.  Then...it happened.  At the end of his sermon, the pastor invited anyone who felt that they had unconfessed sin in their lives to come forward for prayer.  Believe me, I had been feeling pretty good up until that point.  Feeling confident in my heart that Jesus forgave me.  Yet, now this man was telling me that might not be true?  I wasn't confused at all.  For I knew that Jesus died for me.  However, I was upset that the good news of the resurrection of Christ had been hijacked.  I walked out never to return.

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' "  And they remembered His words.

Luke 24: 5 - 8 NKJV 

There have been many times where I have felt like Peter must have felt that morning.  Rejected and alone.  Indeed, I used to think that people who gave up coming to church had given up on God.  I hadn't given up on God, just on how He was being taught.  I guess that I could remember that Sunday morning as my own redemption morning.  It wasn't long until I began to hear whispers of conversations.  Conversations on how we had the wrong view of who Jesus is.  Yes, He died on the cross and was raised on the third day, I get that.  But what about after that?  Well, we're told that after His resurrection  that Jesus was seen by a multitude of over 500 people including His disciples.  For over 40 days prior to His ascension, Jesus was seen and talked to a multitude of people.  My point being...Jesus is NOT dead!  This was the Jesus I wanted to know.  Eventually, a dear friend and brother introduced me to the Jesus that He knew.  The Jesus whom the apostle Paul claimed lived in him {Galatians 2:20}.  This was the Jesus I wanted to know.  Not the guy who ascended to heaven and stayed there, apart from the rest of us.  I believe that to be bogus teaching.  The Jesus I now know is a Jesus of love, compassion and redemption.  I now know how Peter must have felt on that redemption morning. 

~Scott~ 

Papa

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8: 38 - 39 NKJV 

I had the opportunity to watch the film heaven is for real the other night.  I believe that I have seen this movie before, but this time it was different in the way I viewed it.  See, the last time I saw this movie I had a totally different understanding of who God is.  I had a different knowing of who Jesus is.  I believe that my reaction to this movie the first time I saw it was that something such as what happened to young Colton Burpo could certainly happen to anyone, if they followed the Lords path. That is, if a believer was strong in the Lord, then such a experience could certainly happen.  Just look at the family depicted in the movie, the father was a pastor and they were very religious.  But is that the real reason why God chose to reveal to young Colton that which He did?  Knowing what I've learned about God I'd say no.  I say no because I know that God does not separate His children {Galatians 3:28}.   I know that the love of God is all encompassing {1 John 4:16}.  Therefore, I don't believe that there are any requirements if God should choose to show us what it is He wants us to see.  But this isn't about a movie.  This isn't about how a young kid saw things that were beyond physical description.  This is about how my own understanding of who God really is has changed.  Anyone who has seen the movie heaven is for real knows that by the end of the film, people began to see God differently.  As for myself, I refuse to know God as a giver of rules who rewards those who do well and punishes those who don't.  Yes, this might be the God of popular religious teaching, but I don't believe that it resembles the Lord too well.  Ask yourself, does God love you more than me?  Does He favor me over you?  So, if Gods love knows no end and with Him there is no favoritism, how then is it that God can punish one yet bless another?  Again, that is what we're taught.  Trust me, if I taught you for 2,000 years that the sky was brown, you'd believe it.  I was taught to be the good Christian and that God would reward me.  Well, along the way I had things happen in my life which made me wonder if God was somehow mad at me.  I was questioning God.  Now, I am neither a blasphemer nor a heretic, I simply wanted to know if God was upset with me.  It turns out He wasn't mad, and that I didn't know Him as well as I thought I did.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4: 7 - 8 NKJV 

What is it that you know about God?  Do you know that He is holy?  Do you know that He created the heavens and the earth?  Congratulations, you were paying attention in church.  Now, what is it that you KNOW about the Father?  What is it that you feel in your heart about who He is?  For me, God has a very special place in me.  The apostle Paul tells us that it is Christ Jesus who lives in us {Galatians 2:20}.  Yes, that old man we once were has been nailed to the cross of Christ and put to death never to return {Romans 6:6}.  Yes, despite all you have done, God loved you enough that Jesus would take your sins upon Himself upon the cross {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  We now have no basis to believe that our sin can keep us from a close relationship with God.  How can something that's dead keep us from knowing God?  If you have any doubt that sin is something we still need to fear, heed the words of Paul when he claims that we reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin {Romans 6:11}.  Indeed, there is nothing which stands in our way of knowing who God really is.  Who is God?  Well, if you have ever felt His love within you, then you know Him already. 

We love Him because He first loved us

1 John 4: 19 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

False Expectations

 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1: 21 NKJV 

I spent some time this week looking through the scriptures on the birth of Jesus looking for where it was written that the Son of God would be a great military leader.  Of course, I could not find such a verse no matter how long I searched.  Yet, in the years leading up to the birth of Christ, this was the prevailing view among many of the Jewish faith.  It seemed that the birth of Jesus would bring forth the defeat of the Roman occupation, the rebuilding of the temple which the Romans had destroyed and the restoration of the kingdom of David to it's former glory.  These events were not part of the prophesy of the birth of Jesus.  In fact, the medieval sage Maimonides laid out specific events in his Mishneh Torah which the Jews believed would confirm the identity of the Messiah.  Maimonides wrote that, "If he is not successful with this, or if he is killed, it's known that he is not the one that was promised by the Torah."  So, since Jesus has been crucified, are we to now believe that He is not the risen Messiah?  Well, that's a good story if you can sell it.  The truth of the matter is that the prophesy concerning Jesus never mentions that He would be the military leader who would lead the Jews against the Roman occupation of the holy lands.  But what does that prophesy say about Jesus?  That Jesus should reign as king {Jeremiah 23:5}.  Jesus is the image of God {Colossians 1:15}.  The prophesy told of the coming king of Israel {Zechariah 9:9}.  Nowhere is it mentioned that Jesus would defeat the occupying Romans.  Well, nowhere but in the writings of Maimonides.  

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9: 6 NKJV 

I find it hard to believe that, having the writings of the prophets in the years leading up to the birth of Jesus, that many Jews continued to believe that their promised Messiah would deliver them from the Romans.  I get it.  I have watched a few popular movies on the birth of Jesus, and I am always intrigued that among the population of Jerusalem there is a movement of those opposed to the Roman occupation.  These zealots, apparently founded by a man named Judas, were opposed to the Roman occupation and fought against them.  What is important to remember, however, is that Jesus Himself never advocates for this insurrection.  Instead, He calls on His followers to bless those who persecute them {Luke 6:28, Matthew 5:11-12}.  Jesus represented a radical shift in the old ways, something the Jews of His day were definitely not expecting.  While the Jewish leaders prepared to stone a adulterous woman, Jesus called on the one who had never sinned to cast that first stone {John 8:7}.  Indeed, many of the long accepted ways from the days of the old testament were at odds with the radical new teaching which Jesus was bringing to the table.  This was no longer an eye for an eye, but the expression of the Lords love for His people through Jesus.  In fact, were it not for Jesus, the Lord God might never be seen at all.

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

~Scott~ 

The Fire Down Below

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

John 1: 1 - 5 NKJV 

It wasn't my intention this Sunday morning to step into the path of heresy and controversy, yet here I am.  I received a few compliments on Saturdays writing about heaven.  However, I believe that this was because I didn't rock the Christian theological boat all that much.  I still agree that there is a heaven, I'm just not sure we know where it is.  So, if there is indeed a heaven, can we also assume that there is it's direct opposite?  Ok, I'll just say it and get it out of the way...hell.  Indeed, we are reminded in various places in scripture that hell is that place reserved for those found not worthy to spend eternity in the Lords presence.  I take this to mean those who will not acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior.  The apostle Paul lays it out for us in Romans that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead that we would be saved {Romans 10:9}.  That is pretty cut and dry.  But I didn't choose this topic on hell this morning as a warning to wavering believers.  There is a reason that I chose the leading scripture that I did for this writing.  A reason that more than a few Christians may disagree with.  That is, if we agree that God created the heavens and the earth then we must also agree that He is responsible for creating hell as well?  That God Himself is responsible for the creation of Lucifer?  I don't feel that we can adhere to believing that God created the heavens and the earth and not also agree that the lake of fire we all fear was created by His spoken word as well.  Now, popular Christian teaching tells us that hell is that place where unbelievers spend their eternity.  I believe that they at least get this partly correct.  So, is a eternity in hell but a eternity apart from God?  That is a very hot, flaming place apart from God. Possibly.  Keep in mind that as creator of all which is seen AND unseen, that Gods fingerprints are upon all of creation.  Doesn't it seem like blasphemy that God would be in hell?  

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.  God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  Love has been perfected in us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us. 

1 John 4: 16 - 19 NKJV 

God in hell?  I'll do you one better, what if all we have been told about hell isn't really correct?  Yes, it's been used to frighten more than a few believers to straighten up and behave, I get that.  But is this the reality of the underworld?  We're told that hell is a place of torment {Revelation 14:11}.  However, we're also told that there can be no torment with the Father {1 John 4:18}.  So is hell indeed a place of torment?  Well, let me lay it out for you to decide.  In the beginning God created all which is seen and unseen {Genesis 1:1}.  This would include the earth as we know it, heaven and...hell.  Pretty much everything we have ever known, good and bad, was created by the Father in the beginning.  So, if we agree that God indeed created hell, and if in the perfect love of the Father there is no fear nor torment, can there be torment in hell?  I realize that this digs up more than a few interesting questions for my readers, and you are free to post them in the comment section of this page.  I can understand that this may rock the boat of Christian theology.  Hell, I had a hard enough time coming to terms with it myself.  However, as I said, I simply present the facts as I see them.  Every believer need make their own decision on how they see God and His creation.  If I am accused of heresy, it wouldn't be the first time.  However, I refuse to see the Father from the viewpoint of fear and punishment.  If we abide in the perfect love of the Father, then that fear is a thing of the past.  

"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."

Revelation 4: 11 NKJV 

~Scott~