Consecrated

As I went through this last week and reflected upon it’s culmination two thousand years ago, I was struck yet again with how fast the days went by and my seemingly feeble attempts at consecrating those days to my Lord. You must understand, my desire was noble and attainable. To take a few days and set them apart (hence the term; consecrate) not only sounded reasonable but also a welcome change to the often frantic pace that in which we all seem to be living. But alas, as each day slipped through my fingers like fine sand from a dry sea shore, I found my self looking at the clock and wondering where my “set aside” time went? It’s not like I was playing Play station or Xbox or wasting my time, I was just focusing on other things that obviously needed my attention. Sunday school, Care Group, a sermon that I will deliver at a friend’s church in two weeks, three books that need my focused attention or I’ll never finish them. And on, and on, and on it goes – where does it stop? Please God, let me know. But something else meandered it’s way into my Tyrrany of the urgent. A thought that I have had many times before, even dare I say, taught many times before. My Lord gently reminded me that although I was “busy” doing things for him (and secretly checking those things off my to-do list) I was still “consecrated” in all I did. What a concept! What freedom! Fly away guilt! Be banished depression! And it was when things seemed the darkest that this “consecrated” thought brought the light that shines on my path and makes my way straight. And wonderful things began to happen. I began to praise God for what Jesus had done on the cross. What he had done for me. For paying the debt that was due to my name. For redeeming my life. For bridging the chasm that separated me from a holy and loving God. A God of immense power and purity as well as a Deity infinite in knowledge and love. With simplicity He reminded me that I am His. And that all I do, even when it feels like I’m just completing the mundane tasks set before me, all that I do can be “consecrated”to Him and for Him. So for all of us out there this week feeling like we’re just going to break even and push our way through until Monday I want to remind you of something that a prof said to me once… “Work like everything depends on you, pray like everything depends on Him and nothing will be the same again”. We who have put our faith in Jesus Christ the risen Lord have be consecrated, we have been set apart. May all we do and say this weekend reflect that awesome reality. Gloria Deos.

What Ever Happened to Hell?

Well everyone, here is my next installment. For now I will be limiting my blog entries to once a week. There are a number of reasons as to why but for now let me say that the top reason is two fold. (1) I want to learn how to write articles and periodicals for the purpose of someday having them published. When and where is still a mystery but it is a goal. (2) I want to develop a more disciplined routine when it comes to meeting deadlines. I am pretty good in meeting dead lines that people in authority over me will set, however, I a can become a procrastinator when it comes to meeting my own deadlines. This could be a poll for a future blog! Oh, the possibilities are endless! So here is part two of what seems to be a four part series (not nesscessarily in sequential order).

After reading a little more about this issue that no one seems to want to talk about I have come to understand at a broader level some things or views that have guided and/or molded our transition in belief and understanding of this topic about Hell.

The question must be asked, “What has happened in our churches and our Denominations that caused the ‘downplay’ or ‘de-emphasizing’ of Hell”? Four short answers come to mind. I will briefly (and I mean it) explain each of my findings.

First we see a changed view of God. By this I mean that on a couple of levels we see ourselves contrasting the revelation of God in the Old Testament with the revelation of God in the New Testament and we say that they are drastically different. We see one in the Old as being harsh, cruel, brutal and uncomprimisizing in regards to the seemingly petty crimes, while in the new we see Jesus telling us that “…for God so loved the world that He gave…” (John 3:16), and as a disciple of Jesus - Peter writes, “…he (God) does not want any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance…” (2 Peter 3:9b) and many other scripture verses tell us of the mercy and love and forgiveness of God. Some would look at this and say that for God to willing send those who reject him to hell for eternity would be too cruel or vindictive for a loving God.

Second we see a changed view of the Justice of God. A cursory reading of the first three chapters of the book of Romans would reveal for us a very dark, bleak and hopeless picture for mankind. What hope do we have when we stand before a Holy and Righteous and Omnipotent Deity who demands perfection? Who demands Holiness? (1 Peter 1:13-16). What happens to the standard of holiness that God requires when we choose to ignore his words in the Bible? When we essentially choose our way over his way (for that is what sin is – choosing our way of doing things rather than choosing God’s way.) What happens to the standard of holiness when we sin? If there is no penalty for our sins then why would Jesus have to die on the cross for us? Why would Jesus have to pay our debt for sin?

Thirdly, we see a changed view on personal responsibility for wrong doing. Go ahead and read the newspaper or listen to news radio. Go ahead and read and listen and email me back the moment you hear or read of someone saying that they were wrong and that they will take full responsibility for what they have done. People will come up with every excuse under the sun to avoid taking personal responsibility for wrong decisions, wrong actions even for saying the wrong thing. The blame will be passed onto someone else, anybody else that may have had any influence on that person at all. Biological, Genetic, behavioral or subconscious influences are to blame – not the individual. Somehow, “It’s not my fault” should be incorporated into the national anthem.

Fourth, we see a changed concept of salvation. What are you saved for? What are you saved from? To whom are you saved? To what are you saved? From what are you saved? From whom are you saved? The pendulum has swung very far indeed from the original reasons that are listed in the book of Acts regarding the questions and answers of being saved. I see a pattern of people moving from a complete view and understanding about salvation to an inadequate view that cannot address the tougher issues regarding our faith in Jesus Christ. And I estimate that the shift comes directly from cultural pressure and environment. And maybe perhaps from our own churches that would abandon this doctrine only to run arms wide open into the micro-culture that surrounds them.

There is so much more to write but I feel that people will stop coming to read if these articles are too long to read. But I feel that this doctrine is too important to the gospel to see it disappear and fade away into the church closet (along with the choir robes, old pews, and overhead projector). To end let me quote the book that I am reading, “…the temptation to revise the doctrine of hell is understandable. But it is also a major test of evangelical conviction…” – to this I add that we need to say “I will not be shaken”.

Sola Fide / Sola Gratis / Sola Scriptura

Going Down in Flames

Well this might be the first of a couple of entries so keep your bloggers peeled. I've got a fire in my bones and it has to do with a particular doctrine that is very important to me. This doctrine so affected me as a sixteen year old punk kid that I made a very well informed and serious decision to abandon my life to the One who is greater than all of us, namely Jesus Christ. But abandonment does not neseccesarily mean uninvolved. For this decision about submission runs it's course almost everyday. But more on that at a later blog. The doctrine that has me so fired up is the doctrine of Hell. You will notice that I used a capital "h" in the previous sentence which would indicate that I consider it an actual place that exists beyond this physical arena we call life. But many within the Christian community are abandoning this doctrine because it seems too "harsh" for a loving God. The fundamental question seems to be, "Why would a God of love and compassion and mercy willingly and purposefully send people to hell?". To be sure this question on the surface seems logical and sensible. But if allowed to fester, this question, like it has in so many all ready, will begin to undermine and supplant the supremacy and sovereignty of God. In an effort to make the "Good News" more appealing, preachers and teachers have begun to remove this doctrine not only from their library of doctrinal thought and convictions but from their understanding and interpretation of scripture and ultimately from the understanding of what the "Good News" is really all about. We see so much focus now on the Purpose for your life, or the ability you have to choose a better life in Christ or that you deserve better from God because He is loving and you are after all one of his children. I feel that my blog is now turning into a rant. Much like a rhinoceros sensing fire and running as fast as he can in no particular direction. I am sorry. I will try to better organize my thoughts and words in the future. And like I said, I will most likely have more to input on this important doctrine at a later date. But could you my reader please inform me of your thoughts? I am curious as to whether you agree with or not. The question is this...Do you believe that there is a Hell? That there is a specific place and for a specific amount of time (eternal or temporal) that people will go after they die? If yes, please tell me why. If no, again please tell me why. I am not looking for any opportunity to enter into a deep dialogue with you, I only want to experience what so many authors are telling me today. Namely, that many people are leaving or down right dismissing any acknowledgement that there could be such a place as Hell.

Until later, or when it freezes over,

Sola Fide - Sola Gratis - Sola Scriptura

Peer pressure

Sometimes I don't understand how a group of people can influence a decision such as this as to publish world wide, thoughts that may be deemed as crazy, weird or just plain out to lunch. However the ending, I must ensure that the process is good, the goals gratifying and the day to day (sometimes minute by minute) routine ratifying. To this I plod. To this I train. To this I blog.