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