I hope my thoughts are not offensive, and I apologize in advance if that is the case.
One day in church I was there with my non-believing husband and non-believing daughter. A seemingly kind man read aloud a passage in the bible (I believe it's Revelation 21:8): "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Basically my husband took this to mean he will be sent to Hell for not believing in the God of the bible. And this really upset him. After that, he didn't feel like going back to church.
And I didn't blame him. I know what the Bible says, and I do believe in it. I certainly don't have all the answers as a new believer. But I do know my husband and my daughter are two of the most kindest, sweetest persons I have ever met. It's a hard pill to swallow that Jeffrey Dahmer is sitting up in heaven after murdering 17 humans, yet my husband and daughter will go to hell simply because they did not know (don't believe). It's hard to think that humans and children all over the planet will go to hell because no one told them who Jesus Christ was, that he even existed. Hardly seems like a God of Love.
When I expressed my concern to a friend, they said it was good for my husband and daughter to hear that. They need to know they will go to hell if they don't believe. My stomach turned. I thought "is this really the message we want to send to non-believers?" As a former non-believer, I can tell you with 100% certainty if you would have told me this, I would have told you to go to hell yourself. What I cannot stand is righteous religious people who stand up and say others are going to Hell while they themselves commit all sorts of sins and are forgiven - and simply "go to Heaven" because they believe. It doesn't feel like the message Jesus wanted to send, at least not to me.
I went to a bible study one night and a man said something that has stuck with me. He pointed out that when Jesus came and walked among us, the people from the lowest dredges of society were drawn to him. He didn't come for the perfect could-do-no-wrong people, he came for the prostitutes, tax collectors, the lowly of the low. Jesus was good news for the poor and oppressed. This gentleman pointed out that as followers of Christ, are we drawing people like that to us? I fear the answer for many Christians might be "no."
During last week's service my pastor made the observation that as followers of Christ, "Christians" - that when people see us we are supposed to be good news. "Look, a Christian has arrived! Thank God help has come!" Or when you see a church being built, people should think "Thank goodness, help is coming!" But is this the reality? I fear not.
I recently told a Christian friend about my new found love for the Lord and how much peace and happiness this relationship has brought to me life. This person's reaction was "now do you find it hard to hang around friends who aren't believers?" I must admit, at first it was. I didn't want to make them uncomfortable because God was all I could talk about. But distance myself from my friends that have seen me through difficult times in my life, and have always stuck by me when I was less than loving? I didn't think that felt right. I love my friends. I think I will simply take the advice I have heard so often since finding God. "Don't talk about the light. BE the light." Actions speak louder than words. By walking away from friends that don't believe, or distancing myself, what does that say to them about God? What message does that send?
I wear a necklace with a cross on it. For some reason when this cross is visible to others, I feel strongly compelled to smile more, showing over the top kindness, patience, gentleness, and love. I constantly think "Heather, you are REPRESENTING." I am Christian, and I represent everything for which Christ stood. I can only hope I am making Him proud. I want non-believers and everyone else who doesn't know Jesus to really see what it means to be a Christian, and for me this is a very tall order. Be the best person I can be. Love everyone, judge no one, don't be a hypocrite, don't think that my relationship with Jesus makes me better than other people.
Today my prayer is that fellow Christians all over the planet would remember that we are representing Christ. To practice kindness and love - to be gentle and loving and forgiving as Christ was with all persons viewed as "sinners" (...the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars...).
I don't believe anyone is going to Hell. That's where I stand today. For me Hell was right here on earth, living in depression. Now I have entered the Kingdom of Heaven, meaning I've found true inner peace and happiness. :-)
As always, comments and feedback are welcome. I love discussing this stuff. If I have this all wrong, by all means please tell me!!
One day in church I was there with my non-believing husband and non-believing daughter. A seemingly kind man read aloud a passage in the bible (I believe it's Revelation 21:8): "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Basically my husband took this to mean he will be sent to Hell for not believing in the God of the bible. And this really upset him. After that, he didn't feel like going back to church.
And I didn't blame him. I know what the Bible says, and I do believe in it. I certainly don't have all the answers as a new believer. But I do know my husband and my daughter are two of the most kindest, sweetest persons I have ever met. It's a hard pill to swallow that Jeffrey Dahmer is sitting up in heaven after murdering 17 humans, yet my husband and daughter will go to hell simply because they did not know (don't believe). It's hard to think that humans and children all over the planet will go to hell because no one told them who Jesus Christ was, that he even existed. Hardly seems like a God of Love.
When I expressed my concern to a friend, they said it was good for my husband and daughter to hear that. They need to know they will go to hell if they don't believe. My stomach turned. I thought "is this really the message we want to send to non-believers?" As a former non-believer, I can tell you with 100% certainty if you would have told me this, I would have told you to go to hell yourself. What I cannot stand is righteous religious people who stand up and say others are going to Hell while they themselves commit all sorts of sins and are forgiven - and simply "go to Heaven" because they believe. It doesn't feel like the message Jesus wanted to send, at least not to me.
I went to a bible study one night and a man said something that has stuck with me. He pointed out that when Jesus came and walked among us, the people from the lowest dredges of society were drawn to him. He didn't come for the perfect could-do-no-wrong people, he came for the prostitutes, tax collectors, the lowly of the low. Jesus was good news for the poor and oppressed. This gentleman pointed out that as followers of Christ, are we drawing people like that to us? I fear the answer for many Christians might be "no."
During last week's service my pastor made the observation that as followers of Christ, "Christians" - that when people see us we are supposed to be good news. "Look, a Christian has arrived! Thank God help has come!" Or when you see a church being built, people should think "Thank goodness, help is coming!" But is this the reality? I fear not.
I recently told a Christian friend about my new found love for the Lord and how much peace and happiness this relationship has brought to me life. This person's reaction was "now do you find it hard to hang around friends who aren't believers?" I must admit, at first it was. I didn't want to make them uncomfortable because God was all I could talk about. But distance myself from my friends that have seen me through difficult times in my life, and have always stuck by me when I was less than loving? I didn't think that felt right. I love my friends. I think I will simply take the advice I have heard so often since finding God. "Don't talk about the light. BE the light." Actions speak louder than words. By walking away from friends that don't believe, or distancing myself, what does that say to them about God? What message does that send?
I wear a necklace with a cross on it. For some reason when this cross is visible to others, I feel strongly compelled to smile more, showing over the top kindness, patience, gentleness, and love. I constantly think "Heather, you are REPRESENTING." I am Christian, and I represent everything for which Christ stood. I can only hope I am making Him proud. I want non-believers and everyone else who doesn't know Jesus to really see what it means to be a Christian, and for me this is a very tall order. Be the best person I can be. Love everyone, judge no one, don't be a hypocrite, don't think that my relationship with Jesus makes me better than other people.
Today my prayer is that fellow Christians all over the planet would remember that we are representing Christ. To practice kindness and love - to be gentle and loving and forgiving as Christ was with all persons viewed as "sinners" (...the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars...).
I don't believe anyone is going to Hell. That's where I stand today. For me Hell was right here on earth, living in depression. Now I have entered the Kingdom of Heaven, meaning I've found true inner peace and happiness. :-)
As always, comments and feedback are welcome. I love discussing this stuff. If I have this all wrong, by all means please tell me!!
You never EVER have it wrong when you're expressing your hopes and wishes. You are not wrong when you pray for understanding. People who tell you that you're wrong are judging and that is a particularly slippery slope.
ReplyDeleteJudge not, that ye be not judged (Mat 7)doesn't mean that you should never judge, but only that you must be willing to apply that same clear eye to yourself - a feat too many Christians refuse to do.
I would even go so far as to say that there may be almost limitless interpretations of the Bible. (If there were only one, then we'd be stoning people for eating shellfish, right?)
Enjoy your journey and the lessons you'll learn along the way and screw the people who talk of Hell when they clearly don't understand the concept.
Thanks for your feedback Bill, I appreciate it. You are my first comment on my new blog! I find I do judge people in my head but then I immediately say 'Hey Heather that wasn't nice' and then replace the bad thought with a nice one. :) Honestly, I know I am not worthy to judge anyone. I am so far from perfect.
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