2
Timothy 2:23 - 26 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments,
because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be
quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them
repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to
their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive
to do his will.
Oh what tempest Rob Bell with “Love Wins”
has set off. I am getting together with
some buddies on Wednesday to watch “Hell Bound.” This is the documentary by local film maker
Kevin Miller, which investigates the doctrines of hell. Currently it is on Netflix if anyone is interested
in watching. He does a rather good job
of exploring the differing arguments.
A while ago, I had become embroiled in a
discussion regarding the doctrine of hell.
Considering the topic em-BROILED is an appropriate term. It matters not, really, which side each is
on, and the details of the disagreement.
What matters is that there is a disagreement.
And actually, to be fair, the conversation
has been about salvation being offered after the person has died. I am not going to tip my hand on how I sit on
the issue; it matters not. The two sides
are when; you die that’s it versus there is a provision of grace after death.
It is a dialogue that I feel very
passionate about, and have researched a fair amount in respect to the two sides
– the universalists and exclusivists (not sure if that is the right term). I find that when these perspectives are
expressed in their extremes the following happens:
1. Both sides take bible verses that have
nothing to do with the topic and correlate that into a position of supporting
their doctrine.
Thus, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed
out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for
training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for
every good work.” is offered as a verse proving that hell exists and that we
have only this life to avoid it.
Meanwhile Job 23:13 "He is in one
mind, and who can turn him" is offered up as proof that all men will be
saved.
2. I believe that both beliefs in extreme
diminish the power of the cross.
The
belief that salvation can be won after death can come close to making Christ’s
sacrifice pointless. Those who hold that
once you stop breathing that is it, border on limiting the significance of
compassion that was displayed on the
cross.
3. Both sides expressed in their extremes,
show a great misunderstanding of God.
The one side, if you do not confess in this
life you go to hell, greatly misunderstands the compassion of God. The example being, a Muslim woman raised in
an Islamic country is never afforded the privilege of receiving the
gospel. When she dies would the same God
that felt such compassion for us that he came to die for us send her to
hell? The doctrine of confess before you
die, in its extreme, does not allow for her salvation; and I believe gravely
misunderstands the mercy of God.
The other side, every one eventually gives
up and comes to grace, greatly misunderstands the capacity of choice God has
given us. An acquaintance of mine has
repeatedly rejected Christ. He has done
this because he does not want to admit he is wrong!! (His words) The doctrine of it doesn’t matter what you do
in this life you will be in anyway, in its extreme, does not allow for his
choice to be honoured.
The debate itself has been healthy, it has
stirred passion in me. It has brought me
back to the bible. I have been
reconvicted regarding my beliefs.
Yet. I worry about the
ramifications of this “foolish and stupid argument.” What is the stress on my prayer group? Do they understand that the glory of God is
so expansive that there cannot be just one perspective? And both of us need to realize a sense of
urgency in proclaiming the gospel, both us need to realize that we will never
be able to fathom the glory or the compassion of God.
As for the resolution about the debate
about hell?
“My wife loves to tell an apocryphal story
about heaven. In Peggy’s story, Peter is
the keeper of the gates of heaven and keeps careful account of those who
enter. The apostle Paul is the census
taker of heaven, responsible for knowing how many people are there.
Peter
and Paul are troubled because every time Paul checks the census against Peter’s
records he finds that there are more people in heaven than Peter is letting in
through the gate. Neither one of them
can figure out why this discrepancy exists.
Then
one day, Paul comes running to the gates declaring, “It’s not our fault! I know
why there are more people in heaven than you are letting in through the gates!
It’s Jesus! He keeps sneaking people in over the wall!”
- from Stories that feed your soul by Tony
Campolo
As for my position on the matter? I think the bible is intentionally vague on
it, which would be indicative of the grandeur of God’s grace and our limited
understanding of it. And I will take a
clearer stand next post.
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