The movie "Hellbound?" is supposed to be an examination of the question, but is in fact a proponent of redefining the doctrine of hell that we find in the Bible, the source of ultimate truth for the Christian. It skews the viewer's objectivity with an old Hollywood trick, that of putting the Christians in a bad light so they will be easily mocked. In this case, the proponents of the Biblical view of hell are put in a bad light and are to be scoffed at because of the way they are portrayed in the documentary. The well reasoned and articulate interviewees are all for changing the orthodox or traditional concept of hell. This is not a fair examination of both sides of an issue and only weakens their argument.
I am by no means a theologian, but I have read and heard enough on the subject to make some observations.
1. If the Bible is the source for all truth and is the reliable basis for all Christian doctrine, there is no doubt that hell is real and is the way it is described by Jesus himself and his brother John. We cannot simply take a vote on whether or not there is a hell.
2. The language used in the Bible to describe "eternal" life are the same words used to describe "eternal" punishment.
3. God does not condemn anyone to hell, but because He is the author of justice, there is punishment, and those who will go there will go of their own free will because of their rejection of Jesus. God, the creator of the universe, sent his son to die as a substitution for our wrongdoings and if we snub the offer, we are belittling the offer and the act. If this was us, we would be ticked. Then how much more is God offended when we turn our nose up at his generous offer of eternal life in the Heaven he has prepared for us?
4. God, in his love and mercy for everyone of us, has provided a way to avoid this place. Now, that is good news.
5. God will not allow a single one of his 'children' to suffer in hell. But not all people are children of God as the movie "Hellbound?" suggests. Those who share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ are God's children and we do that by believing in Him and following him. Those who reject Him do so at their own peril.
6. Our concept of God has changed from what the Bible portrays him to be, so we have re-invented God to be our buddy, a help in times of trouble, someone who loves us all so much he would not harm us in any way. In fact, God is so much higher even than what we can conceive. Moses was not allowed to look on his face, and even the Israelites who watched Moses go into the mountain were not allowed to even touch the mountain or they would die! If one so great and holy is sinned against, would not the punishment have to follow suit? The punishment always fits the severity of the crime and takes into consideration the one sinned against.
Concluding remarks on Thursday.
3 comments:
If the Bible is truly God's word, "we cannot simply take a vote on whether or not there is a hell". Well said! And if, as the movie suggests, God loves everyone as his child already, then what was the purpose of Jesus coming to earth to suffer and die for us? We've been studying 2 Peter in our Bible Study, and these people's fate is revealed in chapter 2. They chose it.
It seems that those of us who have accepted forgiveness, do not take issue with the Biblical doctrine of hell, only those who have an inkling they might be going will fret over a definition or its actual existance. The solution is obvious. But just as obvious should be our urgency to rescue those who are hellbound.
Wise words!
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