Needing Hell

Some discussions around Rob Bell's new book Love Wins has got me thinking today.

Is your belief in Hell a cornerstone to your faith?

If you discovered somehow that the wicked were not destined to a conscious eternal torment in Hell... how badly would that rock your boat?

I find it interesting what is considered and essential to the Christian faith.

I haven't read this latest book of Rob Bell, nor any other book of his for that matter. I don't know if I agree with all of his conclusions. But I respect his ability to ask some great questions.

A year and a half ago I took a look at Scripture to determine if my traditional views on hell were well supported. It wasn't as clear as I once thought. I understand it is a hot topic. I concluded:

If scripture was clear, I don't think I'd be asking the above questions. But there are enough verses to give me some doubt. I'd rather admit I don't know for sure one way or the other, than give someone a potentially false image of God.

Either way eternal life with Jesus is still the obvious choice. I'm just questioning if the doctrine of Hell, that most denominations support, is clearly true to scripture. To be destroyed or perish may simply mean that those who do not choose life with Christ do not get to live eternally.

Related Posts:

• Does Scripture Say Hell is Eternal Punishment - a look at lots of Scripture
• Literal or figurative death
• Gehenna
• Why the threat? Does God need to threaten us with eternal punishment to win our love and devotion?

What does Evangelical mean?

I just read Rob Bell's explanation to the roots of the word Evangelical.

A bit of history: the word evangelical comes from the Roman Empire propaganda machine - it was an announcement proclaiming Caesar is Lord.

The first Christians took the phrase and tweaked it, saying "Jesus is Lord." That, of course, could get you killed. No one challenges Caesar.

To confess Jesus is Lord was to insist that peace does not come to earth through coercive violence but through sacrificial love.

That is still the question, is it not? Whose way? Jesus or Caesar? Power and might and domination - or bloody, thirsty, hanging on a cross?

http://twitter.com/realrobbell

Unfortunately I failed at confirming this original meaning with a google search.

Urban Dictionary confirms that most people don't know what the word means. It is used in a wide range of meanings, ranging from political to denominational groupings. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=evangelical

I understand Evangelical comes from the greek evangelion, which means good news, or gospel.

And what did Jesus mean when He preached the good news of the kingdom of God? That He was King, and we could live under His reign now and into eternity.

Which I guess is very similar to saying "Jesus is Lord".

So everyone who professes that "Jesus is Lord" or "Jesus Reigns" (not just in words, but in actions) is 'evangelical'?

Rob Bell - Sunday

What's more important to God? Us following some rituals? Or Our hearts?

Doing rituals can be OK, but let's not confuse religion with having a heart relationship with God.

Nooma Rich

There’s a popular bumper sticker that reads “God Bless America,” but hasn’t America already been blessed? It’s easy for us to fall into a mindset of viewing “our” world as “the” world, because it’s all we generally see. We’re constantly bombarded with images of the latest styles and models of everything, and it can easily leave us feeling like what we have isn’t enough because we see people that have even more than us. But how does what we have compare to what most people in the world have? Maybe what we have is enough; maybe it’s more than enough. Maybe God has blessed us with everything we have so we can bless and give to others.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NIV)

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

This verse is for those of us who have access to some or most of these things:

• clean drinking water
• an automobile
• a computer
• TV
• decent food

I enjoyed this video of Rob Bell. Applying these truths to my life may not be as enjoyable, but it may be rewarding.

Rob Bell on the Good News

This video of Rob Bell triggers some interesting questions. What was it about the early Christ followers that made such an impact.?

Was it simply that they had a message of truth that the world was eager to believe?

What was so unique about there message?

Or was it that they were living lives of truth that the world could not ignore?

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Now, I haven't done enough research to verify all the claims of this video. I wish there was some sort of footnotes to reference some of the claims.

Regardless I think this is worth considering: It was likely not simply the gospel message that we often hear preached now that changed the world back then. I doubt it was just solid preaching on truths like this:

• God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
• But you have a sin problem that separates you from God.
• The good news is that Jesus came to die for your sins.
• If you accept Jesus' death, you can be reconnected to God.
• Those who are reconnected to God will live in heaven with God.
  http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2009/05/kingdom-gospel-1.html
  

I believe the above statements are true, and they are all good news. But it's not the entire good news. It was likely the way that these people became the good news to the people in their communities that made the impact. How they took care of the poor and elderly, how they defended the oppressed, how they shared all that they had, how they served each other, and sought first the kingdom of God. It was likely not just that they preached good news, but that they were living the good news. Nor was this some empty social gospel that was merely good deeds done by anonymous do good-ers. This was a group of people following the teaching of Jesus, and inviting others to join with them living under God's ways instead of the worldly ways.

Jesus claimed he was the light of the world, yet he also said we are to be the light too:

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:14-16 NIV)