We all know that heaven is real and much emphasis have been given about this place called "heaven" in our witnessing. People love to hear good news and heaven is definitely a great news!
But I was thinking to myself whether we have been focusing too much on one side of the story but neglect in informing people about the reality of hell as well? The free entry to heaven through Jesus Christ is a message of God's grace. That is just one side of the story. How about the other part of the story about the punishment of our sins? God is a God of grace but also a God of justice. Some would argue about the tension between the love of God, a cardinal characteristic of God's nature, and His judgment. But personally, it is no tension at all. How can someone fully know the extend of God's love and grace without knowing the punishment of his own wickedness? Telling people about hell is not a message of condemnation but it is a warning. It is definitely a place where we do not even want our worst enemy to end up in!
I think we hesitate too much to talk about hell. It's obvious in Revelation, and Jesus said not all will enter heaven (Luke 13: 28-30). He warned us to repent from our sins.
ReplyDeleteBut the important question here: does doing good make up for the ticket to heaven? does messed up means i'm doomed forever to hell?
In this passage of Luke, it also includes Christians. we tried so hard to do good: serve in church, lead bible studies, help out in youth on weekend, prayer meets, etc. (c.f. Luke 13:26) What happened when we fall? So, we shall be thrown to 'gnashing teeth'?
Funnily, i think of these yesterday because I messed up, very bad. i wondered how would i answered God when I see Him (gasp!).
Ps Yue Chuen talked about grace is about holiness and righteousness this morning. God wants us to have a right relationship with Him. Come to Him when you need rest. if you cannot go on, He will carry you. He wants you to walk in His way. that's when His grace shine upon you (Psalm 67:1). come to Him when you screwed up. i learn this the hard way. the book of Romans said it right, law cannot save us.
Stop fearing hell, or even sharing it with others. perhaps along the way, we should tell about this dude called Jesus who brings the Good News... just a thought :)
Let me write in allegory (albeit rather a weak one :-).
ReplyDeleteLong ago, when I learn to drive the car, my chief concern was not to get into accident. Therefore, my driving skills were based on how to avoid accidents, even until now. It has served me well all the years. However, this does means that driving is something that I don't really enjoy and at times, it tense my out. How can I really enjoy driving (if there is such thing) then? I need to learn to enjoy driving because like it or not, I need to travel somewhere.
On the flip side, if I am to really enjoy driving at any cost, I will turn out to be road rascals that doesn't care abt other road users. All that matters is my enjoyments.
My point is, faith in Christ has to be balanced. We need to grasp the wholeness of God's character: Slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness yet will not let the guilty unpunished, who punishes to the 3rd and 4th generations.
Mei Fong rightly wrote that "How can someone fully know the extend of God's love and grace without knowing the punishment of his own wickedness?" Apostle Paul himself started the book of Romans (that was widely lauded as the book that contains the centre of the Bible) with the wrath of God against the wickedness of human being (Rm 1:18ff). Only after that he proclaimed the justification of sinner by faith in Christ.
I would agree with u MF that we probably do emphasize a whole lot less on hell than heaven :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the main reasons that stands out most to me would be that, the Church has been branded intolerant and judgmental and all that jazz in the past many years..
I remember preachers/evangelists in the past, well, I read about them la, like, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield and all, who went around preaching about the terror of the fires of hell, and the phrase "fire and brimstone" was used to describe this sort of preaching.. And people came to know the Lord by the crowds.. Maybe in a way they were scared into it..
And hell is a scary place, I must say..
But these days, we are afraid of offending people, we want to be more inclusive and less judgmental, etc..
But Terry's right in saying we need a balanced teaching on God, in order not to fall into the whole distorted view of God and how we should live our lives..
Heaven and hell are delicate issues. Some preachers talk more about heaven then they would hell. But to be honest, I haven't heard a sermon about heaven or hell in the last ten years I would say. Everyone just assumes people know what heaven and hell is gonna be like.
ReplyDeleteI think if we really know, we would be a lot more appreciative of Gods grace. And especially His Mercy.
Christian education is so important so that we raise Godly sheep and not just Goats. Meeeeeh.
In recent days, they are people who claim to have visited hell by the invitation of Jesus (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6ab_1284805726). To me this is a deception cause the description of hell given is not as according to the 'biblical hell'. Hell, is at the first CREATED for the Devil and his fallen angels and NOT a place for the Devil to torture people.Yet, this have deceived many. So, how are we to tackle this issue??
ReplyDeleteAgree with you, We do not talk about hell often i guess because it is not nice to hear. Probably Buddhist talk about hell more than we do. My first knowledge of hell was a that it has 18 level. The worst sin u committed, the lowest level you will ended up in. Most people especially Chinese know about this eighteen level of hell. Do they know that hell is created by God? Do they know that hell is not meant for them? do they know that if they rejected Christ they will ended up in hell? we need to talk more about hell....
ReplyDelete'Talk about Hell'? Yeah, I think our gospel has to be the whole truth and balance, we need to tell the full story, not partial. If we just talk about heaven and all the good and wonderful things to win souls, new believers could stumble and fall easily when they face difficulties, calamities, and struggles in life. Due to their distorted view on God and salvation, they expect good things in life and not the bad. So, when bad things happen to those whose faith in the Lord aren't strong, they may get angry with God and walk away from Him who offers them "heaven". And for some Christians, if hell is not taught, their image of God would also be distorted as though God's love is without judgment. Every believer ought to understand that God's love is a holy love, and His grace is not to be taken for granted and continue to live in sin. God does not tolerate sin. He is loving and gracious, and at the same time, He is HOLY. The angels and the heavenly beings worship God day and night, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Rev 4:8b)
ReplyDeleteI also wonder if "hell" was toned down because of the idea that you're scaring people into faith?
ReplyDeleteI guess the way it is presented is important.