wheredoesshegofromhere: Hell - a fate worse than death

PERSON FIRST, ILLNESS LAST

Bipolar Disorder is the name used to describe a set of conditions where the individual experiences mood swings between two opposite poles. Bipolar Disorder used to be known as 'manic depression'. The highs of Bipolar Disorder are called mania or hypomania. The lows are called depression. Occasionally people can experience a mixture of both highs and lows at the same time giving a mixed picture (also called mixed state) With the right treatment, most people with Bipolar Disorder are able, to varying extents, to live normal and productive lives.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12: 8-10 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Hosea 2: 14 -15, 23 "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards and will the make the Valley of Achor a door of hope...I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one'. I will say to those called 'Not my people' 'You are my people' and they will say 'You are my God'."
Ezekiel 27: 4-6 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.' "
Luke 18:16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
Matthew 8:26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
Psalm 88 But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why oh Lord do you reject me and hide your face from me?
Lamentations 3: 22-23 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness
John 10: 27-30 reassurance

Saturday 22 September 2007

Hell - a fate worse than death

I have been really interested in reading about Hell - particularly why we should believe in its existence. Three reasons have been suggested:
1. Jesus' direct references to hell - His passionate and graphic representations of hell should leave us with no doubt as to its reality
2. Hell's own importance - the nature of the place and the way our view of it reveals our understanding of God (I'm not sure I really get these points fully, but apparently we can be so humanity-focussed as to think that everything exists for the good of mankind - clearly not so when many will be condemned to hell; alternatively we can have a man-centred view of sin where we are only concerned with those 'wrongs' which affect others, and do not give due respect to the offence we cause our holy God. )
3. Love demands it - this seems so contradictory, doesn't it? How can love demand eternal torment? However, if the love we profess as believers has no place for hell, it’s not a robust love, but rather just superficial sentimentality. Jesus is our Saviour. – which necessarily implies being the saviour of something or from something. He has saved us from hell.
I think Mark is a great verse for talking about hell (I am particularly impacted my the responsibility to avoid causing the little ones who believe in Jesus to sin - a big Sunday School application I think).

Ref: Mark 9:42-50”Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

I'm sure many of you have thoughts/comments about this. Please post comments

2 comments:

Laura T said...: I thought a lot about what to comment here.. but i just find this such a hard topic.. i believe in hell on a theoretical and theological level, I know it is just.. but just can't fathom it emotionally or practically.. it is a stumbling block for me.; 2 October 2007 at 6:21 pm
Jill said...: I find it hard to think of it as essential to love.
Maybe our minds aren't supposed to really understand; 2 October 2007 at 9:44 pm

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