The Devil in the Details
When atheists talk about science proving the absence of a creator, it tends to amuse me. If, ultimately, there was a long term effect on morality from the fact that the situation was attributed to God, it still was God doing it. Whether we are talking about an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, or any other act of God, similar situations have affected morality in similar ways. Just because the fall of Jericho's walls could be explained by science, that does not mean it is any less an act of God.
From my perspective, 'fire and brimstone' were perceived as a primitive punishment for a primitive people by a primitive people. I don't know if hell is hot or cold or absence of feeling. I don't know if Paul wrote the epistles attributed to him. I believe he did, and I believe Jesus died for my sins, but that is because my personal experiences have led me to recognize that I am too imperfect a person to do what I am called to do without leaning upon Christ. The instructions within the Bible are a good guide for me about my behavior, how to instruct my children, how to treat my husband, how to treat my friends and most important, how to treat people I don't get along with.
I always find it concerning that people get so wrapped up in the details rather than the meat of the scripture. Whether hell is hot or cold, a lake of fire or an ice cold doorway to nothingness, I don't know, it isn't important to me. Neither is what heaven is like. The objective of importance should be what I AM supposed to be doing. If I am focusing on Hell, then I am not focusing on abiding in Christ. If I am focusing on my neighbor's behavior, I am not focusing on abiding in Christ. If I am not abiding in Christ, I am not able to show my neighbors the love of Christ because I am focusing on the world rather than my own behavior and how I am reflecting Him.
Why would anyone want to be a Christian if they believe Christians are all boring, unhappy, spiteful people? That is certainly not how I see Jesus being and it was an important part of my returning to the fold when I felt God pulling me back to Him. I told Him, "The hardest part is if you expect me to be miserable and boring now," and I heard Him speak to my heart, He laughed, told me to trust Him, and that He created me for joy, not sorrow; to show his love and mercy, not to judge; and that He would not give me a cross I could not bear.
And He was right. I have more joy now than I ever did before, and He stretches me a little at a time into more of what He wants me to be.
God bless.
From my perspective, 'fire and brimstone' were perceived as a primitive punishment for a primitive people by a primitive people. I don't know if hell is hot or cold or absence of feeling. I don't know if Paul wrote the epistles attributed to him. I believe he did, and I believe Jesus died for my sins, but that is because my personal experiences have led me to recognize that I am too imperfect a person to do what I am called to do without leaning upon Christ. The instructions within the Bible are a good guide for me about my behavior, how to instruct my children, how to treat my husband, how to treat my friends and most important, how to treat people I don't get along with.
I always find it concerning that people get so wrapped up in the details rather than the meat of the scripture. Whether hell is hot or cold, a lake of fire or an ice cold doorway to nothingness, I don't know, it isn't important to me. Neither is what heaven is like. The objective of importance should be what I AM supposed to be doing. If I am focusing on Hell, then I am not focusing on abiding in Christ. If I am focusing on my neighbor's behavior, I am not focusing on abiding in Christ. If I am not abiding in Christ, I am not able to show my neighbors the love of Christ because I am focusing on the world rather than my own behavior and how I am reflecting Him.
Why would anyone want to be a Christian if they believe Christians are all boring, unhappy, spiteful people? That is certainly not how I see Jesus being and it was an important part of my returning to the fold when I felt God pulling me back to Him. I told Him, "The hardest part is if you expect me to be miserable and boring now," and I heard Him speak to my heart, He laughed, told me to trust Him, and that He created me for joy, not sorrow; to show his love and mercy, not to judge; and that He would not give me a cross I could not bear.
And He was right. I have more joy now than I ever did before, and He stretches me a little at a time into more of what He wants me to be.
God bless.
posted by Dancer | 8:05 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home