Most of us have been taught by the dogma of our various religious denominations that if we don't repent and "accept Jesus" we're gonna burn in hell "for ever and ever." This belief wasn't always part of the doctrine of the church. If you look at The Apostles' Creed, the oldest documented formal statement of faith (the first and ORIGINAL doctrine of the church), eternal punishment/torment/damnation is not mentioned at all. Are we supposed to believe later doctrines written by religious organizations hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of years after the Apostles or the original?
All my life we've been told scriptures are the revealed word of God. When the prophet Jeremiah says, "For men are not cast off by the Lord forever" (Lamentations 3:31). Who are we to contradict him?
It's been said to us countless times that God's word is contained in The Bible. When the prophet Zephaniah proclaims that God Himself says, "Therefore wait for me," declares the LORD, "for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations,to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them—all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger." "Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder" (Zephaniah 3:8-9). Who are we to say Zephaniah misquoted the Lord?
We've all heard that the Gospels contain the truth about Jesus. When John the Baptist says of Jesus, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) who are we to call him a liar?
We're obligated as a Christians to accept Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. When the Messiah says "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw (ἑλκύω which literally means "to drag") all men to myself." (John 12:32), who are we to say he cannot accomplish that task?
As gentile believers, we're supposed to look to the epistles of Paul of Tarsus for guidance in living a life pleasing to God. When Paul says, "This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:9-10), who are we to say that all is anything less than ALL, and that especially REALLY means exclusively?
These are just a few of literally hundreds of scriptural and historical supports for what I believe to be the truth. These verses are by no means a complete catalogue of the scriptural "evidence" for the final restoration of all things.
8.04.2009
What the Hell was Peter Talking about?
In a previous article I stated that Moses and the apostle Simon (Peter) never warned about eternal damnation as God's solution for dealing with unrepentant sinners. As an end note to that post I mentioned that 2 Peter 2:4 contains a word that is translated as "hell" in English. This article will, hopefully, offer a little insight that passage, and perhaps a clearer picture of meaning of the words it contains. At face value, the passage seems to support the traditional dogma of eternal damnation; however, a closer look may prove otherwise. While there has been considerable debate over the last 2000 years whether Peter actually wrote this epistle, for the purpose of this article I will assume the authorship is genuine.
The Greek word, ταρταρώσας (tartarōsas), in 2 Peter 2:4 only occurs once in the entire Bible. In many Bible versions it is translated as "cast them into hell." What most people don't know is that the place this passage refers to comes directly from classical Greek mythology. Tartarus, or Τάρταρος, is where the Greek god Zeus imprisoned the Titans after he defeated them in the Titan War. By using this word, is Peter telling us that God is actually the pagan god Zeus and/or that the Tartarus of Greek mythology is his prison? Would the Christians of Peter's time have tolerated the blending of the one, true God with elements of a pagan religion and its myths? One would certainly hope that is not the case!
How can the inclusion of this Greek word in scripture be explained, then? Perhaps Peter borrowed the word (and concept?) from Greek mythology, and he uses it in order to influence recent pagan converts and Hellenistic Jews. Perhaps it was added to the original writing at a later date. Unfortunately, there is no way to know why the word was used, so we must examine how this obscure reference to Greek mythology is used. In 2 Peter 2:4, Tartarus is used not in the form of a proper noun, but in the form of a verb. As such, the passage does not describe a physical place, but an ACTION. A more literal translation of the passage would be: For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but is tartarusing them in pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;. Bottom line: God isn't Zeus, and God isn't borrowing Zeus's jail to hold fallen angels.
The Greek word, ταρταρώσας (tartarōsas), in 2 Peter 2:4 only occurs once in the entire Bible. In many Bible versions it is translated as "cast them into hell." What most people don't know is that the place this passage refers to comes directly from classical Greek mythology. Tartarus, or Τάρταρος, is where the Greek god Zeus imprisoned the Titans after he defeated them in the Titan War. By using this word, is Peter telling us that God is actually the pagan god Zeus and/or that the Tartarus of Greek mythology is his prison? Would the Christians of Peter's time have tolerated the blending of the one, true God with elements of a pagan religion and its myths? One would certainly hope that is not the case!
How can the inclusion of this Greek word in scripture be explained, then? Perhaps Peter borrowed the word (and concept?) from Greek mythology, and he uses it in order to influence recent pagan converts and Hellenistic Jews. Perhaps it was added to the original writing at a later date. Unfortunately, there is no way to know why the word was used, so we must examine how this obscure reference to Greek mythology is used. In 2 Peter 2:4, Tartarus is used not in the form of a proper noun, but in the form of a verb. As such, the passage does not describe a physical place, but an ACTION. A more literal translation of the passage would be: For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but is tartarusing them in pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;. Bottom line: God isn't Zeus, and God isn't borrowing Zeus's jail to hold fallen angels.
Not every translation uses the words"cast them into hell" for ταρταρώσας. The Darby Translation, and others, do not. Ultimately, alternative translations and speculation about Peter's reasoning doesn't really provide much ammunition to shoot down the traditionalists' dogma, but it does provide some framework for the word. It also supports the argument that maybe "cast them into hell" has been intentionally used by some Bible translators to prop up the doctrine of eternal damnation. Regardless of the translation, looking at the context of the verse conclusively proves that the place these fallen messengers (and the others mentioned in the text) are held is temporary.
Take a look at Peter 2:4-9 in the New Living Translation:
4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. 5 And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. 6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. 7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. 8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. 9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
Regardless of which version you look to, they all conclusively state that in 2 Peter 2:9 that the fallen angels and the ungodly are imprisoned until the day of judgement. This is important to note, because it does NOT say that the fallen angels and the ungodly people are imprisoned for eternity (a word that doesn't have a Hebrew or Greek equivalent). It also does not say that ANY humans were imprisoned in Tartarus. On the contrary, verse 6 says God "turned them into heaps of ashes". This passage provide stronger support for annihilationism than it does do for an eternal damnation "end times" scenario.
Nowhere in any part of the speeches or writings of Peter, the person Jesus put in charge of His church, is there any mention of God punishing sinners forever. If casting off men forever (oops!) into a gloomy pit or a lake of fire was part of God's final plan, then wouldn't it stand to reason that Peter would have warned us?
6.22.2009
It's "Official": I'm a Heretic
As most of you reading this know, I often post my thoughts about a piece of scripture in my facebook profile. Typically, this elicits a few comments and hopefully makes my Christian friends and my non-Christian friends think about how they view themselves and God. Last week, I had some new "friends" (who shall remain nameless) who apparently know the mind of God so well that they appointed themselves as my judges, convened a jury of consisting of themselves, and "tested the spirit (me) and found him not to be of God." Not only did they accuse me of heresy in my private profile (where they were invited guests), they also made their accusations on another website, and have repeatedly dragged me through the dirt BY NAME.
"Christians" like them are the reason there are so many people who do not believe in God. I became an atheist when I was a teenager because of people just like them, so I'm 100% confident in making that statement. Hateful, judgmental people whose "gospel" consists of messages of hate and judgment give Jesus a bad name. Every day they rob people of hope, and steal God's love away from those who probably need it the most. Imagine how Jesus feels when the "gospel" that gets preached AT people is one of God's hatred of sinners, wrath for those who do not repent, and eternal torment and casting off of those who do not obey.
"Christians" like them are the reason there are so many people who do not believe in God. I became an atheist when I was a teenager because of people just like them, so I'm 100% confident in making that statement. Hateful, judgmental people whose "gospel" consists of messages of hate and judgment give Jesus a bad name. Every day they rob people of hope, and steal God's love away from those who probably need it the most. Imagine how Jesus feels when the "gospel" that gets preached AT people is one of God's hatred of sinners, wrath for those who do not repent, and eternal torment and casting off of those who do not obey.
Fortunately, small-minded haters like them don't scare me any more.
Who's Taking YOU to Court?
There are literally HUNDREDS of little nuggets of scripture that are shining examples of God's wonderful, unlimited offer of reconciliation through His son and Messiah Jesus of Nazareth. The Bible has many courtroom references and metaphors. Obviously, when you speak of a coming judgment of mankind according to God's Law you would expect to find some scriptures about courts.
Take a look at Job 4:17, which says,"'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?" Ask those questions and apply them to our earthly sytems of justice and courtrooms. The harshest form of punishment man has applied to crimes is death. Are our courts more righteous than God's? Is the justice of our courts more pure than that of God's justice? Are our judgments more righteous than God's?
Of all the references to judgment and courts in the Bible, there are two similar verses that the traditionalists' (trying to avoid using the word Hellburner, but it's really hard) interpretation has said only apply to civil matters between "brothers". Most will say that these verses only apply to OUR courts, not GOD'S. Go pick up your Bible (or click the link) and read Matthew 5:25-26 and Luke 12:57-59. These scriptures are a reference to our coming judgment, and the need to seek reconciliation NOW, in this lifetime, so that we do not end up going to the prison of Gehenna (hell).
The Greek word translated as "adversary" in Matthew 5:25 is ἀντίδικος. The identical Greek word occurs in only one other place in scripture. In 1 Peter 5:8 ἀντίδικος is translated as "enemy" in the NIV to avoid contradicting the doctrine of eternal damnation, but it plainly states that the ἀντίδικος is "the devil". In Hebrew the word השָׂטָן (satan) has a literal meaning of "adversary" or "accuser". In the context of these scriptures, the satan is your accuser. He is the adversary you will face in God's court. In these scriptures there is no mention of a "life sentence" in Hell.
Jesus used stories and parables to relate truths about God. They were more than just simple stories with obvious meanings, otherwise the Apostles would have easily understood them every time Jesus told them. Many times there were deeper truths that you could peel away and apply to God's kingdom. Often these truths are hidden from men by their desire to follow the rules. When men are more intent on following the rules than following the ruler, they become like the Pharisees in Jesus's time. They become blind to the obvious, and sometimes try to bend the truth to make it fit their rules.
Ask yourself those questions from Job again-if they are untrue about God's judgment of us, then that makes US more righteous than God. Apply those questions to God's court, He is the magistrate. You are the accused. Your adversary, the devil, is taking you to God's court. Do you want to go to prison (Sheol, Hades Gehanna, Tartarus, or the Lake of Fire, whatever place you want to call "hell")? Or do you want the Chief Officer of God's court, Jesus, to take up your case before God and win you a pardon for your crimes? These scriptures are a warning. Be reconciled in this lifetime!
Notice that in both scriptures contain a second part. In them, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." Is Jesus telling the truth, or will God sentence some people to be "tormented day and night for ever and ever" as punishment for their crimes? Why would Jesus say that those in "prison" can be released if they can't? Jesus has already paid the price for the crimes of the world and has the keys to the jail. Jesus didn't come to bring a "life sentence" to a "second death" for those that chose to ignore His warnings. He came to offer us a pardon for our crimes and cancel the debt we owe to God. He can do that in this lifetime, or for those who do not heed the warnings and repent along the way, while they are in prison. The offer is always there, but the value of accepting it in THIS lifetime allows us start living our "life sentence" now.
Take a look at Job 4:17, which says,"'Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?" Ask those questions and apply them to our earthly sytems of justice and courtrooms. The harshest form of punishment man has applied to crimes is death. Are our courts more righteous than God's? Is the justice of our courts more pure than that of God's justice? Are our judgments more righteous than God's?
Of all the references to judgment and courts in the Bible, there are two similar verses that the traditionalists' (trying to avoid using the word Hellburner, but it's really hard) interpretation has said only apply to civil matters between "brothers". Most will say that these verses only apply to OUR courts, not GOD'S. Go pick up your Bible (or click the link) and read Matthew 5:25-26 and Luke 12:57-59. These scriptures are a reference to our coming judgment, and the need to seek reconciliation NOW, in this lifetime, so that we do not end up going to the prison of Gehenna (hell).
The Greek word translated as "adversary" in Matthew 5:25 is ἀντίδικος. The identical Greek word occurs in only one other place in scripture. In 1 Peter 5:8 ἀντίδικος is translated as "enemy" in the NIV to avoid contradicting the doctrine of eternal damnation, but it plainly states that the ἀντίδικος is "the devil". In Hebrew the word השָׂטָן (satan) has a literal meaning of "adversary" or "accuser". In the context of these scriptures, the satan is your accuser. He is the adversary you will face in God's court. In these scriptures there is no mention of a "life sentence" in Hell.
Jesus used stories and parables to relate truths about God. They were more than just simple stories with obvious meanings, otherwise the Apostles would have easily understood them every time Jesus told them. Many times there were deeper truths that you could peel away and apply to God's kingdom. Often these truths are hidden from men by their desire to follow the rules. When men are more intent on following the rules than following the ruler, they become like the Pharisees in Jesus's time. They become blind to the obvious, and sometimes try to bend the truth to make it fit their rules.
Ask yourself those questions from Job again-if they are untrue about God's judgment of us, then that makes US more righteous than God. Apply those questions to God's court, He is the magistrate. You are the accused. Your adversary, the devil, is taking you to God's court. Do you want to go to prison (Sheol, Hades Gehanna, Tartarus, or the Lake of Fire, whatever place you want to call "hell")? Or do you want the Chief Officer of God's court, Jesus, to take up your case before God and win you a pardon for your crimes? These scriptures are a warning. Be reconciled in this lifetime!
Notice that in both scriptures contain a second part. In them, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." Is Jesus telling the truth, or will God sentence some people to be "tormented day and night for ever and ever" as punishment for their crimes? Why would Jesus say that those in "prison" can be released if they can't? Jesus has already paid the price for the crimes of the world and has the keys to the jail. Jesus didn't come to bring a "life sentence" to a "second death" for those that chose to ignore His warnings. He came to offer us a pardon for our crimes and cancel the debt we owe to God. He can do that in this lifetime, or for those who do not heed the warnings and repent along the way, while they are in prison. The offer is always there, but the value of accepting it in THIS lifetime allows us start living our "life sentence" now.
6.13.2009
A Few Simple Reasons
Sorry for the lack of updates. Having a concussion is slowing down the writing a little. Thought I'd post what I think are a few of the effects of the modern denominational church dogma about "eternal damnation":
- Maligns God's character before the world.
- Contradicts His unending and unfailing love for all people.
- Makes our worship stem from fear instead of true affection.
- Denies His unlimited power to accomplish His will.
- Makes man's will greater than God's will.
- Infinitely minimizes Christ's triumph over sin and death.
- Denies Christ fully accomplished His mission on earth.
- Violates the divine witness revealed in every conscience.
- Negates the most glorious promises in the Bible.
- Ignores the testimony of the early Church.
- Robs us of peace and joy.
- Affects what we become; - like Father like son.
- Hinders world evangelism.
5.31.2009
Jesus the Carpenter?
I visited my former church today, and the sermon was a really good one. The message started with a monologue with the speaker playing a poker game and talking to Jesus, who happened to show up and suggest a different game-one in which the poker player was forced to go "all in" to match Jesus's bet. Later in the message the speaker was relating the story of Jesus's calling of the first disciples in Luke 5:1-11 , and how Simon (Peter) went "all in" and left a huge catch of fish, his nets, his boat, and his family to follow Jesus.
I won't go through every little detail, but the speaker speculated that the reason Simon made the commitment to leave everything behind to follow Jesus was that he was amazed that this carpenter, "a guy who probably never wet a hook," (the speaker is an avid outdoorsman) could direct him to a spot where Simon Peter and his partners were able to fill two boats with fish after they (the professional, expert fishermen) had caught nothing the night before.
The speaker did a masterful job of creating a story which demonstrated the commitment, not only of Jesus, but also of the disciples. It demonstrated the need for us, in modern times, to commit ourselves to God's purpose for our lives and go "all in" as well. If by chance he reads this, I want to express that I think this sermon was the best I have ever heard him preach. I enjoyed it very much.
I was thinking during this sermon...which often seems to lead me to alternatives to the traditions we are taught in church. I've actually had this thought before, but the sermon today seemed to bring it to the forefront of my mind. Jesus WASN'T a just a simple carpenter. The mention of Jesus as a carpenter occurs only in Mark 6:3. In Matthew 13:55 Jesus is described as "the carpenter's son." At first these passages seem like clear and convincing evidence of Jesus's trade (if you don't consider that we read our Bibles in English instead of Greek).
However, when we look at Mark 6:3 in the original language the evidence is a little less convincing. In Greek the word translated as "carpenter," is τέκτων (tektōn). As is often the case, something is lost is the translation. As is also the case in The Bible, passages frequently have multiple levels and layers of meaning in the original language that are not apparent at first glance, especially after they have been translated into English. A τέκτων could be a carpenter, but the word's literal meaning, craftsman, denotes someone with a mastery of their trade; it also opens up a whole host of vocations in which Jesus might have been employed.
Jesus might have been a carpenter, but the likelihood that He was a carpenter of the sort you and I are familiar with is very slim. Ever seen a picture of Israel? Not a lot of trees there. Based on that fact alone I'd say "carpenter" wasn't the most likely trade for Jesus. Most buildings in Jesus's time were stone. If you use Google's translation program a τέκτων is a "mason." Perhaps Jesus was a stone mason. The words αρχι (initial, or primary) + τέκτων (builder, craftsman) make up the Greek word for architect, αρχιτέκτων. Perhaps Jesus was an architect. I have my own personal theory about what Jesus did, but no way to "prove" what I believe His trade actually was. Someday I'll write a blog post about it (or you can just ask me next time you see me). I will say this-it involves woodworking.
Whatever Jesus's trade might have been, the dogma of the modern church and the teaching of men serves, once again, to impose a limit on Him if it is assumed to be "fact" without further study. Just because your Bible says Jesus was a "carpenter" in one verse of The Bible doesn't mean he sawed wood and hammered nails. Jesus is referred to as "Rabbi" (in Greek ῥαββί) thirteen times, and "Teacher" (διδασκαλον) forty-two times in the Gospels. Both words hold similar meanings in Greek-one of an "expert" instructor. A more accurate parallel in modern times would be that of a professor with a Ph.D. or Jewish Rabbi. If scripture is our guide, obviously there is clearly enough reference material to say without doubt that Jesus was a "master teacher."
Whether or not Jesus was a carpenter probably isn't really important (only He knows for sure). What IS important is that we take a diligent look at what we are taught as "truth" and "fact." Scripture specifically warns us in 2 Peter 2:1 to be mindful of false teaching. Obviously, it's not likely that any great conspiracy or heresy results from the traditional dogma of Jesus the carpenter; however, blindly accepting everything we are taught as "truth" or "fact" without exploring other possibilities CAN lead to our falling into a pit (see Luke 6:39-40).
Our Master, Our Rabbi, and our Teacher is Jesus. Follow him. You can lay all your chips on the table and make an "all in" bet on His teaching and you won't fall into any pits, guaranteed. He is the "fact" and the "truth" you can rely on.
I won't go through every little detail, but the speaker speculated that the reason Simon made the commitment to leave everything behind to follow Jesus was that he was amazed that this carpenter, "a guy who probably never wet a hook," (the speaker is an avid outdoorsman) could direct him to a spot where Simon Peter and his partners were able to fill two boats with fish after they (the professional, expert fishermen) had caught nothing the night before.
The speaker did a masterful job of creating a story which demonstrated the commitment, not only of Jesus, but also of the disciples. It demonstrated the need for us, in modern times, to commit ourselves to God's purpose for our lives and go "all in" as well. If by chance he reads this, I want to express that I think this sermon was the best I have ever heard him preach. I enjoyed it very much.
I was thinking during this sermon...which often seems to lead me to alternatives to the traditions we are taught in church. I've actually had this thought before, but the sermon today seemed to bring it to the forefront of my mind. Jesus WASN'T a just a simple carpenter. The mention of Jesus as a carpenter occurs only in Mark 6:3. In Matthew 13:55 Jesus is described as "the carpenter's son." At first these passages seem like clear and convincing evidence of Jesus's trade (if you don't consider that we read our Bibles in English instead of Greek).
However, when we look at Mark 6:3 in the original language the evidence is a little less convincing. In Greek the word translated as "carpenter," is τέκτων (tektōn). As is often the case, something is lost is the translation. As is also the case in The Bible, passages frequently have multiple levels and layers of meaning in the original language that are not apparent at first glance, especially after they have been translated into English. A τέκτων could be a carpenter, but the word's literal meaning, craftsman, denotes someone with a mastery of their trade; it also opens up a whole host of vocations in which Jesus might have been employed.
Jesus might have been a carpenter, but the likelihood that He was a carpenter of the sort you and I are familiar with is very slim. Ever seen a picture of Israel? Not a lot of trees there. Based on that fact alone I'd say "carpenter" wasn't the most likely trade for Jesus. Most buildings in Jesus's time were stone. If you use Google's translation program a τέκτων is a "mason." Perhaps Jesus was a stone mason. The words αρχι (initial, or primary) + τέκτων (builder, craftsman) make up the Greek word for architect, αρχιτέκτων. Perhaps Jesus was an architect. I have my own personal theory about what Jesus did, but no way to "prove" what I believe His trade actually was. Someday I'll write a blog post about it (or you can just ask me next time you see me). I will say this-it involves woodworking.
Whatever Jesus's trade might have been, the dogma of the modern church and the teaching of men serves, once again, to impose a limit on Him if it is assumed to be "fact" without further study. Just because your Bible says Jesus was a "carpenter" in one verse of The Bible doesn't mean he sawed wood and hammered nails. Jesus is referred to as "Rabbi" (in Greek ῥαββί) thirteen times, and "Teacher" (διδασκαλον) forty-two times in the Gospels. Both words hold similar meanings in Greek-one of an "expert" instructor. A more accurate parallel in modern times would be that of a professor with a Ph.D. or Jewish Rabbi. If scripture is our guide, obviously there is clearly enough reference material to say without doubt that Jesus was a "master teacher."
Whether or not Jesus was a carpenter probably isn't really important (only He knows for sure). What IS important is that we take a diligent look at what we are taught as "truth" and "fact." Scripture specifically warns us in 2 Peter 2:1 to be mindful of false teaching. Obviously, it's not likely that any great conspiracy or heresy results from the traditional dogma of Jesus the carpenter; however, blindly accepting everything we are taught as "truth" or "fact" without exploring other possibilities CAN lead to our falling into a pit (see Luke 6:39-40).
Our Master, Our Rabbi, and our Teacher is Jesus. Follow him. You can lay all your chips on the table and make an "all in" bet on His teaching and you won't fall into any pits, guaranteed. He is the "fact" and the "truth" you can rely on.
5.28.2009
Why Didn't They Warn Us?
Just a quick thought about Moses and the apostle Simon (Peter). Most Christians are familiar with, or at least have heard of, both of these men. To say the least, they are important figures in both The Bible and God's church. Both men had direct contact with God. These men, who were "taught by God" DIRECTLY and who wrote essential sections of our biblical canon, seem to have left out any warnings about an eternal torment in the fiery, ever-burning Hell that is included in the majority of denominational dogma.
Moses received the Ten Commandments and Torah directly from God on Mount Sinai. He is the author of the first five books of the Christian Bible. Surely this man, who was taught all the secret and hidden truths of the Jewish faith and to whom God revealed Himself, would have warned us in one of those books if Hell were the final solution in God's plan for the sinners who don't profess their faith in Jesus before they die. Nope, not even once. The punishments for sins in the Old Testament writings of Moses make no mention of Hell-the most severe punishment Moses teaches about in his writings is death.
God is described by Moses as a "consuming fire" (see Deut. 4:24), but Hell is completely left out of the Old Testament in most modern translations. The Hebrew word, שאול (sheol), is no longer translated as "hell" in most modern versions of The Bible-usually it is translated as "grave" or "pit." Moses, whose books are the foundational documents of both the Jewish and Christian faiths, doesn't ever warn those he was called by God to teach that He will cast them off forever for their sins and send them to Hell.
If you're a King James Version reader, there are some verses that contradict the Hellburners' dogma- sometimes people are taken out of "hell" and rescued by God. Jonah, after three days and nights in "hell," prays to God and the whale spits him out. (Three days is the traditional length of time for the ancient Jews to confirm someone has died.) There are also others such as Psalms 16:10 and 86:13, that make a pretty good case for God's ability to save people's souls whenever He wants.
The Apostle Simon Peter was also taught by God through Jesus. At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the believers gathered together that day, Peter made a speech to the crowd assembled in Jerusalem. Thousands of people became believers that day, and the event is historically viewed as the VERY DAY the Christian church was formed. One could say Peter's speech was the very first sermon ever preached to a "church."
Not once in Peter's sermon does he mention Hell as the final outcome for rejecting Jesus. Peter KNEW the consequences of rejecting Christ-he had "been there, done that" himself. Jesus doesn't give up on Peter; in fact, He puts him in charge! (see John 21:15-19) You'd think that the guy who Jesus calls upon to carry on His ministry would have mentioned Hell if Jesus wasn't going to save everyone. Acts 2:38-40 gives all the details Peter provides to the crowd when they ask what to do to be saved. Nowhere in his warnings to "save yourselves from this corrupt generation," does Peter mention Hell as a consequence for not repenting. He never warns the crowd about a time limit for them to repent, either.
Peter does say, in Acts 2:29, "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." Nonbelievers and unrepentant sinners are pretty far off from God, but I bet He can make Himself heard. Then there's that nagging little word "all" again. Just how many will the Lord our God call, anyway? Is it the "all men" mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:3-6 , or is it some unknown quantity of souls-with the majority of God's lost sheep ending up in Hell because Jesus can't (or won't) go get them?
If God was so angry that He would contradict Himself and cast off forever those He created (see Lam. 3:31) wouldn't Moses and Peter have given us some warning? Maybe we weren't warned because an eternal damnation and casting off forever WEREN'T part of God's plan for man. I'm placing my hope on God and Jesus being smart enough to know that some people aren't going to get the message before they die. I'm placing my faith in a Jesus who isn't too weak to go find His sheep and bring them home wherever they end up.
Moses received the Ten Commandments and Torah directly from God on Mount Sinai. He is the author of the first five books of the Christian Bible. Surely this man, who was taught all the secret and hidden truths of the Jewish faith and to whom God revealed Himself, would have warned us in one of those books if Hell were the final solution in God's plan for the sinners who don't profess their faith in Jesus before they die. Nope, not even once. The punishments for sins in the Old Testament writings of Moses make no mention of Hell-the most severe punishment Moses teaches about in his writings is death.
God is described by Moses as a "consuming fire" (see Deut. 4:24), but Hell is completely left out of the Old Testament in most modern translations. The Hebrew word, שאול (sheol), is no longer translated as "hell" in most modern versions of The Bible-usually it is translated as "grave" or "pit." Moses, whose books are the foundational documents of both the Jewish and Christian faiths, doesn't ever warn those he was called by God to teach that He will cast them off forever for their sins and send them to Hell.
If you're a King James Version reader, there are some verses that contradict the Hellburners' dogma- sometimes people are taken out of "hell" and rescued by God. Jonah, after three days and nights in "hell," prays to God and the whale spits him out. (Three days is the traditional length of time for the ancient Jews to confirm someone has died.) There are also others such as Psalms 16:10 and 86:13, that make a pretty good case for God's ability to save people's souls whenever He wants.
The Apostle Simon Peter was also taught by God through Jesus. At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the believers gathered together that day, Peter made a speech to the crowd assembled in Jerusalem. Thousands of people became believers that day, and the event is historically viewed as the VERY DAY the Christian church was formed. One could say Peter's speech was the very first sermon ever preached to a "church."
Not once in Peter's sermon does he mention Hell as the final outcome for rejecting Jesus. Peter KNEW the consequences of rejecting Christ-he had "been there, done that" himself. Jesus doesn't give up on Peter; in fact, He puts him in charge! (see John 21:15-19) You'd think that the guy who Jesus calls upon to carry on His ministry would have mentioned Hell if Jesus wasn't going to save everyone. Acts 2:38-40 gives all the details Peter provides to the crowd when they ask what to do to be saved. Nowhere in his warnings to "save yourselves from this corrupt generation," does Peter mention Hell as a consequence for not repenting. He never warns the crowd about a time limit for them to repent, either.
Peter does say, in Acts 2:29, "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." Nonbelievers and unrepentant sinners are pretty far off from God, but I bet He can make Himself heard. Then there's that nagging little word "all" again. Just how many will the Lord our God call, anyway? Is it the "all men" mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:3-6 , or is it some unknown quantity of souls-with the majority of God's lost sheep ending up in Hell because Jesus can't (or won't) go get them?
If God was so angry that He would contradict Himself and cast off forever those He created (see Lam. 3:31) wouldn't Moses and Peter have given us some warning? Maybe we weren't warned because an eternal damnation and casting off forever WEREN'T part of God's plan for man. I'm placing my hope on God and Jesus being smart enough to know that some people aren't going to get the message before they die. I'm placing my faith in a Jesus who isn't too weak to go find His sheep and bring them home wherever they end up.
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p.s.: Yes, I'm well aware that 2 Peter 2:4 mentions a place that is translated as "hell" in the English language. That will be the topic of an upcoming post.
5.13.2009
Good News: Jesus Unlimited
I felt like this was a good time to comment on the bit of dogma regarding "professing your faith in Jesus." We've been taught most of our lives that this has to be done before one dies, otherwise one will be damned and go to Hell forever. This little doggy presents a BIG problem for the Hell-Burner "christians" because it contradicts the teaching that "God is Love" (see 1 John 4:7-12) along with a great deal of scripture. God isn't a hater of men, and many who claim to speak on His behalf are putting shackles around His "word." (more about that "word" in an upcoming post.)
Jesus said he was sent to do the will of God. He told us what that will was. Who are we to add conditions and limits to what God and Jesus have said they were going to do? Do you suppose it is "Good News" to a devout Jew who not only knows, but also practices, the principles Jesus taught when a 'christian' says God is going to burn him "for ever and ever" in a lake of fire? Jesus was a Jew-he said himself that he was sent to the Jews and that they wouldn't believe Him. Jesus didn't put time limits or conditions on Himself when he said, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:39)
All-it's a little word, but it encompasses much. How many is "all"? If you shackle Jesus with the chains of time limits and dogma of some religious denominations, "all" means, at best, only a very small percentage of every human being that ever existed. If you open your mind to the possibility that God really DOES have "Good News" for the world that we are told about in Isaiah 52:7-10 and in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (and dozens of other scriptures) then "all" really means "ALL".
If you take off the shackles that religious dogma has been attempting to use to restrain God from the beginning of time, then maybe instead of being in danger of being one of the blind and deaf people Jesus taught about in Matthew 13:11-17 you might be able to experience a love for God that goes beyond any you ever imagined. Freedom is what Jesus came to give us. Freedom from our owns sins. Freedom from the fear of punishment. Freedom to live a life in communion with God NOW, not just in some far-off future state of being (although we get that, too).
When you have cast off the shackles you place on yourself by becoming a slave to the dogma of men, you are free to LIVE in the love described in 1 John 4:17-18 where the Bible says, "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
God isn't subject to man's concept of time. He exists outside of time. Jesus can do His work WHENEVER the "time" for Him to act comes-whether that is in this life, or after it. The Bible says in Revelation 1:18 Jesus has the keys to death and hell, are we foolish enough to think He can't use the key and open the gates whenever He wants? We cannot know God's timeline for Jesus, so why attempt to shackle Him by attempting to put an expiration date on God's grace?
p.s.: I'm still taking a walk with John Milton's dogma...it's a big hairy one!
Jesus said he was sent to do the will of God. He told us what that will was. Who are we to add conditions and limits to what God and Jesus have said they were going to do? Do you suppose it is "Good News" to a devout Jew who not only knows, but also practices, the principles Jesus taught when a 'christian' says God is going to burn him "for ever and ever" in a lake of fire? Jesus was a Jew-he said himself that he was sent to the Jews and that they wouldn't believe Him. Jesus didn't put time limits or conditions on Himself when he said, "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:39)
All-it's a little word, but it encompasses much. How many is "all"? If you shackle Jesus with the chains of time limits and dogma of some religious denominations, "all" means, at best, only a very small percentage of every human being that ever existed. If you open your mind to the possibility that God really DOES have "Good News" for the world that we are told about in Isaiah 52:7-10 and in 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (and dozens of other scriptures) then "all" really means "ALL".
If you take off the shackles that religious dogma has been attempting to use to restrain God from the beginning of time, then maybe instead of being in danger of being one of the blind and deaf people Jesus taught about in Matthew 13:11-17 you might be able to experience a love for God that goes beyond any you ever imagined. Freedom is what Jesus came to give us. Freedom from our owns sins. Freedom from the fear of punishment. Freedom to live a life in communion with God NOW, not just in some far-off future state of being (although we get that, too).
When you have cast off the shackles you place on yourself by becoming a slave to the dogma of men, you are free to LIVE in the love described in 1 John 4:17-18 where the Bible says, "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
God isn't subject to man's concept of time. He exists outside of time. Jesus can do His work WHENEVER the "time" for Him to act comes-whether that is in this life, or after it. The Bible says in Revelation 1:18 Jesus has the keys to death and hell, are we foolish enough to think He can't use the key and open the gates whenever He wants? We cannot know God's timeline for Jesus, so why attempt to shackle Him by attempting to put an expiration date on God's grace?
p.s.: I'm still taking a walk with John Milton's dogma...it's a big hairy one!
5.07.2009
My Prayer for the 58th annual National Day of Prayer:
Today is the 58th annual National Day of Prayer. Today I pray that God's message of LOVE, HOPE, and SALVATION is the Gospel you share with someone TODAY.
Tell someone that God loves them...no matter whether they love him or not. (see Hosea 2:23, Romans 5:8)
Tell someone that even if life seems hopeless, God is there to help them through it. (see Psalm 119, Psalm 107:19-21, 1 Timothy 2:3-6)
Tell someone that Jesus has already done the work God sent Him to do. (Isaiah 52:10, John 6:39, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
Tell someone that God loves them...no matter whether they love him or not. (see Hosea 2:23, Romans 5:8)
Tell someone that even if life seems hopeless, God is there to help them through it. (see Psalm 119, Psalm 107:19-21, 1 Timothy 2:3-6)
Tell someone that Jesus has already done the work God sent Him to do. (Isaiah 52:10, John 6:39, 1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
5.06.2009
John Milton Lost Paradise in Dante's Inferno- Part 1
Many of us have been taught elaborate, mythic stories about a rebellion in Heaven led by an angel named Satan. or Lucifer, who some of us have been told "was the most beautiful of the angels." This prideful devil, defeated by a host of God's loyal angels, is then kicked out of Heaven. In the stories we are often taught the devil and his angels are thrown down to the earth with a myriad of demons, where he exacts his revenge by leading men to their doom and ruling over them in an eternally burning Hell.
Funny, but I can't seem to find many of these lengthy myths in my Bible. Sure, there ARE three verses about a war in heaven in Revelation 12, and some references to the satan, the devil, and demons. The Book of Revelation has its own issues which are WAY beyond the scope of this article, so suffice to say that we only get a short, four sentence blurb about this battle in scripture. And those four sentences appear in a book of the Bible that some Christian denominations, such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches, don't read as part of their liturgy. These grandiose stories had to come from somewhere, but where?
One source of these myths is the imagination of a 14th-century poet, politician, and philosopher named Dante Alighieri. Dante was the author of an epic poem entitled, The Comedy of Dante Alighieri, Florentine by Citizenship, Not by Morals. In it Dante is taken on a "tour" of Hell (Inferno). Dante's epic was written after he had been exiled from Florence and sentenced to be burned alive if he were to be caught in his hometown.
This death sentence came about due to his membership in a political group, the Guelphs, which opposed Pope Boniface VIII. Dante and the pope were bitter enemies, and Dante encounters this very same pope in Hell. Inferno is more of a social commentary and condemnation of the leadership of the Roman church than it is a work which lays a framework for any sort of "divine" interpretation of Hell. Bottom line- Dante was a politician, not a theologian.
Dante is accompanied on his trip through Inferno by another epic poet, Virgil, whose poem Aeneid also includes a sojourn through the "underworld" of Roman mythology. The inhabitants of Dante's Inferno include a whole host of characters from Greek and Roman mythology, along with some of Dante's political rivals. There are similar themes throughout Dante's work and that of the Aeneid-one could say that Dante's "hell" shares more than a few of the attributes of the Hades and Tartarus of Greek and Roman mythology. Not exactly what I'd call "biblically sound" interpretations of what Jesus said about "Hell". Given the warning given in 1 Tim 4:7 I'm inclined to be more attentive to what Jesus taught than a couple of boring old poets' epic tales!
One thing I find interesting, from a universalist's point of view, is that Dante not only GOES to Hell, he passes through it. Upon exiting Inferno Dante enters and travels through Purgatory (Purgatorio) as well. Having made it through all the levels of Hell and Purgatory, Dante is then reunited with the love of his life, who guides him through Paradise (Paradiso). Perhaps a closer look at Dante's "heaven" is in order for some future date, but for now we need to take this dogma home and find John Milton's....
Funny, but I can't seem to find many of these lengthy myths in my Bible. Sure, there ARE three verses about a war in heaven in Revelation 12, and some references to the satan, the devil, and demons. The Book of Revelation has its own issues which are WAY beyond the scope of this article, so suffice to say that we only get a short, four sentence blurb about this battle in scripture. And those four sentences appear in a book of the Bible that some Christian denominations, such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches, don't read as part of their liturgy. These grandiose stories had to come from somewhere, but where?
One source of these myths is the imagination of a 14th-century poet, politician, and philosopher named Dante Alighieri. Dante was the author of an epic poem entitled, The Comedy of Dante Alighieri, Florentine by Citizenship, Not by Morals. In it Dante is taken on a "tour" of Hell (Inferno). Dante's epic was written after he had been exiled from Florence and sentenced to be burned alive if he were to be caught in his hometown.
This death sentence came about due to his membership in a political group, the Guelphs, which opposed Pope Boniface VIII. Dante and the pope were bitter enemies, and Dante encounters this very same pope in Hell. Inferno is more of a social commentary and condemnation of the leadership of the Roman church than it is a work which lays a framework for any sort of "divine" interpretation of Hell. Bottom line- Dante was a politician, not a theologian.
Dante is accompanied on his trip through Inferno by another epic poet, Virgil, whose poem Aeneid also includes a sojourn through the "underworld" of Roman mythology. The inhabitants of Dante's Inferno include a whole host of characters from Greek and Roman mythology, along with some of Dante's political rivals. There are similar themes throughout Dante's work and that of the Aeneid-one could say that Dante's "hell" shares more than a few of the attributes of the Hades and Tartarus of Greek and Roman mythology. Not exactly what I'd call "biblically sound" interpretations of what Jesus said about "Hell". Given the warning given in 1 Tim 4:7 I'm inclined to be more attentive to what Jesus taught than a couple of boring old poets' epic tales!
One thing I find interesting, from a universalist's point of view, is that Dante not only GOES to Hell, he passes through it. Upon exiting Inferno Dante enters and travels through Purgatory (Purgatorio) as well. Having made it through all the levels of Hell and Purgatory, Dante is then reunited with the love of his life, who guides him through Paradise (Paradiso). Perhaps a closer look at Dante's "heaven" is in order for some future date, but for now we need to take this dogma home and find John Milton's....
-----TO BE CONTINUED-----
What the Hell?
I can hear it now...some of you are thinking, "What is he talking about? Did he say Hell doesn't exist? Jesus talked about Hell all the time (or some of you might be thinking 'Jesus preached about Hell more than Heaven')." Let me assure you, I believe Hell is a very real and terrible place, but I absolutely believe it is NOT the place most Christian denominations preach about.
Before we get to that, we have to take a look at where some of the modern 'christian' mythology about Hell comes from. I really love to study words and their origins, so today I'm going to take a short walk with the dogma about the word "hell". The word comes from Old English 'hel' which means "covered up place". Its origins go even farther back-not to the Bible, but to Norse (you know, the Vikings) mythology.
Hel was a goddess who ruled a certain section of the underworld called Helheim, or "Hel's Hall". If you know anything about the Vikings, you know that the brave warriors who died in battle were carried either to Valhalla, or Folkvang. The wicked and the "inglorious dead" (those who were NOT killed in battle), spent eternity in "Hel's Hall".
I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't a Viking, so I'm probably safe in saying that this wasn't the "Hell" Jesus was talking about. It does sound a bit like the "hell" some people threaten the nonbelievers and little kids with though.
Before we get to that, we have to take a look at where some of the modern 'christian' mythology about Hell comes from. I really love to study words and their origins, so today I'm going to take a short walk with the dogma about the word "hell". The word comes from Old English 'hel' which means "covered up place". Its origins go even farther back-not to the Bible, but to Norse (you know, the Vikings) mythology.
Hel was a goddess who ruled a certain section of the underworld called Helheim, or "Hel's Hall". If you know anything about the Vikings, you know that the brave warriors who died in battle were carried either to Valhalla, or Folkvang. The wicked and the "inglorious dead" (those who were NOT killed in battle), spent eternity in "Hel's Hall".
I'm pretty sure Jesus wasn't a Viking, so I'm probably safe in saying that this wasn't the "Hell" Jesus was talking about. It does sound a bit like the "hell" some people threaten the nonbelievers and little kids with though.
5.04.2009
A Statement of Faith- Some Univeralist "Dogma"
So what is this "Christian Universalist" stuff all about? There are many "statements of faith," "creeds," and church and denominational "doctrines"-almost every church has at least one they ascribe to. This is one I found (complete with scriptural references) online here:
A Bible Creed
Article I. Concerning God.
1 Cor. 8:4-6; Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; John 4:24; Mal. 2:10, and 3:6; Gen. 17:1; Ps. 147:5; 45:9, and 85:10;Wisdom 11:24; Isa. 45:21; Acts 17:24-28; 1 Tim 2:4, 5; Eph. 1:11; 1 John 4:8-16.
1 Cor. 8:6, and 15:3, 4, 22, 24-28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; 1 John 2:2, and 4:14; John 1:45; 3:34, 35; 6:37, and 17:2, 3; Matt. 1:21; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 14:9; Eph. 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:10; Isa. 53:11; Col. 1:20; Phil 2:10, 11.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ; that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, the one Mediator between God and men, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person; that to him the Divine Spirit was given without measure, and hence, God hath made him both Lord and Christ -- given all things into his hand, even power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father has given him; that all that the Father gives him shall so come to him as not to be cast out; that he was sent to reveal the true character of God to the world, and save mankind from sin, misery, darkness and death; that, to this end, he gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time; is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world; that, having been crucified on the cross, he arose from the dead on the third day, ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, and giving gifts unto men; and having brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel, he shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; shall reconcile all things unto God, by the blood of his cross; that as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; that he shall reign in his mediatorial kingdom till all things shall be subdued unto him; till death, the last enemy, shall be destroyed; till every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess him Lord, to the glory of God the Father; and that he will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, that God may be all in all.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
We believe in the Divine authenticity of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, that they contain a true and faithful record of the revelation of God to men, and are a perfect and infallible rule of faith and practice; that the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; and that all Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the servants of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and become wise unto salvation.
Rom. 2:4, and 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Tit. 2:11, 12, and 3:8; 1 John 4:11, 19
We believe that, as God has commended his love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, it is our duty to love him because he first loved us; that if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another; that the goodness of God leads to repentance; that the grace of God, which brings salvation to all men, has appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world; and that those who believe in God, ought to be careful to maintain good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men; that Christ should be our pattern, and his love should constrain us to walk in his footsteps.
Aritcle V. Concerning the Reward of Obedience.
Ps. 1:3, and 119:165; Prov. 3:17, 18; Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:3; 1 Tim. 4:10; James 1:25, and 3:18.
We believe that great peace have they who love God’s law, and nothing shall offend them; they are like trees planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth their fruit in season; their leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever they do shall prosper; that Wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace; that she is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, and happy is every one that retains her; that the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of those that make peace; that Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden light, and all who come to him will find rest to their souls; that we who have believed do enter into rest; that, though God is the Saviour of all men, he is especially so of the believer, and that whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Article VI. Concerning the Punishment of Disobedience.
Rom. 2:6, 9; Col. 3:25; Prov. 13:15; Matt. 16:27; Isa. 57:20, 21
We believe that God, as the righteous and moral Governor of the universe, will render to every man according to his deeds: tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile; that he who does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no respect of persons; that the way of transgressors is hard; that the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt; for there is no peace, says our God, to the wicked.
Article VII. Concerning the remedial Design and Limitation of Punishment.
Lam. 3:31, 32; Isa. 54:7, 8, and 57:16-18; Heb. 12:7-11; Ps. 89:30-35, and 119:67
We believe the Lord will not cast off forever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies; that he will not contend forever, nor be always angry, lest the spirit should fail before him, and the souls he has made; that although he may apparently forsake his children for a small moment, but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on them, and heal them, and lead them also, and restore comforts unto them; that whom he loves he chastens (and he loves and chastens all) for their profit, that they may be partakers of his holiness, and be enabled afterwards to say, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept your word."
Article VIII. Concerning Baptism.
Matt. 28:19; John 4:2; Acts 2:41; Rom. 6:3-5, and 14:1-6; 1 Cor. 1:14-17; 1 Pet. 3:21
As there is differnce of opinion among the sincere followers of Christ, in regard to this ordinance, and this difference ought not to separate true disciples one from another, we believe it is the duty of every one to follow the dictates of his or her conscience, leaving each to judge both of the subject and mode of Baptism, as shall seem most consistent with Scripture and reason.
Matt. 4:16, and 22:37-40; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19, 5:31, and 20:21; Heb. 11:;16; 1 John 3:23, 24
We believe, according to the divine doctrine and preaching of Christ and his apostles, that repentance toward God for sin, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and love to God and our fellow-creatures, are means of grace appointed by God, and essential to our salvation and glory.
Eph. 1:9-11, and 2:4; Prov. 21:1; Ps. 110:3; Rev. 5:13
We believe that God, who is rich in mercy, who turns the hearts of the children of men as the rivers of water are turned, who works all things after the counsel of his own will, whose people shall be willing in the day of his power, will, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, gather together in one all things, in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him; and that every (intelligent) creature in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all those are in them, shall at last unite in the song of Moses and the Lamb, saying Blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
A Bible Creed
Article I. Concerning God.
1 Cor. 8:4-6; Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; John 4:24; Mal. 2:10, and 3:6; Gen. 17:1; Ps. 147:5; 45:9, and 85:10;Wisdom 11:24; Isa. 45:21; Acts 17:24-28; 1 Tim 2:4, 5; Eph. 1:11; 1 John 4:8-16.
We believe in one, only living and true God; that he is a pure spirit, self-existent, immutable, eternal, infinite in wisdom, power and goodness, and possesses every natural and moral perfection which can render his character amiable, lovely, reverend and adorable; that he is the Creator, Upholder, Benefactor and moral Governor, of the universe; that he stands in the relation of Father to all mankind; that, as he has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth, we are his offspring, all have one Father, one God has created us; that though there is that which are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there are gods many, and lords ), yet to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; that God is love, good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works; that he loves all the things that are, and abhors nothing that his hands have made, for he never would have created anything to have hated it; that he is a just God and a Saviour, who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; that he works all things after the counsel of his own will; that all his attributes harmonize; that in him mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have embraced each other.
Article II. Concerning Christ.
1 Cor. 8:6, and 15:3, 4, 22, 24-28; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; 1 John 2:2, and 4:14; John 1:45; 3:34, 35; 6:37, and 17:2, 3; Matt. 1:21; Heb. 1:3; Rom. 14:9; Eph. 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:10; Isa. 53:11; Col. 1:20; Phil 2:10, 11.
We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ; that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, the one Mediator between God and men, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person; that to him the Divine Spirit was given without measure, and hence, God hath made him both Lord and Christ -- given all things into his hand, even power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father has given him; that all that the Father gives him shall so come to him as not to be cast out; that he was sent to reveal the true character of God to the world, and save mankind from sin, misery, darkness and death; that, to this end, he gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time; is a propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world; that, having been crucified on the cross, he arose from the dead on the third day, ascended up on high, leading captivity captive, and giving gifts unto men; and having brought life and immortality to light by the Gospel, he shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; shall reconcile all things unto God, by the blood of his cross; that as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive; that he shall reign in his mediatorial kingdom till all things shall be subdued unto him; till death, the last enemy, shall be destroyed; till every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess him Lord, to the glory of God the Father; and that he will then deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, that God may be all in all.
Article III. Concerning the Scriptures.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
We believe in the Divine authenticity of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, that they contain a true and faithful record of the revelation of God to men, and are a perfect and infallible rule of faith and practice; that the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit; and that all Scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the servants of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and become wise unto salvation.
Article IV. Concerning the Motive to Obedience.
Rom. 2:4, and 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Tit. 2:11, 12, and 3:8; 1 John 4:11, 19
We believe that, as God has commended his love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, it is our duty to love him because he first loved us; that if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another; that the goodness of God leads to repentance; that the grace of God, which brings salvation to all men, has appeared, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world; and that those who believe in God, ought to be careful to maintain good works; for these things are good and profitable unto men; that Christ should be our pattern, and his love should constrain us to walk in his footsteps.
Aritcle V. Concerning the Reward of Obedience.
Ps. 1:3, and 119:165; Prov. 3:17, 18; Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:3; 1 Tim. 4:10; James 1:25, and 3:18.
We believe that great peace have they who love God’s law, and nothing shall offend them; they are like trees planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth their fruit in season; their leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever they do shall prosper; that Wisdom’s ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace; that she is a tree of life to them that lay hold of her, and happy is every one that retains her; that the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of those that make peace; that Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden light, and all who come to him will find rest to their souls; that we who have believed do enter into rest; that, though God is the Saviour of all men, he is especially so of the believer, and that whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Article VI. Concerning the Punishment of Disobedience.
Rom. 2:6, 9; Col. 3:25; Prov. 13:15; Matt. 16:27; Isa. 57:20, 21
We believe that God, as the righteous and moral Governor of the universe, will render to every man according to his deeds: tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile; that he who does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done, and there is no respect of persons; that the way of transgressors is hard; that the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt; for there is no peace, says our God, to the wicked.
Article VII. Concerning the remedial Design and Limitation of Punishment.
Lam. 3:31, 32; Isa. 54:7, 8, and 57:16-18; Heb. 12:7-11; Ps. 89:30-35, and 119:67
We believe the Lord will not cast off forever; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies; that he will not contend forever, nor be always angry, lest the spirit should fail before him, and the souls he has made; that although he may apparently forsake his children for a small moment, but with everlasting kindness will he have mercy on them, and heal them, and lead them also, and restore comforts unto them; that whom he loves he chastens (and he loves and chastens all) for their profit, that they may be partakers of his holiness, and be enabled afterwards to say, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept your word."
Article VIII. Concerning Baptism.
Matt. 28:19; John 4:2; Acts 2:41; Rom. 6:3-5, and 14:1-6; 1 Cor. 1:14-17; 1 Pet. 3:21
As there is differnce of opinion among the sincere followers of Christ, in regard to this ordinance, and this difference ought not to separate true disciples one from another, we believe it is the duty of every one to follow the dictates of his or her conscience, leaving each to judge both of the subject and mode of Baptism, as shall seem most consistent with Scripture and reason.
Article IX. Concerning Repentance, Faith and Love.
Matt. 4:16, and 22:37-40; Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19, 5:31, and 20:21; Heb. 11:;16; 1 John 3:23, 24
We believe, according to the divine doctrine and preaching of Christ and his apostles, that repentance toward God for sin, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and love to God and our fellow-creatures, are means of grace appointed by God, and essential to our salvation and glory.
Article X. Concerning the Extent of Salvation.
Eph. 1:9-11, and 2:4; Prov. 21:1; Ps. 110:3; Rev. 5:13
We believe that God, who is rich in mercy, who turns the hearts of the children of men as the rivers of water are turned, who works all things after the counsel of his own will, whose people shall be willing in the day of his power, will, in the dispensation of the fulness of times, gather together in one all things, in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him; and that every (intelligent) creature in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all those are in them, shall at last unite in the song of Moses and the Lamb, saying Blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
De Principiis-From the Beginning
This is the first. The beginning-the "principle," post. If you've ever heard of Origen Adamantius (185–254 a.d.) you might recognize the title. Origen of Alexandria, as he was also known, was one of the first Christian theologians and philosophers. He was the first Christian scholar to write a comprehensive and systematic set of "beliefs" as well as a commentary on each book of the Bible. He was the originator of our concept of God as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His was the principal and prevailing "dogma" of the early Christian church. Origen was also a Christian "universalist". In short, Origen believed that God would, eventually, reconcile all men to Himself. He (along with the majority of the early church 'fathers') did not teach, nor did he acknowledge the dogma of "eternal damnation".
Obviously, this contradicts the current teaching of most Christian denominations. Without boring you with the details, I'll say this: Origen was declared Ανάθεμα (anathema-accursed) by an edict of the Roman Emperor Justinian several hundred years after his death. The Emperor Justinian called for the Second Council of Constantinople (The 5th Ecuminical Council of 553 a.d.) and Origen's "dogma" was replaced by that of a pagan convert named Augustine of Hippo. Basically, the Roman Emperor told the leaders of the major churches that Origen was wrong and they had to declare Augustine's "dogma" to be the "truth." And the world was introduced to what most Christians now call "Hell."
Most of us have never heard of Origen, and have always been taught that we weren't to question the religious authorities whose dogma we are taught. This blog's purpose is to challenge the reader to take out his Bible, read it, and actually think about what it says. To, in the words of 1 John 4:1, "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." Each of you has the Holy Spirit inside you waiting to teach you (John 14:26)...listen to it and decide for yourself:
Does God's plan of salvation include everyone, or only a few?
Obviously, this contradicts the current teaching of most Christian denominations. Without boring you with the details, I'll say this: Origen was declared Ανάθεμα (anathema-accursed) by an edict of the Roman Emperor Justinian several hundred years after his death. The Emperor Justinian called for the Second Council of Constantinople (The 5th Ecuminical Council of 553 a.d.) and Origen's "dogma" was replaced by that of a pagan convert named Augustine of Hippo. Basically, the Roman Emperor told the leaders of the major churches that Origen was wrong and they had to declare Augustine's "dogma" to be the "truth." And the world was introduced to what most Christians now call "Hell."
Most of us have never heard of Origen, and have always been taught that we weren't to question the religious authorities whose dogma we are taught. This blog's purpose is to challenge the reader to take out his Bible, read it, and actually think about what it says. To, in the words of 1 John 4:1, "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." Each of you has the Holy Spirit inside you waiting to teach you (John 14:26)...listen to it and decide for yourself:
Does God's plan of salvation include everyone, or only a few?
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