Good question. And here is a brief answer that by no means considers all the ‘issues’.
Australia’s polices and treatment of asylum seekers is not good (although I can recognise it is not a simple issue). The way that we are handling this humanitarian crisis (in my view) is driven more by protecting our sovereign rights (mostly our level of wealth) than it is driven by compassion for those who are vulnerable – for the myriad of reasons that they are more vulnerable.
Sunday’s sermon ‘Squabbling Friends’ (Job 3-27) by Ken D Noakes is now available: http://bit.ly/1HWO0kX
It seems counter cultural to work really hard to call people to Christ, build them in faith, grow a body of believers – only to then send them away!
Over the last few weeks we have done both.
Part 3 on Hell! First we looked at why we should talk about hell. Next we looked at why we don’t. This week let’s consider what hell actually is!
Why even consider this topic? Please read on…
Hell is…
So what is hell?
Hell is not that difficult a concept to grasp – but definitely hard to stomach!
Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.
In Job Chapters 1-2 we get to peak in on a conversation between God and Satan.
God: Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.
Satan (my paraphrase): Of course he is going to be blameless and upright – you protect him and his household and you bless him – if you weren’t so protective he would curse you to your face!
What a cynic. It is so easy to think the worse of someone instead of the best! (notably – a pattern we always see in Satan!)
But does he have a point?!
Geoff
Why does Geoff thank God every day?
‘As I think about what Jesus has done for me, I’m so thankful for the extraordinary blessing which He has poured out on my life … Every day I thank my God for demonstrating His love for me—even me!—in this: that whilst I was in every way imaginable a sinner (and then some!), Christ died for me.’
Gill
‘I used to believe that if you did something wrong, you should be punished so that the wrongdoings could be offset. I thought I could live my life according to my will as long as I could bear the consequences. I liked to look strong and responsible in my behaviour, but I was actually weak and guilty inside.
Welcome to part 2 on Hell! Last week we looked at four reasons why we should talk about hell, so why don’t we?
This week, to continue this rosey topic, let’s consider four reasons why we don’t talk about hell!
1 . People don’t believe in it
When you look at the way our society presents the idea of hell – the idea is often mocked. Several episodes of the Simpsons poke fun. There are businesses which use little devils to market themselves. And the idea of hell is used to promote first world products or services – from ice cream to insurance.
Hell is a toothless idea – in the minds of many.
2. It is objectionable
We don’t talk about hell because it is objectionable. It is not polite, it is affronting.
Welcome to a super rosey edition of the 5pm Update. Let’s talk about Hell!
Over the next few weeks I want to spend some time talking about this unpopular subject.
Why talk about hell, I hear you ask?
Ed – Written on 20th March 2013
As I read through the Acts of the Apostles I realize I am dealing with a unique book in the Bible. Acts links the gospel accounts of Jesus to the ministry letters of Paul, James, John and Peter – in other words – Acts gives us an understanding of how the ministry that Jesus commissioned his disciples to do, turned out (at least in that first generation) as the first church of Christians was established.
One of the key themes that appears in Acts is ‘growth’. Look at this…
churchcentralonline.com 