One thing I struggle with sometimes is the age old question: how could a loving God send "good people" to Hell? I know most of the text book Christian answers to that question - and they help - but I still have to wrestle with the question now and then. I've decided that I believe good people just go to heck when they die. Of course I'm kidding, but anyways...
I believe that God doesn't send anyone to hell -- I believe going to heaven or going to hell is up to you! God won't drag anyone to heaven kicking and screaming -- if you tell God you want to live for him you will be with him in heaven when you die -- if you do not choose God now, he will not force you to be with him when you die. The cool thing is, is that people who really want to know God WILL find him. The Bible says that God wants nothing more than for us to find him and know him. I love meeting people who want to know God -- I think if oftentimes means they are humble and the universe is not revolving around them -- they are open minded enough to seek the truth. Plus they're usually just fun to talk with. My wife is a perfect example. She was in to all sorts of miscellaneous beliefs and then she found God. She's been a new person since, and she has a faith that will move mountains. If you need to know if the claims of the bible are true, just look at her life. The nativity story tells how God chose people who were in to astrology to be the first people to see Jesus -- what an amazing God to choose people who didn't even follow him but a different religion to be the first to greet the savior of the world.
So... where do good people go when they die? I think most of the time good people will go to heaven, because most good people are not living for themselves but for God. Even if some good people haven't discovered the real God, they are probably on their way to finding him. As a follower of Jesus, I want good people to know about the ultimate good person -- Jesus. I figure good people like to know how they can be gooder -- and Jesus is a great good person to model. Not to mention that living like him will land you in heaven when you die. I don't want to be pushy about telling good people about Jesus though, because sometimes people think you're just trying to make them a religious person, and they usually don't like that. Plus Jesus was never pushy, and he's the ultimate good person and I want to be like him. I think with bad people you can be pushy about Jesus - they usually need a good role model.
WARNING - A LITTLE TEACHIN'/THEOLOGY/PHILOSOPHY: C.S. Lewis, I believe it was, says that God doesn't send anybody to hell - they send themselves. It's a choice. Everyone either chooses to trust God and live for him forever, or live for yourself and not be with God when you die. God doesn't send good people to hell - it's like choosing to do drugs or not - if you don't, good things happen, if you do, bad things happen - you already know what happens if you choose drugs, or choose a self centered God-less life - God isn't guilty for sending anyone anywhere. Now hell is often portrayed as never ending torture - this is actually up for debate. Some people interpret hell in the Bible to be that your soul is destroyed -- Annihilationism -- basically you die and lose out on heaven - this is the "eternal punishment." I used to be the person who does good things to try to earn my way to heaven, until I realized that God sacrificing his Son for the sins of the world was so that I didn't have to try to earn my way - I just accept God's sacrificial gift. I also believe that either Jesus is God, or he's not. If he's not, the whole Christian faith is a lie. If Jesus IS God, than all the other religions of the world are lies. Jesus and other religions aren't compatible - they all have different endings. It's a choice we all have to make -- even if you choose nothing - you're choosing something!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Gina's new Biz
Gina's officially out of the coffee biz and now working as an independent consultant for The Body Shop at home. It's a home party business offshoot of the original Body Shop (copied by Bath & Body works, etc.). Gina is looking forward to making her own hours so that she can spend more time in ministry and volunteering. She has her own website: www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/ginanorman.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Clearing Things Up. Part A.
Christians are not people who go to church on the weekends. Going to church is one thing that Christians do, but it doesn't make anyone a Christian. I was trying to think of an analogy to really paint this picture, and I think I have one:
Pat enrolls in a community education class on becoming a certified lifeguard. She finishes the class, but decides that she doesn't want to teach lifeguard classes because she's perfectly fine with her life as it is without commiting extra time at the local beach to be a lifeguard. Is Pat a lifeguard? Not really. She took a class on it, but if you were to ask Pat what she does, would it make sense for her to tell you that she's a lifeguard, when she's never ever used her knowledge in a real life lifeguarding situation -- when she doesn't?
Just because someone attends a class (church), or even makes a commitment to attending a class on a regular basis, doesn't make somebody something unless they apply/use what they learn (living a Christian life). Now like any analogy, this one isn't perfect. However, it's sad that many Christians and non-Christians identify Christians as people who just go to church. Church is an important part of the Christian life - it's where people go to learn, spend time with other Christians, and thank God for what he has given us -- but if people who go to church don't get out and live the kind of life that Jesus teaches us to live in the bible, it's like that person who takes the class, but does nothing with it -- you're shouldn't say you're a Christian -- just like Pat shouldn't say she's a lifeguard! And to be clear, it's not about "being good and doing nice things" -- another common misconception of the Christian definition that I'll probably blog about later -- it's about BEING a Christian and not DOING Christian traditions!
Pat enrolls in a community education class on becoming a certified lifeguard. She finishes the class, but decides that she doesn't want to teach lifeguard classes because she's perfectly fine with her life as it is without commiting extra time at the local beach to be a lifeguard. Is Pat a lifeguard? Not really. She took a class on it, but if you were to ask Pat what she does, would it make sense for her to tell you that she's a lifeguard, when she's never ever used her knowledge in a real life lifeguarding situation -- when she doesn't?
Just because someone attends a class (church), or even makes a commitment to attending a class on a regular basis, doesn't make somebody something unless they apply/use what they learn (living a Christian life). Now like any analogy, this one isn't perfect. However, it's sad that many Christians and non-Christians identify Christians as people who just go to church. Church is an important part of the Christian life - it's where people go to learn, spend time with other Christians, and thank God for what he has given us -- but if people who go to church don't get out and live the kind of life that Jesus teaches us to live in the bible, it's like that person who takes the class, but does nothing with it -- you're shouldn't say you're a Christian -- just like Pat shouldn't say she's a lifeguard! And to be clear, it's not about "being good and doing nice things" -- another common misconception of the Christian definition that I'll probably blog about later -- it's about BEING a Christian and not DOING Christian traditions!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
It's OK To Be Right
There is a school of thought out there that says that everyone is right - experience is the yardstick for truth and if you suggest that someone is wrong, well you are wrong because there is no such thing as absolute truth. The problem with this school of thought is that if you claim there is no absolute truth, than that statement is false... think about it. I believe another term for this school of thought is post modernism.
In relation to religion, post modernism says that all religions are true and heaven is what you believe to be true. For some Christians, the sparkle of post modern thought is very appealing because those raised in a fundamentalist background have been turned off by those who claim to know ALL the answers and have a patronizing attitude to anyone with a different viewpoint -- that nothing is negotiable -- that man can know everything about God -- that all other denominations are wrong -- and that God is a God of technicalities. I believe this rotten stench of "know-it-all"ism makes post modern thought -- not having to claim anyone is wrong for fear being one of those "know-it-alls" -- very attractive. I've been there and I can say I've found happy middle ground between Christian radical fundamentalism (i.e. those that claim to pretty much know everything and say everyone else is going to hell) and post modern thought.
I guess my happy middle ground would be this: I have beliefs that I find to be true, but I can admit that I could be wrong.
I believe the danger is when someone can't admit that they might be right, for fear they are saying everyone else is wrong. I think that there are things that are flat out, true: (2 + 2 = 4, everyone dies, the sun is hot, etc., etc.).
I'll give an example: you may have seen the episodes of American Idol where they show all of the contestents that are really, really, horrible. The parents and friends of these horrible singers just might be people who are afraid of giving someone the truth for fear of hurting their feelings.
"No, Bobby, you are a really good singer! You should try out!"
[Weeks later, after the pain and humiliation of sucking really bad on national television]
"Mom, everyone is saying I was horrible!"
"Oh Bobby, they just don't know a good singer when they hear one!"
"I don't know, mom, I was just on the "bad auditions" show, Paula was in tears laughing at me and you're the only person saying I'm good."
OK - here's an example of a mom knowing their kid stinks - but they don't want to hurt their feelings. What would have been the loving thing to do? Tell their kid the truth up front and save their kid the humiliation of singing really badly on national TV.
This example should make those who believe in God stop and think - if I know the truth - even if I could be wrong - is it more loving to share it, or not share it? Most religions believe their truth leads to heaven, nirvana, etc. If you don't have the truth, most religions believe that there is hell, or at worst, a ton of lost blessings. Shouldn't you share the truth - especially if it's good news?
Here's my happy medium again: as a Christian, I will share what I believe to be true. I share it with love and humility -- but I'm not insisting that I have all the right answers. If I am right -- it's something that I HAVE to share or else those I don't share with are REALLY missing out. If I don't share it, it's like being pretty sure that your friend has the winning lottery ticket but not telling them. I'm doing them a favor. I think I'm right, because I've done my homework and my life experiences corroborate my homework. Again, having an attitude of humbleness, and love are crucial.
One thing that confuses me about other religions, is that if following their religion leads to fulfillment and if not following their religion doesn't -- than why don't their followers share it with as many people as possible? If they can show me the truth, I'd want to be "converted!" Again, if I had some really good news, I think it's the moral thing to share it with as many people as possible. From what I know, Christianity is one of the very few religions that care about telling this wonderful truth. Admittedly, a lot of Christians, including myself, have done a really crappy job in how we share the truth.
Post modern thought is very attractive, because it's much easier to not tell someone they are wrong. And who like's being like the annoying "know-it-alls"? However, I believe it's not an "either-or" proposition. You don't have to be a "know-it-all" if you think that you have some truth to share. And I suggest that you are really my friend if you share what you believe to be true with me, and tell me that I might be missing the truth (i.e. I might be wrong).
In relation to religion, post modernism says that all religions are true and heaven is what you believe to be true. For some Christians, the sparkle of post modern thought is very appealing because those raised in a fundamentalist background have been turned off by those who claim to know ALL the answers and have a patronizing attitude to anyone with a different viewpoint -- that nothing is negotiable -- that man can know everything about God -- that all other denominations are wrong -- and that God is a God of technicalities. I believe this rotten stench of "know-it-all"ism makes post modern thought -- not having to claim anyone is wrong for fear being one of those "know-it-alls" -- very attractive. I've been there and I can say I've found happy middle ground between Christian radical fundamentalism (i.e. those that claim to pretty much know everything and say everyone else is going to hell) and post modern thought.
I guess my happy middle ground would be this: I have beliefs that I find to be true, but I can admit that I could be wrong.
I believe the danger is when someone can't admit that they might be right, for fear they are saying everyone else is wrong. I think that there are things that are flat out, true: (2 + 2 = 4, everyone dies, the sun is hot, etc., etc.).
I'll give an example: you may have seen the episodes of American Idol where they show all of the contestents that are really, really, horrible. The parents and friends of these horrible singers just might be people who are afraid of giving someone the truth for fear of hurting their feelings.
"No, Bobby, you are a really good singer! You should try out!"
[Weeks later, after the pain and humiliation of sucking really bad on national television]
"Mom, everyone is saying I was horrible!"
"Oh Bobby, they just don't know a good singer when they hear one!"
"I don't know, mom, I was just on the "bad auditions" show, Paula was in tears laughing at me and you're the only person saying I'm good."
OK - here's an example of a mom knowing their kid stinks - but they don't want to hurt their feelings. What would have been the loving thing to do? Tell their kid the truth up front and save their kid the humiliation of singing really badly on national TV.
This example should make those who believe in God stop and think - if I know the truth - even if I could be wrong - is it more loving to share it, or not share it? Most religions believe their truth leads to heaven, nirvana, etc. If you don't have the truth, most religions believe that there is hell, or at worst, a ton of lost blessings. Shouldn't you share the truth - especially if it's good news?
Here's my happy medium again: as a Christian, I will share what I believe to be true. I share it with love and humility -- but I'm not insisting that I have all the right answers. If I am right -- it's something that I HAVE to share or else those I don't share with are REALLY missing out. If I don't share it, it's like being pretty sure that your friend has the winning lottery ticket but not telling them. I'm doing them a favor. I think I'm right, because I've done my homework and my life experiences corroborate my homework. Again, having an attitude of humbleness, and love are crucial.
One thing that confuses me about other religions, is that if following their religion leads to fulfillment and if not following their religion doesn't -- than why don't their followers share it with as many people as possible? If they can show me the truth, I'd want to be "converted!" Again, if I had some really good news, I think it's the moral thing to share it with as many people as possible. From what I know, Christianity is one of the very few religions that care about telling this wonderful truth. Admittedly, a lot of Christians, including myself, have done a really crappy job in how we share the truth.
Post modern thought is very attractive, because it's much easier to not tell someone they are wrong. And who like's being like the annoying "know-it-alls"? However, I believe it's not an "either-or" proposition. You don't have to be a "know-it-all" if you think that you have some truth to share. And I suggest that you are really my friend if you share what you believe to be true with me, and tell me that I might be missing the truth (i.e. I might be wrong).
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Don't Leave Money on The Table
You may have heard of the saying "Don't leave money on the table". In business it means don't incorrectly assess a prospective client's buying power. For example, if you work at Caribou Coffee and someone orders a coffee, don't assume that they don't have enough money for a muffin. If you sell them a coffee, and they have $10 and they only spent $2, you "left money on the table."
What does this have to do with more important spiritual matters? Well I've been thinking a lot about how God is probably very pleased when he sees us using the talents that he gave us. I'm thinking that this is SO IMPORTANT -- to find out what your good at, and really use it for God's glory. If we don't use our God given talents -- you see where I'm going with this -- we're "leaving money on the table".
I encourage you to discover your spiritual gifts. One way to do this is find a church that has a class for finding your spiritual gifts. There is also a free spiritual gifts survey online right here. Personally, I am happiest when I'm using my talents for things of higher importance -- and I think God is too.
What does this have to do with more important spiritual matters? Well I've been thinking a lot about how God is probably very pleased when he sees us using the talents that he gave us. I'm thinking that this is SO IMPORTANT -- to find out what your good at, and really use it for God's glory. If we don't use our God given talents -- you see where I'm going with this -- we're "leaving money on the table".
I encourage you to discover your spiritual gifts. One way to do this is find a church that has a class for finding your spiritual gifts. There is also a free spiritual gifts survey online right here. Personally, I am happiest when I'm using my talents for things of higher importance -- and I think God is too.
Monday, March 05, 2007
How To Not Have a Warm Pew
I am finally taking my thoughts to the streets. I've always been an idea person, but most of my ideas never see the light of day and they end up in my large idea graveyard. Since I've had several ideas that I thought may benefit the community of believers, I've finally by the grace of God put them in to writing. My mission now is to share my ideas with communities of believers thoughout the planet with hopes that they may be used to ignite people into action for the Kingdom of God. You may view these ideas at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddbbs8tw_38chd45w
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)