Do You Believe in Hell?

Do you believe in Hell?

I know non-believers, New Age religions and anti/false Christian beliefs could care less of what happens to them after they die. This is why their main focus is living life to its fullest and being filled with positive thoughts and feelings because they believe when we die we either are reincarnated into animals and trees; roam the earth as wandering spirits or simply turn to dust.

However, Christians on the other hand should take the idea of Hell and eternal torment much more serious. But do they?

Iron Sharpens Iron

“Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.” (Prov. 27:17)

Let me ask you, do you find yourself sharpening other believers with the Word of God or are you the type of Christian that go to church, enjoy the worship and even offer up your services, yet have no interest in sharing what scripture teaches?

One distinct quality of a Christian that truly loves Christ and his fellow brethren is the profound passion they have to share God’s Word. Not the snippets of out-of-context passages that sends a warm feeling through your nervous system, but ALL OF IT including the areas that rebukes falsehood, confronts sin and exhorts holy living. This is what separates true believers from the religious; this is also why every Christian needs to give godly criticism and instruction and embrace godly criticism and instruction when given.

Paul the Apostle as great as he was had companions, in fact he paints a clear picture of those who he entrusted as friends in his letter to the brethren of Colossae and in the Old Testament God gathered 70 men to assist Moses when the people became too burdensome for him to do it alone (Numbers 11:14-17). What are you doing to assist other believers with the Word of God?

Mothers Always Ready to Give an Answer

by Avery Foley

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:6–7)

Throughout Scripture, fathers and mothers are exhorted to teach their children God’s commands and decrees on a daily basis. God has entrusted parents with the awesome responsibility of teaching the next generation and training them in the admonition of the Lord so that they may praise His name (Psalm 102:18). By immersing our children in Scripture, wisely answering their questions starting with God’s Word, and pointing them toward Jesus Christ, we are the generation that “shall praise [the Lord’s] works to another and shall declare [His] mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4).

Joel Osteen – Fake It Until You Make It?

Back in 2013 Joel Osteen had a post on his Facebook page that stated how Christians ought to fake their blessings and fake their victory saying: “You’ve got to fake it until you make it!” Over 4 million people from around the world “liked” it.

We see this type of absurd teachings also coming from his book titled: I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life Here he makes a completely wrong and out-of-context reference to Romans 5:17 saying: “We are to reign in life as kings” and rambles on about how God sees us as kings and queens; we have His royal blood flowing through our veins and as long we feel our pulse and our hearts beating we’ll still have time to reign as kings and queens in this lifetime. If that wasn’t bizarre enough, he then ends his ranting with:

The #Selfie Generation

Recently an Egyptian airlines was hijacked by a man claiming he had a bomb. And though the crew was instructed by the pilot to take photos with the bomber so they could send it to the police, this guy, Ben Innes thought it would be a great idea to take a selfie. As he states:

“I’m not sure why I did it, I just threw caution to the wind while trying to stay cheerful in the face of adversity. I figured if his bomb was real I’d nothing to lose anyway, so took a chance to get a closer look at it.” (source)

Not only was this idiotic and dangerous, but his friends and relatives are praising him for being so “cool.”

Being a Christian I can’t judge this guy, that’s God’s job. However, I can judge other Christians, as Paul instructs us: “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges.” (1 Cor. 5:12)

Peace and Love Pt.2

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simple devotion that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2  Cor. 11:3-4) *Some commentaries describe simple devotion as childish love.

Carefree, airy, easy-going love may have been embraced back in the hippie era of peace, drugs and rock and roll but it has no place within Christianity. Yet thousands upon thousands display this type of love whose minds are now corrupted, unable to discern right from wrong, disregarding sin, overlooking falsehood and as Paul stated are: …putting up with a different Jesus, Spirit and Gospel.

It’s quite interesting how it was this type of “childish love” that moved Paul to warn Christians who were susceptible to falsehood…

“…we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head…” (Eph. 4:14-15)

Peace and Love Pt.1

Peaceful feelings, loving attitudes towards one another, smiles on everyone’s faces and cheerful laughter filling the air – ah, the groovy hippie lifestyle of the late 60’s to 70’s or…is this describing today’s groovy Christians?

Don’t get me wrong it would be great to live in a peaceful world with loving positive people, a place with no wars, no hate, no prejudice and no negativity. However it is quite impossible for true Christians to gain this type of peace in this life, for if we truly proclaimed the name of Jesus Christ according to scripture we will be hated by all (Matt. 24:9).

I Hate Hearing About Sin!

Let’s face it, that’s pretty much the attitude of today’s Christian. 

It seems that everything about Christianity has to be uplifting in order for it to be mentioned in a sermon, represented through television, posted on social media or sent through email. Basically we all want to be “accepted” by others and we’re achieving this by carefully dissecting scripture and staying clear of anything offensive.

However this is very opposite from what scripture teaches us. When we look at the lives of Christ, His disciples and the life of Paul the Apostle, the subject of sin and falsehood was always there.

Hey I Got A Question?

With so many professing Christians these days no one can make out what consists of a TRUE BELIEVER or someone who is simply “Religious.”

I know many of you believe what does it matter anyway…as long as we go to church, sing a few songs, raise our hands in worship, join a ministry or two and maybe even seek out a path of pastoral duties, this must prove we are true believers right? Or maybe its that tingling feeling and sensation when we’re around other Christians or at church, deeply emotional with tears pouring from our eyes during worship, now that definitely must mean we’re genuine Christians don’t you think?

However one can easily sort out their priorities to discern whether or not their Christian walk is genuine or nothing but a repetitive religious motion.

To Judge Or Not To Judge

One of the most popular and overly used reaction people (including Christians) will say when confronted with sin and falsehood is “Don’t Judge.” However according to scripture, the only people who can technically say “Don’t Judge Me” and get away with it is a non-Christian.

In the context of 1 Corinthians 5 starting in verse 9, we see Paul rebuking the church for associating with immoral people. However if you read carefully, his instructions is not what you would think:

“(when) I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.  But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (v9-11)