Christianity & Christian Fear
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Recently, I spoke the truth of hell not being eternal to a person bound by traditional christian
beliefs. This led to this person's church elders contacting me and basically telling me they
love me, but I am no longer welcome in their church building. No problem. I would rather be
outside religious walls than in them, anyway. But, when discussing this with my friend Jay,
he pointed out something very interesting to me. Jay made the point that all one has to
attack is the false doctrine of an eternal hell, and the religious feel threatened in all their
beliefs. And truly, all their beliefs are threatened if they cease to believe in an eternal hell.
Why? As Jay so wisely pointed out, their entire traditional christian doctrines are founded on
this false teaching which invokes fear. It is fear of not pleasing God and suffering for an
eternity. Hence, their entire teachings are fear-based and not of love. Fear is not of God,
but man-made. God is love.
Now, all I pointed out to this person who is bound by religion, was that the word "hell" is not
in their Bible (in the original Greek or Hebrew), and neither are the words "forever" and
"eternal." The word mis-translated "forever" or "eternal" is the Greek word "aion," which
means for a set period of time - meaning it has an end. The words mis-translated as "hell"
mean grave (Sheol and hades) or a trash dump outside of Jerusalem (Gehenna).
Why was I such a threat to the whole church that the elders would meet and then call me?
Was it out of love for me, believing me to be lost? No, it was all motivated by fear - fear of
losing control of their club (church) in the name of Christ. If they loved like they say they do,
then they would show it in action. Instead they showed they are walking in fear (afraid of
me) by telling me I am no longer welcome to visit them. Closed minds are always bound
closed by fear.
Here is a simple thought to consider:
Since God is all-knowing (omniscient) and all-powerful (omnipotent), then why wouldn't He
simply create those who He knew would make the choices He preferred and therefore not
have to destroy any for making the choices He didn't prefer? Otherwise, we have a
blood-thirsty God who is evil, if He created people whom he already foreknew He would have
to destroy because of bad choices. God would make the choice to destroy maliciously when
there was no need to create that which had to be destroyed! If God is all-powerful and
all-knowing, He should have easily been able to create those whom He desired and save us
all from ever existing and facing wrath, if we make wrong choices. Again, religion doesn't
make any sense when you think it through logically.
I believe God foreknew everyone as stated in the bible:
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son..."
Romans 11:2
"God did not cast away His people whom He foreknew."
Romans 11:2
If we are eternal beings, then we have always been (in God). Therefore, we will always be.
Anything that has a beginning, must have an end. You cannot create eternal from the
temporal. God will save all.
From a poem entitled, "A Ghost Speaks," by Gloria Ladd:
"Your joy is your heaven, your sorrows your hell."
Links for help from the State Of Fear
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