Hell

In two weeks I will be preaching on hell. It is clear that modern Christianity has either used it as a tool to scare people into converting or ignored it completely - kind of like that crazy relative at a family reunion. The reality is that, like it or not, hell is a biblical concept. It is an important component of judgment and The End.

Do you believe that hell is actual or is just a metaphor? What will the role of hell be for humanity?

Let's talk...


Jeff

Voting

Okay. Back to this voting deal.

I do not vote. Though this has not always been true, I would now consider myself a principled non-voter. Let me explicate.

1. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” says Jesus when the Pharisee lackeys and Herodians try to trap him. What is Caesar's? Economic systems, political systems, military systems, and the belief that tinkering with the aforementioned will bring life and goodness to the world. Voting, as a part of politics, belongs to Caesar. I choose to let him keep it.


2. The politics of Caesar ask us for complete devotion to nation. Notice John McCain's campaign slogan: "Country First." Remember what Jesus said in this regard? "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Mt. 10.37-39). To me voting is throwing at least part of my hope behind a candidate or issue. Isn't that exactly what Barack Obama is asking from us? "I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring real change to Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours." I want both my devotion and hope to be placed in the hands of Christ Jesus, not country nor person.


3. We live in a politically polarized nation. One's definition as Democrat or Republican is more important than one's definition as American. Worse, one's political leanings in the minds of way too many have become the litmus test for whether or not one is truly a Christian. That is plain wrong and abiblical. Let's recall Romans 10:9 & 12-13, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" and "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" Hmmm...the litmus test for salvation is confession and belief not ethnicity nor political affiliation! I cast my vote for Christian unity that is bestowed by the Spirit via the grace of Christ Jesus.


4. There has never been a candidate that reflected my beliefs in total nor one that I believed would remain convicted to always do what was right without compromise. Governments are fundamentally oriented to national self-interest and self-preservation. That is very nearly irreconcilable with Jesus' emphasis on selflessness.


5. I am a pacifist. I believe that Jesus' call to love enemies supersedes a nation's call to defend itself through violence. My choosing not to vote is a way of my trying to maintain personal integrity in regard to the government. I do not believe it is right for me to make choices about who leads the government and about policies if I, in turn, will not pick up arms to defend that which I have helped to install. Personally, I cannot with any integrity embrace certain benefits but then turn around and reject the responsibility that goes with those benefits. I want it to be clear that my primary citizenship is the Kingdom of God.


6. I like what John Roth has to say about politics and faith, “…the primary concern of Christians is not to redeem the state or take control of government or insist it live up to the standards of the NT.” There is this notion that we are a Christian nation. Certainly, we are majority Christian nation population-wise. But our government is never obligated to behave according to Christ's commands and ethical standards. It will instead act according to the world's standards. Until Jesus' return and His setting up His perfect kingdom, Christendom will never exist. It is my belief that all efforts to Christianize government will fail. In fact, it is not even our role as the Church. Instead, we are to proclaim the Gospel and to bring Christ's healing to those who are broken. To say it a bit more strongly, I believe that we have been deceived into believing our efforts in the political realm are the best use of our time. My not voting reminds me that my best efforts are to more closely resemble those of Jesus and the Twelve.

I could say much more but this is quite enough for now. I welcome your rebuttals and critique.

Jeff