A forum for discussing matters of moment, from a curmudgeonly perspective. (The ideas posted here do not necessarily represent those of any organization with which I am a part). Rude and insulting remarks will not be published, but civil disagreement is welcome.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The Distance from God
Those to keep God at a comfortable distance throughout this life will end up being an uncomfortable distance from God for eternity.--Unknown Theologian.
Well, speaking of discomfort in the age to come, two quotes that came to mind are:
“Hell stands as a horrible witness to human defiance in the face of great grace” D. A. Carson, How Long, O Lord, p. 103
and...
“The infinite horrors of hell are intended by God to be a vivid demonstration of the infinite value of his glory which sinners have belittled.” John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad, p. 127
See my extended sermon outline here (no stealing for your own sermon ;0).
Could it be that so many people spend so much time worrying about hell after death because they are tacit accomplices in the hell they contribute to create on earth? (Lest I should be misinterpreted, I want to clarify that I am not pointing fingers at followers of any belief--or unbelief. We are all guilty, to a higher or lesser degree, of objectionable action/inaction, no matter how pious or righteous we think we are.) Few will be leaving this planet with a clean conscience. I myself know that I have much to ask forgiveness for, but I can only ask for it and get it (or not) from those I hurt, directly or indirectly. One thing I know is this: I'd rather proclaim my unbelief and try to carry myself as respectably, honorably, and coherently as I am capable of, than proclaim belief and risk being punished for hypocrisy, for I have never truly been capable of believing what so many can bet their lives on. Moreover, if I am wrong, and a God exists, having the qualities that Christians attribute to him, He should certainly have less regard for pious hypocrites than for the sincerely misguided. And if He does not, then it would be the right thing to defy Him.
so true, umcomfortable in the age to come is defined as 'hell.'
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell, speaking of discomfort in the age to come, two quotes that came to mind are:
ReplyDelete“Hell stands as a horrible witness to human defiance in the face of great grace”
D. A. Carson, How Long, O Lord, p. 103
and...
“The infinite horrors of hell are intended by God to be a vivid demonstration of the infinite value of his glory which
sinners have belittled.”
John Piper, Let the Nations be Glad, p. 127
See my extended sermon outline
here (no stealing for your own sermon ;0).
Could it be that so many people spend so much time worrying about hell after death because they are tacit accomplices in the hell they contribute to create on earth?
ReplyDelete(Lest I should be misinterpreted, I want to clarify that I am not pointing fingers at followers of any belief--or unbelief. We are all guilty, to a higher or lesser degree, of objectionable action/inaction, no matter how pious or righteous we think we are.)
Few will be leaving this planet with a clean conscience. I myself know that I have much to ask forgiveness for, but I can only ask for it and get it (or not) from those I hurt, directly or indirectly.
One thing I know is this: I'd rather proclaim my unbelief and try to carry myself as respectably, honorably, and coherently as I am capable of, than proclaim belief and risk being punished for hypocrisy, for I have never truly been capable of believing what so many can bet their lives on. Moreover, if I am wrong, and a God exists, having the qualities that Christians attribute to him, He should certainly have less regard for pious hypocrites than for the sincerely misguided. And if He does not, then it would be the right thing to defy Him.