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Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/6/2008 7:03:58 PM
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Walker311
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We talked about hell this morning in Sunday School.
This used to be preached quite alot years ago but it is rare to hear sermons on hell.
I want to know what Christians think about this.
Why do you believe that we hear so little about hell these days?
Do you believe that it turns people off both in churches and in the secular world?
Do you as a Christian, believe in the literal hell as described in the bible? If not, as a Christian, then what DO you believe?
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/6/2008 7:42:53 PM
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mvic
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I suspect as people become more affluent, more educated and comfortable in their modern lifestyles they believe less and less in religion. Not just in Heaven and hell, God and Jesus but in Christianity altogether.
Sure, many may consider themselves Christian either by birth, up-bringing, marriage or whatever - but are they truly Christians? When asked what they truly believe they probably flounder and tell you what you want to hear. Here in the UK we have had senior clerics questionning the Virgin Birth and the Resurrection - so what is the poor layman to make of Christianity?
To answer your questions - we hear so little about hell because people do not take it seriously enough. The devil is succeeding in making people believe that he doesn't exist at all. This leaves him a clear field in which to play havoc with our souls.
I believe in hell because I believe in the devil and respect his strategy and tactics. I don't under-estimate him. I don't know what hell looks like but I know the devil is there.
I also believe in God and Jesus; and I'd rather be with them in Heaven.
_____________________________
Christian words of comfort at http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/6/2008 7:51:09 PM
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LCannon
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Why? The 'doom and gloom' factor. If one's going preach that message always preach hope with it. Sometimes that's a stretch for some people both on the receiving and listening end.
Literal hell? Yep. Probably not a literal torment as in the physical sensations but a torment in oneself that can't be satisfied without end is(I imagine)worse than a itch or burn festering.
_____________________________
"I pray that You dispose of my health, my sickness,
my life and my death for Your Glory."(Blaise Pascal)
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/6/2008 8:29:31 PM
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deliveredarling
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quote:
Why do you believe that we hear so little about hell these days?
Nobody wants to hear about consequences. Believing that we are good enough is enough satisfaction for some. Complacency blinds. Looking at the things we have and we do, it's often too difficult to let go of those things held dear. We can talk all day long about sacrifice, yet ask somebody what it means to them...... people are afraid to preach on it because that desire acceptance from man rather than seeking the acceptance of the Lord. People can be seen and heard, God is allusive to far too many people.
quote:
Do you believe that it turns people off both in churches and in the secular world?
I believe that those who it turns off, don't understand the lengths our Savior went to, to save us from it.
As for the secular world, don't they already live in it?
quote:
Do you as a Christian, believe in the literal hell as described in the bible? If not, as a Christian, then what DO you believe?
I believe two things about hell. One, it is literal, Two, it can be experienced here on earth as well. The absence of God was a living hell for me. I couldn't understand it at the time, other than knowing I was a seriously miserable person. The darkness that shrouded my every moment was hell. I can look back in time and see it compared to the brightness and hope that I now have everyday.
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Luke 8:16
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/6/2008 10:09:38 PM
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mayfly
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quote:
To answer your questions - we hear so little about hell because people do not take it seriously enough. The devil is succeeding in making people believe that he doesn't exist at all. This leaves him a clear field in which to play havoc with our souls.
I believe in hell because I believe in the devil and respect his strategy and tactics. I don't under-estimate him. I don't know what hell looks like but I know the devil is there.
I also believe in God and Jesus; and I'd rather be with them in Heaven.
I completely agree.
I don't know what hell will be like--I don't know about the literal "fire and brimstone" scenario, but I suspect it is more horrific than we can even imagine.
_____________________________
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/6/2008 10:19:29 PM
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SonInMe1
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A lake if fire seems to me to be...a lake of fire.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/7/2008 12:07:14 AM
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Walker311
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It is understandable that we are presented with two choices because we don't care to imagine riff raff in heaven... the rapist, murderers, molestors, and so on.
We understand and focus on heaven more because it is the goal, the ultimate reward. It is positive, uplifting, peaceful, and serene. Heaven is easier to imagine.
Hell is unimaginable even though we have all seen hellish movies or have had hellish lives. Whatever experiences we have had, hell will be much worse.
Should preachers say more about hell? Should there be a Hell 101 taught in Christian schools and colleges?
During the course of the lesson this morning in church, someone spoke up about a family member who was not saved before they died and she tried to express that there may have been a chance before this relative died, that he may have been saved but she did not know because she was not there.
This may be why preachers stray away from hell. It is a difficult thing to imagine that our loved ones may end up in eternal separation from God and separated from those who loved them while on earth. It is not something that we get all cleaned up for with our best Sunday clothes... to go hear that we may go to hell or someone we love may burn forever.
I don't like it! Hell. It sort of puts me in a bad mood but it is a reality that I accept as much as I accept Jesus Christ. We need to hear and learn about IT.
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/7/2008 12:35:29 AM
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pstrdebi
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
Why do you believe that we hear so little about hell these days?
1. Because the world is inundated with Seeker friendly churches.
2. To many churches do not want to "offend" the congregants.
3. To many churches fall prey to the "we need to be politically correct" lie.
There are way to many churches that follow suite with the largest church in America, who's pastor has publicly declared that he will not preach about the blood or the cross, because it "offends" people. 
quote:
Do you believe that it turns people off both in churches and in the secular world?
Of Course. No-one wants to be held accountable today, let alone have their sins and their imminent destination (without Christ) pointed out to them. They would much rather walk around in ignorance, ignoring the truth. Often people take the "out of sight, out of mind" approach. If they don't listen to it (about their sins and immanent destination)... they don't have to acknowledge it (hell).
quote:
Do you as a Christian, believe in the literal hell as described in the bible? If not, as a Christian, then what DO you believe?
Absolutely... and thought of going there made me shake in my boots, turn, and run to Jesus!
< Message edited by pstrdebi -- 7/7/2008 12:47:10 AM >
_____________________________
"For in Him we live and move and have our being..." Acts 17:28a
http://www.therockfellowship.org
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/7/2008 2:33:31 AM
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SinnerSaved
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I agree with all comments so far.
We hear so little about hell because that sort of preaching doesn't appeal to the 'feel-good Christian' - those that largely reject the OT and do not want to hear about the wrath of God, or of His justice and His judgement. They seem to not understand that Jesus spoke more about hell than He did of heaven. Such people cherry-pick from the scriptures the 'good bits' and reject what they see as the 'bad-bits' as OT teaching, which 'doesn't apply now'. They have bought into the lie that satan doesn't exist and that hell is an abstract. They will usually say things like 'I can't believe that a loving God would...'
I believe in the literal hell of the bible. I believe that it is the Lake of Fire, 'Gehenna', and is eternal. I don't believe that anyone is there yet, because the judgement has not yet taken place. Why? Because the evil that the unrepentant sinner does in this life lives on after physical death, and the consequences are not over until it's over. God will one day judge them for the entirety of their deeds, which includes the effect they had on future generations.
_____________________________
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth."
Mark Twain
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/7/2008 4:49:22 AM
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SonInMe1
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I am not sure why a saved person needs to hear about a place they will never go to.
If we are to be educated about hell to improve our witness to others, I am not sure that is effective either. Telling people they better become a christian or they will spend eternity in hell, usually, is not an effective witness.
There are other reasons to become a christian than scaring people away from hell.
I am not sure talking about hell to an unsaved person will mean anything to them at all. If they do not believe in God its highly doubtful talking to them about hell would be any more effective.
I wasn't afraid of hell when I became a christian. I knew I needed God. Hell did not scare me to God. God loved me to Him.
As much as I would like a study on hell, I am not sure, other than curiousity, it has a lot of worth. Other than its a bad place and where unsaved people go, what more should be learned or taught?
I think we all know these things. If you believe in God hell is real to you. If not, its just a fairy tale.
I would like a poll....how many of us, saved people, were scared, by hell, into salvation? I knew I didn't want to go there but I don't think...hell...saves.
Just a few thoughts on the topic. Like I said I think I would enjoy a good sermon on hell. The biblical references. Exactly what hell is....
and I don't think I have said hell so much in a long time.... 
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/7/2008 3:01:59 PM
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mvic
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I think you're all talking a lot of sense.
However, I maintain that we do not hear a lot about hell (or satan) because the devil has finally succeeded in making a lot of Christians believe that he isn't much of a threat.
Stop a number of Christians and ask them: I bet they ALL believe they're going to Heaven. Whether they are true practicing Christians or the biggest scoundrels you are likely to meet. They ALL believe they are heading for Heaven. They don't see satan as a threat - they think they have their guaranteed ticket to Heaven.
As for the non-believers: As SoninMe put it: "If they do not believe in God its highly doubtful talking to them about hell would be any more effective."
_____________________________
Christian words of comfort at http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/7/2008 6:44:18 PM
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Walker311
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Hell is punishment and we all know that certain punishment is a great motivator.
I am not happy about the punishment that I received as a child but it did teach me that I needed to change my ways. Would I have been a different person if not for the threat of future punishment? You bet!
If I never received punishment, I would have never felt the need to do what was right.
We all need a gage to live by. Heaven, hell... both very real places and both presented as choices.
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/8/2008 3:25:48 AM
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SonInMe1
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I think....people know their lives they are living now more than they can understand the concepts of hell or heaven.
Lets face it, boith are truly above our total understanding other than one is good and the other is bad.
Most people want to know how to change their lives now, not what happens to them after death.
_____________________________
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
James 4:4
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/8/2008 6:16:34 PM
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Walker311
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quote:
Most people want to know how to change their lives now, not what happens to them after death
This statement sums up the exact mindset of the world.
Years ago I asked this guy in my church a question. Background: He was facing life in prison for selling cocaine to an undercover officer and then trying to run over him. He was also saying that he was called into the ministry.
I asked... when you were buying drugs directly from the Cubans to sell to whoever, did you ever consider what would happen if you got caught?
His answer... NEVER!
A majority of secular folks as well as Christians do not concern themselves with hell. Secular society as whole are not concerned with the consequences of their actions. Christians have no idea how to answer questions about hell from new Christians or non-Christians who drill them with questions like..
HOW COULD A LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD SEND SOULS TO HELL FOREVER?
We have a responsibility to not only know why there is a hell but to also deliver the ugly truth to whoever asks.
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RE: Lake of FIRE... gnashing teeth... brimstone? - 7/9/2008 2:58:50 PM
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Ruthie
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From: Center of the Universe, Canada
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
Why do you believe that we hear so little about hell these days?
Hell is inconvenient. It reminds us that actions have consequences and, in today's society, that's a great inconvenience. Society wants to hear that salvation, like everything else, can be achieved quickly, easily and conveniently. The old salvation that required something of us has been replaced with the New! and Improved!! version that requires nothing at all.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
Do you believe that it turns people off both in churches and in the secular world?
Yes, probably. People want to be told that they are good enough. People don't want to hear about Hell, much less that we deserve to go there. They certainly don't want to be told that God requires obedience.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
Do you as a Christian, believe in the literal hell as described in the bible? If not, as a Christian, then what DO you believe?
Yes, I believe in a literal Heaven and Hell. Hell is rather like a supermax prison for those with an Eternal sentence. You don't go there by mistake.
Hell will be much more awful than we can imagine. I think that the inhabitants themelves will make it the horrible, horrible place that it will be. It will be a place filled with pure hatred, unending loathing, relentless selfishness, abiding inhumanity. Self-inflicted suffering. Demonic.
The funny thing is, even given the chance to repent, the Condemned would rather drag the Redeemed down to Hell with them than than repent and reach for Heaven themselves.
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