Greetings Friends,
First off let me say that the title of this topic alone should be enough to win the Babywater Cliché award.
But seriously now
So, seeing as how it turned out to be my turn to post a topic this month, and as you are all clearly at my mercy now, I thought I would raise a topic for discussion which I have been struggling to articulate a clearer understanding of for the last few years. It's a topic that will have real consequences regarding our eschatology and the how we minister to those around us who don't share in our faith.
HELL
I want to know what you guys think about the idea. Is it a place, is it a state of mind, is it a state of being, is it non-existence, etc...? Is it permanent or can you decide to leave by making the right choice? Is your fate, either within or without decided beforehand, is it even in your control? How will our thoughts on Hell inform how we relate to those outside the faith? How does it affect what kind of church you could pastor or attend? What happens if your ideas on hell conflict with your denominational doctrinal statements? Is there are any certainty to be had or is it all just opinions? What is the cost of being wrong?
I realize all those questions in that last paragraph would take millennia to answer, if indeed they actually can be answered. I don't expect to come up with some neat and tidy doctrine of hell here; I just want to hear what you all think when the idea of Hell is presented. I'd like to hear how your hermeneutics back up your opinion and what authors and teaching have influenced you. Once we have tossed around a lot of ideas concerning the nature of hell I would like to move into something more practical and talk about how our thoughts on hell influence how we evangelize and disciple those in our sphere of influence. How does it affect the gospel we preach and live if we tend towards universalism or annihilationism or whatever? What problems do you have with the more traditional or the more liberal views?
Finally, I would like to know how you would preach what you believe on the topic. Obviously a good measure of humility is deserved when dealing with a topic like this. What would you say from the pulpit, or in a classroom setting?
Tell me what you believe, why you believe it, and how firmly you believe it. I expect there are going to be some pretty varied opinions among us, so don't be bashful.
Love You All,
Coldstorageunit
