tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415462951121361307.post7930181620810229382..comments2023-10-09T05:47:43.350-05:00Comments on An Open Door Blog: How To Win Your Friends...NaturallyJeff Bergerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01851404940918850330noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415462951121361307.post-39452063798972401072009-08-27T11:50:59.075-05:002009-08-27T11:50:59.075-05:00I appreciate what you're trying to say, that i...I appreciate what you're trying to say, that if Evangelicals REALLY believed Hell existed, surely they'd be doing all they could, whenever they could, to get others saved.<br /><br />But they don't, and while social awkwardness may play into it, let me suggest that there's a much larger reason why--because they don't really believe it!<br /><br />Sure, they believe in Hell to some extent, but not in the "trust in, cling to, rely on" sense, not in the type of believing that leads directly to action. It's not even a mental assent...but a feeling.<br /><br />In other words, the majority of Evangelicals are only fearful that Hell MIGHT exist. They have that fear ingrained into them, just enough to get their compliance to join a church, donate some money and vote for whomever the preacher hints is "God's choice." But after that, they live just like the rest of us non believers, like there's nothing beyond the grave.<br /><br />I've actually written an entire book on this topic--"Hell? No! Why You Can Be Certain There's No Such Place As Hell," (for anyone interested, you can get a free Ecopy of my book at my website: www.ricklannoye.com), but the real question here ought to be, "Is there any real proof that Hell exists?"<br /><br />I suspect that those who lead the Evangelicals don't really want their followers to examine the doctrine of Hell too deeply. They don't need their sheep to abandon the church pews to spend every waking minute knocking on doors or passing out gospel tracts. No, just enough of the FEAR of Hell to get them in the doors, perhaps with a friend in tow.<br /><br />The good news, the REAL gospel, is that there is no Hell.<br /><br /> there's substantial evidence contained in the gospels to show that Jesus opposed the idea of Hell. For example, in Luke 9:51-56, is a story about his great disappointment with his disciples when they actually suggested imploring God to rain FIRE on a village just because they had rejected him. His response: "You don't know what spirit is inspiring this kind of talk!" Presumably, it was NOT the Holy Spirit. He went on, trying to explain how he had come to save, heal and relieve suffering, not be the CAUSE of it.<br /><br />So it only stands to reason that this same Jesus, who was appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn BILLIONS of people for an ETERNITY!<br /><br />True, there are a few statements that made their way into the gospels which place Hell on Jesus lips, but these adulterations came along many decades after his death, most likely due to the Church filling up with Greeks who imported their belief in Hades with them when they converted.Rick Lannoyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15771612313060169125noreply@blogger.com