Preach Hell and Take Joy in it
...for the saints did. What do you think is the meaning of the blood of Abel, which cries out from the ground? What is the joy of the elect in Revelation over the destruction of the dragon and his armies? What is the hope of the Psalmist who cries out to see Babylon destroyed and her people wiped from the face of the earth?
Do you apologize for something that God does not? Are you ashamed of something that God is not? Then you fail to comprehend the fullness of it.
We should not apologize for what God will do, as if our small and sin-scarred minds knew better than him the pathways of love! As if we could sit in judgment over his decisions!
So, preach hell with no apology, for it is the full counsel of God. Don't couch it in some false way, as CS Lewis does, that it is God's great love in letting sinners have there own way, instead of his just wrath at the rebellion and disobedience of his creation. And above all, use it to flame your gratitude for and joy in your precious salvation, which has freely rescued you from this.
posted by Steven at 5:54 PM
2 Comments:
I agree Steven. I preached Hebrews 10:19-31 earlier this week and had to deal with the fury of fire prepared for the adversaries and it being a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hardest passage I've ever preached and most completely inadequate I've ever felt after preaching. Your post is encouraging.
12:26 PM
I actually read your post last week, but waited to respond because it reminded me a lot of what Francis Chan said in "Erasing Hell" and I wanted to share (but couldn't find the book till today haha):
"I often hear people say, 'I could never love a God who would...'
Who would what? Who would disagree with you? And do things that you would never do? Who would allow bad things to happen to people? Who would be more concerned with his own glory than your feelings? Who would--send people to hell?
...
It's incredibly arrogant to pick and choose which incomprehensible truths we embrace. No one wants to ditch God's plan of redemption, even though it doesn't make sense to us. Neither should we erase God's revealed plan of punishment because it doesn't sit well with us.
...
...it's time I stopped being embarrassed by God's actions. His thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than mine. Its time to stop apologizing FOR Him and start apologizing TO Him."
(from pages 132, 136, and 138)
3:57 PM
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