Vox

Why don’t I like thinking about Hell

andyviar — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:16:08 +0000

I don't want to be a joy-kill to my friends & co-workers. But really, if what Jesus said is true, then what will be the bigger joy-kill, lovingly challenging people's worldviews, or them spending an eternity in torture?

I don't want to dwell on the negative. I really don't. There are enough good and uplifting things to talk about, why dwell on the unpleasant? What will be more unpleasant, having people not like me because I believe something that they reject or knowing that I said nothing when someone was heading toward eternal pain?

People don't care. Right now they may not, but on the day when they're face to face with God and are held accountable for everything they've done and on top of that reject Jesus' offer to pay their penalty for them, they'll care.

In the context of love and a willingness to take questions and explain Jesus' message of love and justice, hell just might be a topic worth dwelling on. Charles Spurgeon, sometimes called the "prince of preachers", said:

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Jesus’ greatest commandments

andyviar — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:07:20 +0000

Jesus' greatest commandments:

Mark 12:28-31 ESV

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this:' You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Are quoted from:

Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Writing poetry

andyviar — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:29:15 +0000

There are lots of ways to write poetry... Here's one: read other peoples' writing until you come across something you have a strong response to, then pour out your response on paper. It's satisfying to write about something you feel strongly about, and it's satisfying to read someone's heart and passion.

Patience

andyviar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:59:03 +0000

Patience is: waiting without complaining.

(source: my brother Marcus)

Repentance

andyviar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:15:57 +0000

Repentance is: the recognition of wrongdoing, followed by heartfelt sorrow, culminating in a change of behavior.

(source: James MacDonald, slightly modified by Andy Viar)