Searching for Truth
I recently had a great conversation and the topic, of all things, was my blog... this blog. It was probably the most fulfilling my blog has been, thus far.
I guess I should say, I am not sitting here typing with the attitude that I have all this life stuff figured out. I am trying to work through it all, just like everyone else. So, if you do not agree with me, or if on the off chance you do, feel free to let me know.
I don't mind the affirmation. It is good to know that at least one other person thinks I am headed in the right direction. However, I value the challenges more. I want to be forced to think through what I believe.
So, a friend of mine did not agree with a statement I had made on here, and he brought it up to me. It was great to hear what he thought. We discussed whether Christians can know for sure what their eternal fate will be. I don't think we ended at a point where we were in agreement, but I left wanting to make sure I really believe what I think I do.
Thanks Matt.
Labels: church
posted by Shannon Smith @ 1/03/2007
9 Comments
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9 Comments:
guess you dont care what i think... mo worries... i'm cool...
i'd like to know what jason's "mo worries are"....he may have some valid points...
would that matt happen to have been by brother n law or another matt i will meet in the future
anyway, i missed that conversation, but i'll tell you some people who were pretty sure they're going to heaven and nobody else is are the people that held up signs that said, "god hates sin" and jesus is the way truth, life, repent or burn after I left the rose bowl game the other day....great game by the way...dwayne jarret is an unstoppable force...but i actually walked by a guy with a bullhorn and a sign on the way out that i had to stop myself from breaking the sign and punching him in the face (didn't think that would send the right message either)...
whatever your concerns about eternal life are, i appreciate your honest and humble wrestling with your questions, i think we often overlook the verses about he who stands firm to the end will be saved, and the narrow road, i mean the demons know jesus was savior, but i'm pretty sure they'll be in hell....as for anyone else, i think i'll leave that to god and keep trusting and knowing christ in the life that never stops
peace out
your future friend
corey
mo' worries, mo' problems
Wasn't that a Puffy Daddy... I mean, P. Diddy... I mean, Diddy... song.
Jason is just upset because he thinks I gave him attitude eariler. When he says "i'm cool" he really means, "I want to wrestle you to the ground and put you in the Canadian Crane Puller."
The Matt was not Mr. Rowe.
The issue we were discussing is what happens if you take what you think is the "narrow road", but it turns out you missed the point? What if you are out doing things in God's name, but it turns out that God really wanted you to be doing something else? My extreme example was the guys who blew up abortion clinics in God's name.
Is their faith alone enough to overcome their actions, assuming their actions were not what God wanted?
that wrestling website is funny...i prefer the classic bull rush (which Jason stands no chance of stoppng despite his wrestling techniques due my costantly increasing dad strength)
what do you think about the issue anyway?
i think part of the problem with the discussion is even defining the narrow way, we want to label who is in and who is out, but jesus broke that system down so that we could enter into the narrow way of following Him that continues to change us to the core rather than giving us a ticket that some people have and others don’t, he gives us His Spirit to change us and lead us as a deposit of what is to come, but not as a power over others
peace, got to go back to class
If that is all it takes, I might have a shot against Mr. "I could still win an ACC championship". Traci or your folks may have told you, but I am going to be aquiring some of that "dad strength" later this year. I'm really looking forward to that, among other things.
I recently listened to a talk by Rob Bell about Hell. It was a look into what Jesus says about it. He talks about the idea of an after life being relatively new in the time of Jesus. He goes through all the times when "Hell" is mentioned in the bible. Note: There is no word in the Hebrew language for hell. He spends a lot of time discussing the times when the word Gehenna is translated into Hell.
He makes the point that to Jesus hell (Gahenna) is a place, a rough place, south of Jerusalem, in the here and now. A garbage dump where they burn the trash to get rid of it. A place where dogs hung out and would fight over food. It was a place where the "fires do not go out and there was weeping and the knashing of teeth." He does not use it as some abstract idea, but as a warning about all the things that get in the way of us being who God made us to be. See: Matthew 18:8,9
He questions if our understanding of hell is biblical or cultural. Does Jesus talk about hell as a final destination, or as a present reality? He says, "Jesus wants to save Christians from making hell about them then, and not us now".
I know, this is sort of a backwards argument being that the original conversation was about heaven. Jason made the comment that he thinks people focus too much on getting to heaven and too little on bring heaven to Earth. The more I think about it, the more I realize, I am not called to make it to some final destination. I am called to do many things along the way.
The most I can do, and I say this knowing that I may never fully meet the expectation that it sets, is to put aside my own selfish motives and follow where I am being lead.
Enough for now (probably too much).
Not too much my friend...very insightful! Jason and I listened to that say podcast (did we tell you about it?). It really made me think and rethink alot of things. I desire to be apart of a group of believers who want to make their time on this earth about really seeking out who God is, who we are, how He made us, making the Earth a place where we see bits of heaven and less of Hell. We are so blessed to be surrounded by amazing people like you and your wonderful wife!
Hey Shannon
Thanks for responding with your thoughts. It wasn't too much, and it's exciting to see everything you are learning. I listened to and was encouraged by that same message. I think it is crazy how the internet can connect people and create community over thousands of miles. One of the reasons I love Rob and Erwin is they are able to lead us in a direction in Christ that we know is true but are not exactly sure is possible by calling us out of ourselves to participate in what God is doing here and now to change us and change the world around us. i started listening to them about 3 years ago because i felt like they were wrestling with the same questions i was and authentically following christ with courage in a way that others around me seemed indifferent too. i think the traditional theology about hell we have been handed down has created a lot of arrogance and indifference to this world. one of the resons i am so excited to come to raleigh is you guys are having the courage to seek the reality of the Kingdom and wrestle with what is means to live this way as a community. i am very grateful for you guys life and inspired by what you all are doing.
anyway, peace bro, hope you and the wife are having a good pregnancy
corey
How did i miss this whole conversation... I am stoked about the whole thing except for one part to be mentioned later... for now.. i am glad you guys are willing to even embrace this stuff, wrestle with it, and really try and live it out... it is a blessing to know you guys...
i am unhappy about someone seeking to destroy me in the bull rush...
Jason,
This is the conversation that brought on my questions on the way to the game about who could take who in a barroom brawl.
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