Pastor's hot spin on Scripture: Hell's temporary

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Abyssinia

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It would be laughable, if he weren’t influencing young people.
 
Well, I guess I stand alone. I hope Hell isn’t forever. I feel sorry for most people who are going there. I hope there is a method of salvation for them.
 
It would be interesting to see how many people would be following the ‘rules’ if hell was indeed temporary/figurative.
 
Well, what are you folks waiting for? Let’s get out there and commit some sins! No penalty!
 
I am always surprised that people only do good because they are afraid of hell…instead of doing good because it is the right thing to do for those who follow Christ. 🤷

Somehow…I think being a Christian must be more than “fire insurance”…but like I said…I am always surprised by such answers and reactions.
 
Abyssinia said:
Hell’s not forever? Heaven may be for everyone? Who says such stuff?

Pastor Rob Bell, of course. But the megachurch hip Christian with the cool glasses, video portfolio and huge youth following is a dangerous loose cannon to many of his peers. Bell’s new book, Love Wins, is tearing up the charts with these controversial views and my story today gives him a chance to elaborate.

content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/03/hell-heaven-love-sin-rob-bell/1
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While I haven’t read his book, if I understand his argument properly his views were shared by some of the Early Church Fathers. They are also not necessarily opposed to Catholic teaching, which requires that we believe in Hell but not that we believe anyone is in Hell. The Church says that we can and should hope for the salvation of all, and that anything is possible in God.
 
Publisher said:
I am always surprised that people only do good because they are afraid of hell…instead of doing good because it is the right thing to do for those who follow Christ. 🤷
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Look up the definition of Attrition and Contrition in Catholic theology.
To sum it up, attrition is imperfect contrition or imperfect regret for our sins that is only moved by fear of punishment. I’m one of many people who has been through a conversion process starting with fear of God’s Judgment and gradually coming to genuinely detest my sins and understand why they offend God and wound my soul. I think fear of Hell is not as state of mind that people have forever, just one step on the long long road to conversion. Peace be with you.
 
TMC said:
While I haven’t read his book, if I understand his argument properly his views were shared by some of the Early Church Fathers. They are also not necessarily opposed to Catholic teaching, which requires that we believe in Hell but not that we believe anyone is in Hell. The Church says that we can and should hope for the salvation of all, and that anything is possible in God.
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Origen himself felt that Hell would not be necessarily permanent, and that even the Devil might someday repent and be saved. Of course, he later ended up being anathemized by succesive councils because of those views, but that’s another story. 😛
But you’re right about some of the Early Church Fathers being for This. 👍

My take, of course.

And I’m sticking to it.
 
I’m pretty sure Jesus himself spoke of Hell as “everlasting.”

Sorry ‘pastor’, but I’m going to go with Jesus on this one rather than your insight. :rolleyes:
 
My understanding is he is speaking out against the Evangelical understanding of Hell, the idea that God is very specifically picking people and damning them to hell for all eternity. If one accepts Calvinism it is impossible to also accept a loving God.

As for apocotostasis (which some early fathers believed, and which seems somewhat different than what he’s talking about), it seems contrary to what I understand of Catholicism, but I could be wrong.
 
manualman said:
I’m pretty sure Jesus himself spoke of Hell as “everlasting.”
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Jews and muslims generally do not believe in an eternal punishment, if I’m not mistaken. My understanding is shallow, but I think mainstream Judaism says relatively little about the afterlife, consequently there is diverse opinion about it among Jews.
The Catholic Church states hell is eternal (CCC1035), so I’ll go with that. But I don’t read Jesus as being that specific about it. Either way, I will continue to strive to live a life that Christ calls us to – a work in progress, for me at least.

Add:
catholic.com/library/Hell_There_Is.asp
 
Publisher said:
I am always surprised that people only do good because they are afraid of hell…instead of doing good because it is the right thing to do for those who follow Christ. 🤷

Somehow…I think being a Christian must be more than “fire insurance”…but like I said…I am always surprised by such answers and reactions.
Click to expand...
What do you expect from a religion that is more stick then carrot?

Seriously compare the writings and private revelations on hell to the ones on heaven.
 
Abyssinia said:
Hell’s not forever? Heaven may be for everyone? Who says such stuff?

Pastor Rob Bell, of course. But the megachurch hip Christian with the cool glasses, video portfolio and huge youth following is a dangerous loose cannon to many of his peers. Bell’s new book, Love Wins, is tearing up the charts with these controversial views and my story today gives him a chance to elaborate.

content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/03/hell-heaven-love-sin-rob-bell/1
Click to expand...
The whole idea is just more popular today. Hell isn’t a big seller. The Cross? To much of a bummer.

We could just dance, sing and everyone have a great time and go to heaven. Sounds better for sale’s, doesn’t do much for salvation.
 
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