Every Pastor In Cass County Should Go to Hell

Do I have your attention? Before you get mad and write letters to the editor, I need you to know that I am also a pastor in Cass County and would be forever changed if I spent one minute in hell. George Barna reported in October 2003 that 76% of Americans believe in Heaven and 71% believe in hell. Only one half of one percent of the people polled believe they could possibly end up in hell after they die.  

 

Do you believe in a place called hell as the Bible describes it?

 

If so many people are certain of their escape from hell, then why don’t our families, communities and country resemble Heaven? Are the 29% who don’t believe in hell going to spend eternity there?  If so many people believe in hell, why is hell a taboo subject for serious thinkers?

 

July 8, 1741 a man named Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon in the town of Enfield, Connecticut. The title of his sermon was, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” The title alone is enough to draw lawsuits today. Many would assume a message like that must have been preached by a wild-eyed right-wing fundamental evangelist. Instead it was delivered by a meek monotone speaker that history records as one of the greatest minds of that era.

 

Our culture has changed since 1741 when Jonathan Edwards delivered his sermon on hell. Today many are much more apt to believe experience over the absolute standard of scripture. Hell is one of those places I prefer to read and talk about rather than visit and experience.

 

Of course as a pastor I believe the biblical account of hell. However I believe a one minute visit would give me a new appreciation for what it means to call myself a Christian and why God has called me to pastor. What would happen if all the pastors in Cass County were to spend a minute in hell? I bet we would be preaching sermons like the one Jonathan Edwards preached in 1741!

 

Pop culture makes light of the reality of the prison the Bible describes as hell. Hell is not host to parties with all our rowdy friends. A little red devil with a pitch fork and a pointy tail will not greet you at the gates of hell. No Far Side comic strip characters will be there to make light of the severity of this place of misery. Scripture indicates that I would find tormented souls of men and women from both religious and non religious backgrounds. The Bible vividly describes the characteristics of hell as a place of unquenchable fire and torment with bars, chains, keys and gates. It is certainly a place I would not want to visit nor spend eternity.

 

According to Luke 16:19-31, I would not only hear the agony of those who thirst, but their petitions for me to preach and warn every man not to go to this terrible place! There is no doubt that spending a minute in hell would make me a better pastor. For there I would find all the encouragement a pastor could ever need to communicate the love of Christ to those who do not understand how to escape such a dreadful place.

 

I suspect that if it were possible for the pastors of Cass County to visit hell for just one minute our zeal to speak of Jesus would be much more fervent. Our compassion to reach out to those who need help would be much more sincere and our ability to stay focused on God’s mission would be keen.

 

The humanist, atheist and the agnostic say, you are using scare tactics to manipulate people. If I spent one minute in hell, I would understand the love tactics that Jesus Christ applied to free me from such a dreadful place. The scripture is clear. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. Yet the sin of Adam and our subsequent human depravity has created the separation from God the Bible describes as hell. The subject of hell may not be a politically correct message but it is a biblically correct message. And if those in hell could write a letter right now they would be pleading with us to tell everyone of the love of God that is available to all through the person of Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible is clear, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Saved from what you might ask? Saved from spending even one minute in a place God never wanted you to be in the first place. We are saved from God’s wrath, through Jesus according to Romans 5:9. The way of escape is not exclusive but simple and direct. Jesus stated that he is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh to the Father but by him. He loved this world too much to allow it to go to hell. That is why he spent three hours on the cross suffering hell in our place. George Barna answered the question of who believes in hell. We must all personally answer the question of if we believe in the way to Heaven. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? 

 

John 3:17

  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

 

 

Eternal Potential

It has been a blessing to attend the graduation parties and ceremonies of several high school graduates the past several weeks. I returned to my old high school to see my niece graduate which was both nostalgic and distressing. You see it has been eighteen years since my graduation at Fort Osage (that is nostalgic) which is enough time to encompasses my niece’s entire life span (that is distressing)! Time has a way of making a guy feel old.

 

As I watched the speeches and saw the graduates receive their honors, I could not help but marvel at the potential in these young students. Truly the rest of their lives are before them. Even those who have made mistakes have time to take corrective action and realize the potential that lies ahead of them.

 

Oh the power of potential! Each breath we take is by the grace of God. The wise men of scripture understood the precious nature of time. King David said, Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah (Psalms 39:5). Moses said, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom (Psalms 90:12). There is no doubt that time is one of the greatest gifts of grace God has ever given man.

 

It is so easy to ignore or squander the grace of God. Many live their lives ignoring the preciousness of time because they know in their heart it is limited and they would rather not face the eventuality of death. For that same reason many never avail themselves of the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ because they really don’t believe the failed tests of time can be forgiven. The most remarkable thing about the opportunity of eternal life is that it comes without any strings or work attached. Grace that saves us from the sins we commit in time is freely given to anyone that will call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10,13).

 

The apostle Paul said, Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5) The child of God only has a limited number of days to manifest eternity in time then it is time to graduate. The grace we have received has eternal potential! Someday soon the trump will blow and all those who have truly trusted in the living Lord Jesus Christ will graduate in an eternal class that will joyfully worship God for eternity!.

 

Romans 13:11

  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 

 

 

Rise Up And Build The Church

As summer begins and we look forward to the progress we will see on the church building I am reminded of a passage in Ezra.

 

Ezra 1:5

  Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

 

With great anticipation the Hebrew remnant gathered in Babylon as they heard news that Cyrus, king of Persia, had been charged by God to build a house of worship in Jerusalem. Everyone came together as God stirred their heart to build His house of worship in response to this fulfillment of Jeremiah 33:11!

 

Ezra 1:6

 records that others joined in and strengthened the resolve of the Hebrew leadership by offering vessels of silver and gold as well as beasts and precious things to go toward this good work. 

 

God provided the people, instruments and the money necessary to provide a place for fellowship with his people. He will do the same for HBF. This passage in Ezra illustrates the value the Hebrews placed upon God’s call to worship in unison as if they were “one man” in Jerusalem. The New Testament is clear that we have been called to gather for worship in New Jerusalem above (Galatians 4:26). The born again believer is not home yet, but we have heard the decree made by our King to prepare ourselves to join him and we believe His promise and know that He has prepared a place for us (John 14:2).  

 

It is exciting to be part of God’s mission on this planet at this time in history. It is our time to get to work! The resources dedicated to God’s service whether spiritual, financial or physical will not return void. Eternity will measure the value of our obedience, devotion, offerings and the sacrifices we have made to honor our Lord Jesus Christ. It is my sincere prayer that God continue to stir our hearts to build people as well as the building we need to house His church to worship Him. I am looking forward to the many ways God will continue to bring us together to rise up and build the church.