Surely the glee is inappropriate, and we are not to forget that vengeance
is His, but it does not take a genius to tell that some people, in their
present position, are a shoo-in for Hell. You shall know them by their
fruit, once you get the beam out of your own eye. Just remember that
being a fruit inspector sometimes causes you to go out on a limb, and that
will make you very unpopular with some folks who shudder at the thought of
warning others that they are bound for Hell. Terry
jt: True Terry,
But remember we are only able to judge ppl by outward
appearance - I like to remember that everyone is subject to change including
me. Also in this generation we have so many different denominations -
all with their own version of "truth" - the latest I've heard being this
all encompassing "incarnation"
In going back to see how the apostles approached
these issues, I can't find any railing about
hell. In fact when Paul testified to Felix and his wife Drusilla (in
Acts 24:25) he "reasons of righteousness, temperance, and the judgment to
come" until Felix trembled which (to me) proves that Paul's words were with
power even though at the time he was imprisoned by the system Felix
served. Today we don't talk too much about righteousness and temperance
- we like to focus on the "judgment to come" because we believe that we
won't be part of that, especially in light of Romans 2:12-16 (if that
unbelieving Gentile can fulfill God's law, then lots of nice folk are in);
this is what we have been taught... Some today even mock or snicker at
those they call "holiness people"
like it is some kind of a virus.
Lots of food for thought. I've been wondering
why - if this "incarnation" teaching is sooo important, Paul didn't instruct
Felix and Drusilla about that... or why this was not his focus on Mars Hill in
Athens.
Thanks for your input, Grace and Peace,
Judyt
