When hell aint hell anymore

One of the greatest problems we face in studying the Bible is the fact that we are

predisposed toward shaping God around our worldview rather than allowing the opposite to happen. Lets be honest here, for many of us God is there when we need Him, to bale us out of a sinking ship, to help us through a crisis and to help us get what we want and when we want it! Maybe thats offensive to you but take a deeper look...our sinful independence from God is a legacy of Adamic independence and self-interest, and dress it up however we like in 21st century western finery, we have become predisposed to using God rather than worshipping and glorifying Him through lives that bear witness to a deeper love. One of the things we tend to do when we have two complimentary truths about God that seem polar opposites or even contradictory is to DIAL DOWN one aspect of His revelation and only emphasise the other. For example, the Bible teaches us that God is one but also teaches us that He is triune ie. three in one (Trinitarian) Muslims often find it incomprehensible that God could have a son and hence while they tolerate and even reverence Jesus as a prophet, always stop short of deifying Him since this does not fit their worldview. The Biblical God is revealed as both fully God and also fully man and indeed Christ's salvation would be meaningless unless this were true where the sinless Son of God became a man, and in standing in our place was a substitute for our sin. Other truths of Scripture that appear contradictory but are actually still truths that stand alone are ELECTION (predestination) and the UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT provision offered (but rejected by many) at the cross. Does God choose in salvation and if so why would he bother dying for all? Personally I do believe in both predestination AND that Christ died puposefully for all (for the 'many'/'world')It seems contradictory but only if we disallow 'antinomy' - the place of mystery in Theology which we must surely resist the temptation to do given that God is God and INFINITE in wisdom, power and capability, not finite like us earthlings! However, for many, the truth about HELL is probably one of the greatest of all head-wreckers. How could a God of love allow or send people who reject Him to a place of eternal punishment? I submit to you readers here an excerpt from an excellent book by Matt Chandler called 'The explicit gospel': "The word Gehenna is used by Jesus twelve times in the four Gospels. God's first response to the belittlement of his name is this Greek word Gehenna, which we would translate 'hell'. The interesting thing about the word Gehenna is that it is a reference to a ravine in the south side of Jerusalem where, about a hundred years before Jesus was born, there were these really odd kind of Blair-Witch like murders going on. The Jews began to view this area as cursed. It basically became a trash heap or dumping ground for Jerusalem. When the pile got too big, they just set the whole thing on fire. Can you picture this? The word gehenna conjures up a very vivid image: a stinking, smoldering place of destruction and neglect....according to the Scriptures, every good and perfect gift (undeserved!) from God almighty, which means that everything that brings comfort, joy, pleasure, and peace are all gifts from the Father of lights (James 1:17) SO HELL, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, IS THE ABSENCE OF GOD'S GOODNESS AND BLESSEDNESS. THEREFORE HELL IS THE ABSENCE OF ANYTHING THAT WE CAN THINK OF THAT'S GOOD, RIGHT, COMFORTING, JOYOUS, HAPPY, AND PEACEFUL. IT'S A TERRIFYING PLACE. JESUS SAYS ITS A PLACE WHERE 'THE WORM DOES NOT DIE' (mark 9:48)- torment unending....here's the primary and most popular response (re hell) 'HOW CAN A LOVING, JUST GOD CREATE AND FILL A PLACE LIKE HELL? THAT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT RIGHT....BUT TO DISCOUNT THE ENORMITY OF GOD'S SEVERITY, AS IF WE AREN'T REALLY THAT BAD AND REALLY DESERVE MOSTLY KINDNESS,

IS TO DISCOUNT THE ENORMITY OF GOD'S HOLINESS. IT IS VERY EASY, IN THIS TRAJECTORY OF LOGIC, TO SWITCH THINGS UP, COMPLETELY DISREGARD THE SCRIPTURES AND THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, AND MOVE INTO THE IDEA THAT IT'S WE WHO ARE GOOD, AND GOD WHO IS FALLEN" Hell then is a place of punishment for people who have chosen 'self-regard' as their God and to completely disregard the glory and holiness of God. this is the essence of sin. Christ made a way for all of us who have 'fallen short of the glory of God' and who have earned the 'wages of sin (death)'. Its called the CROSS, he paid a horrible price so that whosoever believes in Him can be saved, and delivered from the place we prefer not to mention anymore in our PC world - hell...So, is it possible for our God to be BOTH kind and also severe? Is it possible for him to be both merciful but also just? Is it possible for Him to long for us to love Him but also be ready to hand us over to our sinful pride and rebellion? Yes, and for this, hell is a just and yes severe end for those who reject Christ and the kindness revealed in His grace that is offered freely but not cheaply to us through His blood. Any questions let me know. JS JS

The effect of excessive social networking site usuage by children

PRESS HERE FOR A SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES AND TECHNOLOGY ON OUR KIDS .......apart from these research findings, there is no doubt that the effects of the internet and in particular social networking sites are being felt by this generation of families. There are the obvious benefits - lets not forget those! What a resource it can be for music, school work, creativity, finding helpful information and yes the connectedness of social networking sites. However there are no doubt significant downsides to this current social revolution for families, even if the effects of this are only creeping up on us now and becoming apparent. Here are a few of my own concerns (social networking sites I will call SNSs here): 1. Addiction - there is no doubt that social networking is becoming an obsession for many children and indeed adults alike. Its becoming increasingly apparent that more and more time is being spent by kids wanting to network each other via a range of devices and forums, the world is opening up to interconnectedness but is there a danger that both individuals and the family unit could suffer from this technological revolution? I think so. Parents and children need time together, to talk, to relax together, for parents to help mould young lives and so on. Parents, be aware of this, and make sure that a 'good thing' does not become the 'only thing' in your home and family. 2. Disproportionate peer influence - could it be that with the four walls of our homes becoming more and more 'transparent' via social networking that there is danger of the key role that parents have in shaping, encouraging and moulding their children being drowned out by the constant contact with peers and access to media that is taking place. In this situation, parents are 'around' but have little 'voice'. Parents would be advised to consider social media 'black-out times' or limiting use, especially if the child is showing addictive tendencies that are affecting their behaviour and other aspects of their life, like school-work, sibling relationships and so on. Mobile phones now mean our kids can be in their bedrooms and accessing sites. If you have concerns that this is detrimental and becoming obsessive then parents take action! Educate your child about the dangers and bring in boundaries that can help them and help your home! 3. Access to all kinds of stuff - links to dodgy sites or a world of information that make children grow up 'ahead of their time' are an increasing issue facing the family. Social networking opens this information up to a wide and often inappropriate audience. The dangers of pornography are well documented. I recently spoke to a family with three males in the household. All have suffered from an addiction to pornographic websites. The female members of the household have also not been immune to the effects of this 'atmosphere' in the home. I wont go into detail, but as the Bible says - 'when you sow to the flesh, you reap from the flesh'....check out the next edition of this blog soon.....any comments? JS

If God is this, then how can this happen?

Never let a deep mystery make you doubt what is obvious

Michael A Eaton

God's end time redeemed community - Part 3

God's end time redeemed community is to be a community that is...: 3. A church full of both Word AND Holy Spirit ministry................ Smith Wigglesworth’s Prophecy 1947 Smith Wigglesworth from Bradford, England was known as the “apostle of faith.” He moved in mighty signs and wonders and even raised people from the dead in Jesus’ mighty name. Shortly before he passed into glory he prophesied: “During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the Church [the body of Christ] in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it, and will be characterised by the restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. [This was the Charismatic Renewal which began in the late 1960s+]. “The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches. In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say, ‘This is a great revival.’ But the Lord says, ‘No, neither is this the great revival but both are steps towards it.’ “When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidence in the churches of something that has not been seen before:

a coming together of those with an emphasis on the Word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit

. "When the Word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest move of the Holy Spirit that the nation, and indeed, the world have ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and Welsh Revivals of former years. The outpouring of God’s Spirit will flow over from the United Kingdom to mainland Europe, and from there, will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.” Whether you like the legacy of Wigglesworth or not (some do some don't!) you have to admit this is a remarkable prophesy/word for our times! God is a God of both Word and Holy Spirit ministry in 'His church'. This is a key phrase - HIS CHURCH isn't it? There is a remarkable tendency to want to just pick and choose the bits of church/Kingdom/God that we like, like an a la carte menu. The truth is that God rocked up in history and simply announced 'I AM WHO I AM' and will roll up history in the same way at the end, unapologetically, having already revealed Himself to creation in the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and ultimate return of the Son of God Jesus!

God is a God of both Word and Spirit and churches and believers need to make room for BOTH in their lives...

The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit in the hand of the believer. We are to learn to wield it and not to keep it forever sheathed or on a shelf gathering dust. The Spirit of God has been given to us as the supreme gift of the Father to us in the New Covenant. What a tragedy that we as Christians/churches would ever conceive to ignore Him, sideline or limit Him, or worse still criticise or blaspheme Him! We need to make room for the Holy Spirit in our churches, in our everyday lives, in our homes and in our bedrooms. We need to remember that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person - we can grieve Him or please Him! We need to remember that the Holy Spirit while invisible is no less real or God than Jesus Christ or the Father! We need to learn how to wait on the Spirit and to keep in step with the Spirit and be led by the Spirit. The Word of God in both logos and rhema is powerful and is God generated God-breathed life to us.

We need both Word and Holy Spirit ministry in the church! BOTH ARE HIS!!

That is not just the task of the individual Christian but also the task for God's end time community - the church. When Jesus Christ returns in the great consummation of the ages,

will we be amongst the 'virgins' with our lamps trimmed and ready with the 'oil' of God flowing in our lives

, or are we just burning the wick of our days for that which will not last?

When the Son of man returns for His end time community, will he find faith on the earth? Will He find a community who are full of the oil of Heaven, allowing Him to move in His church freely, have HIS WAY, revealing Himself in Word and Spirit to the world, in the gifts of the Spirit, in signs wonders and miracles, in love that transcends the bounds of human kindness, in laughter, in marriages, in children, in work and in play, will He find us waiting and enjoying the Presence and gift of the precious Holy Spirit that are His gift to us in the Gospel?

May He find us so..... JS

God's end time redeemed community - Part 2

Hi again, In part 1 I looked at the restorative work of God in us as Christians both as individuals and as a community (church). I looked at the fact that no-one can be redeemed/become a child of God/saved/born again (or whatever other Biblical adjective for salvation you may find!) unless we get to know the truth found in the Person of Jesus Christ. We are saved by Grace through faith and even the faith God gives is a heavenly gift to us! The Grace of God is where God doesn't treat us as our sin deserves but rather through the scandal of the Gospel provides a means of redemption (literally where he 'pays our price') for us. He cleanses, He rescues, He delivers, He brings us to Himself... We also commented how the truth needs to be owned and proclaimed as a believer to a dying world (a world in the grip of ignorance or neglect of the truth found in the Person and work of Christ) and finally I addressed our need as believers to allow truth to meet life in our own personalities and character and

to allow the work of the Gospel to penetrate beyond superficial acknowledgement of truth into the deeper layers and recesses of our being, and to bring forth fruit for the King as His Kingdom comes

. Now I want to look at a second way in which I see God working restoratively in His redeemed community at this time, 2. The church is full of priests, with only One High Priest: OK so many of us are led to believe that, if we attend church (which in itself is a confused concept since redeemed believers ARE church, who gather), that there is one guy who is the professsional who kind of does everything. At best there is a small select committee of zealots who are the cake-bakers, carpet choosers, chief cook and bottle washers, speakers, children church workers and so on! Well, guess what? God is blowing this myth clean out of the water! Yes sir. Its like boooom. Nuclear submarine time. The church is not to be a collection of merely pew warmers (although it is always pleasing to see the congregation warming a pew rather than warming their beds!)The church is an army. The church is a body and Paul taught us that each member has vital significance (try walking far without your little toe...errr...children do not attempt this at home!) The church is to be a mobilised community of faith. We are mobile arks of the covenant

, Presence carriers, people called beyond the four walls of church to make an impact - yeah, go on Praise God its Monday! You can. Every day a Sunday would be safer but it would be OH SO BORING! This is how the Bible describes us in 1 Peter 2v9,

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

We are priests who bring spiritual sacrifices of worship and service to God (never sacrifices to gain salvation or approval), we minister as priests of encouragement to one another in love, and we are to serve in the priestly office doing and bringing life to a dying world - GOOD NEWS!

I attend too many churches where corporate meetings are a closed shop affair

. I am all on for organisation of who is going to preach or lead out in worship but I must say that

I am AGAINST the idea of church being a spectator sport or a kind of concert that we attend

. The New testament paints a picture of a church where all can be involved, provided that God is leading them to contribute something and that it fits in with whats happening there and then....reading meetings is one of the more difficult tasks of Elders but just because some 'nut-job' once made a fool out of us all by spoofing insanities from the front should not and MUST not become our excuse for NON-USE of the priesthood functioning in a Biblical manner, welcoming and releasing the Kingdom! Indeed the Bible makes it clear that there will be times when unbelievers come into meetings, see cool stuff form God happening, and fall on their faces in worship...Yeah, thats a church I want to be part of ! Sure, kissing our brains good-bye is also not on my menu last time I checked! If you know Christ as your Saviour, then know this - you are a royal priest. A functioning priesthood is also not just for church meetings! Husbands are to be Godly and loving priests to their wives, we are priests in our place of work and so on....

We have both the privilege and responsibility of using your talents productively (Matthew 25)and of not wasting your life. I know this sounds a bit strong but its meant to be. I would also say that if you are part of a church that doesn't make any room for you to be a priest or never encourages you to be a priest in the world, then you are being sold short. You have one life opportunity to sow 'who YOU ARE' to the Spirit, and to release the fragrance of the Kingdom in and through your life. Even that cup of water you serve in His Name will not want for an eternal reward! JS

God's end time redeemed community - Part 1

One of the deep convictions I received many years ago was of God's intense desire to reveal Himself IN and THROUGH His redeemed community - the church! I have often felt disappointed at what appears to be a popular acceptance of tradition, neglect and religious mindsets - even at the expense of nullifying God's Word. Well - it appears to me that God is into building church that is a product of His Kingdom coming and not just built upon the the wisdom and strength of man. Such is the eschatological (end time) community of God. Peter captured this in a moment of revelation when asked by Jesus who Peter thought He truly was. His answer - 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God' was responded to with 'You are Peter (petros - a small stone) and upon this rock (petra - a boulder) I will build my church.' Jesus Christ is building His church, it will be built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ - as the Son of the Living God - who came to redeem and build a community in full Trinitarian co-operation that loves Him and reflects the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3v10) that is our destiny, and God's inheritance in all the earth. Anything less will never satisfy those hungry for truth, hungry for restoration, desperate to bring Glory and honour to God in all the earth and ready to leave tired and convenient paths behind for the higher road of God's Kingdom highway. Below I summarise some of the areas of restoration that I believe God is busy with in His church, for those who have 'ears to hear', 1. A community of truth and truthfulness - Paul describes the church to his protege Timothy like this, 'If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.' 1 Timothy 3v15 We cannot be saved unless we meet Him who is 'the way, the truth and the life' nor can we grow up toward the stature of Christ unless we get to know the Living Word of God (Jesus Christ) and learn to walk with Him in the Holy Spirit. Church is also to be a community that proclaims truth to the world around us. We are to be the 'light of the world' in Christ. However, church is also meant to be a place where truth meets life, where 'truthfulness' lands, where we refuse to defend darkness in our lives and allow the light of God to shine on the shadowy corners of our hearts. This becomes evident one way or other in community. Serious thought! For this to prosper God wants to bring us into a community where Grace covers us and frees us from condemnation and we develop a culture of truthfulness. Honesty can sometimes be a commodity we are short of in church, preferring to 'stroke' one another and then reveal to third parties the things we see in each other...the Bible calls this gossip and it becomes a vicious circle since people are less 'open and truthful' by default in a culture where they do not feel 'safe' and remain guarded. Religious hypocrisy and superficiality result. Love makes a way for truth to follow. When we are 'for' one another, champions of one another, and cheering one another on (as part of the great cloud of witnesses) then we create a platform for truthfulness to prosper and the truth embraced brings freedom! LAYERS - the Gospel worked into our hearts should mean that we are growing to echo the words of Paul, 'it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me'. I know this is no easy process, the bludgeoning instrument of the cross is not always something we grope for in the dark, but it IS God's pathway to LIFE. Our lives are 'layered' and need the truth of God and the freedom He brings to be worked with ever increasing DEPTH into our hearts and minds. So, lets not stop at the top layer, this is only scratching the surface...lets let God down deep, even where it hurts, where we fear we won't cope....thats exactly where we need HIM to be - beyond where 'WE' can cope, and where 'HE' can reign, heal and transform. Religion won't let this happen. So say yes today to the God of all truth and life and let Him in and let Him - down deeper.... Part 2 to follow...blogs work best in bite sizes in our manic world........ JS

Following the crowd may appear a place of safety but it is also a place where we can waste our lives...

Life is finally beginning to reemerge into a sort of new reality. We had a fabulous holiday in Florida with our friends John and Kathryn Fonville and family, enjoyed our connection and little bit of ministry too at Paramount church there in Jacksonville...God has really been so good to us....we moved into our new home here in Mid Ulster in September and just got internet installed today, hence the new blog to say hi! Kids are settling into school and while this is never easy we can feel God's grace on our lives... Here are a few of my random and not so random thoughts connected with our topsy turvy new life, change and new missional aspirations: * God goes ahead of His children, He truly is a Sovereign God with sovereign determination, and He is bringing His will and plan together in time and space, and - get this - we get to be a part of this, what a privilege! I deeply sense that God has gone ahead of us. God's church exists for the sake of God's mission and mandate, mission does not exist for the sake of church. Its amazing to think that we can join God in what He is doing rather than trying to manufacture stuff in our own strength - sanity! This is our current goal! * How deeply is the church of Jesus Christ allowing the Gospel to penetrate their hearts and lives? We think of the Gospel only for the unsaved, and while this is vital for saving Grace to be revealed by the power of God's Gospel and Spirit, I am also so aware that we as God's children desperately need to continue as Gospel fuelled believers. The believer who claims that he could never forgive someone who treated them shamefully, the couple living on a tight budget who would never consider being a giver as well as a receiver, the husband who refuses to love or serve in his home, the so called 'committed Christian' who would never consider relocating to a new area - even if God called them......! Such are the evidence of the need for a deeper revelation of Christ and His finished work, and the good works we were created in Christ to do! The Gospel reminds us that 'we are not our own' and were 'bought' and redeemed at a great price. How deeply has God's Gospel affected your heart today, mine? Are we just living for the next blessing to be fulfilled? Is God just our way out of problems or the love of our soul? God's gracious promise is that as we 'seek first the Kingdom of God....all these things will be added unto us' * Change is painful. Change is uncomfortable. Relocating to a new area can sound romantic but it is also tough. Much of the missional calling we have as Christians in our villages, towns and cities will involve having to deal with loneliness of some sort. No-one likes loneliness but being prepared to endure certain hardships is surely a prerequisite for us being more impactful with our lives. Following the crowd may appear a place of safety but it is also a place where we can waste our lives... If the cross and resurrection are the centre-pieces of the Gospel, then they must become the centre-pieces of our lives. That will mean change and as they say 'change is here to stay' We thank God today for His Grace and comfort as we transition still into our new chapter. JS. Sept 18th, Mid Ulster

Grace offers pardon. Religion only parole

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7v12 The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18v21-22 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" Matthew 5v46

Grace is different from religion. So very different. Grace gives us what we don't deserve. Religion doles out what we do deserve and continues to hold judgement over us. Its easy to point out one anothers faults and even to make a profession of counting them up into a grand summary of another person's worth or value. Jesus and the new life He purchased for sinners is so very different, He loved and sacrificed for us inspite of our unworthiness. Whats more by full Justification for sin in the High court room of heaven for all those redeemed, He continues to count not sins against those who have received His salvation gift, but instead forever declares over us the verdict of 'Not guilty!' Grace doesn't just leave us on parole, with a black cloud of ongoing suspicion or coldness hanging over us. No, Grace is what God is. Grace offers pardon, uncompromised love. The parable of the unmerciful servant is a stark reminder that religion and mean spiritedness can happily accept pardon and enjoy the benefits and relief of getting off 'Scott free', but leave us short of the same attitude and love in response to others failures and debts. This should not be. JS

Good News

Thought for today: The Gospel is such Good News for those who know they are powerless to achieve right standing with God and the life that God gives, without His saving and enabling Grace. The Gospel does not sound like Good News to the self-made and self-absorbed man who is busy building his own right standing and the life that he himself builds, and sees no need for this talk of saving or enabling Grace. The reason the Gospel is such Good News is because of the cross and resurrection. Christ accomplished a perfect sacrifice for sin that leads to the life that only God can give in His Kingdom. This is such Good news for the poor, the powerless, the disenfranchised but especially for those who are humbled to understand their plight outside of Christ. Thank God for the Good News! JS