I was pondering / praying about the second point raised --namely hell-fire! I couldn't exactly find the passage she quoted so I am unable to explain the context.
Since I began my spiritual journey many moons ago hell wasn't something that caught my attention unduly. I know there are many Christians obsessed with it but for me life here on earth had just too much going about it. But this doesn't mean that I am ignorant of its existence - Quite the contrary!
To explain I'll have to go a while back to the garden of Eden--you can also refer to my post 'In the beginning' to see where I am coming from.
If paradise was walking with God and if sin led to the banishment from paradise onto the 'terra' that one had to till and toil on, then hell is the separation from God. First let me talk about this 'living hell' before we go to the hell after death.
The created man was fashioned in form from the earth but has within him the very breath of God, i.e. the essence of God. It is this soul or spirit that is the undying person who exists from the moment of the beings creation until the end of time. During the journey through this life every soul longs/ yearns for a special contentment, a special happiness/joy and fulfilment. A joy and contentment and peace that comes from being connected with his/her maker. But man usually doesn't consciously recognize this need for he is engulfed with the noises within and around him. This longing for spiritual contentment is manifested in a myriad different ways for the unenlightened soul---a longing for material things, a longing for love, the need to be recognized, etc etc. When these needs are thwarted or the wrong medicine is given adverse reactions can occur---anger, violence, hatred, depression and in fact any and everything that makes our individual lives here on earth a living hell. But if we are able to connect spiritually with our maker we have begun our individual journey toward living in heaven on earth. So sweet is the peace and contentment that comes from within our very being when we are in a relationship with the Creator God.!
Now lets take a step further into the hell-fire for after death. Even amongst Christians there are many debates about this--on one hand we have Jesus who went down to hell after his death to release the prisoners of hell who had died before hearing his voice--this is documented in the bible. On the other is the hell-fire of eternal damnation. The death of Christ released all men from the bondage of death--i.e. it is now possible for any soul to pass into eternal life should he or she choose to do so. Hell or eternal damnation is nothing but a natural consequence of sin i.e. it is the just wages of sin. In this time of mercy and grace we see Jesus as our saviour and ANY man , woman or child can freely avail of his mercy and grace, should he or she choose to do so. When we seek Gods mercy with an honest heart our sins our washed away by His precious blood.
But the bible tells us of a time when Jesus will come again as the just judge. On that day our deeds will convict us. Our own deeds, words, actions, omissions and commissions determines whether we are worthy of eternal heaven or eternal separation from the love of God. If whilst on earth we have sold our souls to the devil then to him we shall belong when we pass from this life to the next--UNLESS-- and this is a big UNLESS -- we realise, recognize and react in time.
The love of God is free--his commandments simple--to love him with all your heart soul and mind--this is simple because this is what every soul craves for. His second commandment of loving your neighbour becomes immensely more doable when residing in his love.!
Since I began my spiritual journey many moons ago hell wasn't something that caught my attention unduly. I know there are many Christians obsessed with it but for me life here on earth had just too much going about it. But this doesn't mean that I am ignorant of its existence - Quite the contrary!
To explain I'll have to go a while back to the garden of Eden--you can also refer to my post 'In the beginning' to see where I am coming from.
If paradise was walking with God and if sin led to the banishment from paradise onto the 'terra' that one had to till and toil on, then hell is the separation from God. First let me talk about this 'living hell' before we go to the hell after death.
The created man was fashioned in form from the earth but has within him the very breath of God, i.e. the essence of God. It is this soul or spirit that is the undying person who exists from the moment of the beings creation until the end of time. During the journey through this life every soul longs/ yearns for a special contentment, a special happiness/joy and fulfilment. A joy and contentment and peace that comes from being connected with his/her maker. But man usually doesn't consciously recognize this need for he is engulfed with the noises within and around him. This longing for spiritual contentment is manifested in a myriad different ways for the unenlightened soul---a longing for material things, a longing for love, the need to be recognized, etc etc. When these needs are thwarted or the wrong medicine is given adverse reactions can occur---anger, violence, hatred, depression and in fact any and everything that makes our individual lives here on earth a living hell. But if we are able to connect spiritually with our maker we have begun our individual journey toward living in heaven on earth. So sweet is the peace and contentment that comes from within our very being when we are in a relationship with the Creator God.!
Now lets take a step further into the hell-fire for after death. Even amongst Christians there are many debates about this--on one hand we have Jesus who went down to hell after his death to release the prisoners of hell who had died before hearing his voice--this is documented in the bible. On the other is the hell-fire of eternal damnation. The death of Christ released all men from the bondage of death--i.e. it is now possible for any soul to pass into eternal life should he or she choose to do so. Hell or eternal damnation is nothing but a natural consequence of sin i.e. it is the just wages of sin. In this time of mercy and grace we see Jesus as our saviour and ANY man , woman or child can freely avail of his mercy and grace, should he or she choose to do so. When we seek Gods mercy with an honest heart our sins our washed away by His precious blood.
But the bible tells us of a time when Jesus will come again as the just judge. On that day our deeds will convict us. Our own deeds, words, actions, omissions and commissions determines whether we are worthy of eternal heaven or eternal separation from the love of God. If whilst on earth we have sold our souls to the devil then to him we shall belong when we pass from this life to the next--UNLESS-- and this is a big UNLESS -- we realise, recognize and react in time.
The love of God is free--his commandments simple--to love him with all your heart soul and mind--this is simple because this is what every soul craves for. His second commandment of loving your neighbour becomes immensely more doable when residing in his love.!
