Let it lie

I was interviewed on a radio show from 10 p.m. until midnight night before last. The lady host did not believe that hell is a place of fire.

What?

There are many references to Hell being a place of fire in the Bible. Here are just a few:

The man in Luke 16:24 cries: “. . . I am tormented in this FLAME.”

In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: “And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE….”

Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE.”

Hmmm… I don’t really know how to interpret all those verses as meaning Hell is a cold, chilly place, but why argue about it?

Her contention is that Hell consists entirely of being separated from God and thus is a miserable place of torment where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Well that too, but what about the fire?

What about it? I say, let it lie. I have found that it doesn’t really make sense to argue some points of the Bible, (even when you can back it up with Scripture). She seems content to believe that Hell is a miserable, terrible place of torment which the Bible plainly states that it is. She does not want to go to Hell and is motivated to avoid it at all costs and to follow the Lord, so why belabor it? To do so would merely create strife and division where there was none and where there is no need for any.

My answer was that people interpret the Bible differently; my belief is that Hell is a place of fire akin to living in the depths of a volcano.

2 Tim. 2:23 states: Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. James 4:1 adds: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

What desires is he talking about? The desire to always be right – The desire to prove our superior intellect and knowledge?

I had a guy tell me the other day that he was a Primitive Baptist and that they did not believe in having music in church.

Huh?

What about David singing praises?

Oh, well that is apparently okay. He told me that Primitive Baptists believe it is okay to “sing” in church, but you just can’t have accompaniment from musical instruments.

Why?

Because the Primitive Baptists believe it detracts from God.

Hmmm… Okay – Whatever….


It seems to me to argue such points accomplishes little, aside from disturbing someone’s psyche. Should such discussions be argued, they could become elevated and lead to hard and embittered feelings and are often difficult if not impossible to be settled, and are of no practical importance even if they could be determined.

Hey if he and others want to sing and worship God unaccompanied by musical instruments, then let them have at it. As for me, I prefer loud music in the service, (guitars, banjos, mandarins, drums, horn section, keyboard, piano, organ, strings, et al — full orchestra). This type music helps to drown out my out-of-key voice and it serves the dual purpose of making it easier to lip synch without being detected. Oh, and I also believe it greatly glorifies God in the process.

Most of all I think we should concentrate our discussions on sharing the undeniable love and compassion of Christ. Now that is useful and worth something.

Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law. These things are useless and worthless.















































I was interviewed on a radio show from 10 p.m. until midnight last night. The lady host did not believe that hell is a place of fire.

What?

There are many references to Hell being a place of fire in the Bible. Here are just a few:
The man in Luke 16:24 cries: “. . . I am tormented in this FLAME.”

In Matthew 13:42, Jesus says: “And shall cast them into a FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting FIRE….”

Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE.”

Hmmm… I don’t really know how to interpret all those verses as meaning Hell is a cold, chilly place, but why argue about it?

Her contention is that Hell consists entirely of being separated from God and thus is a miserable place of torment where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Well that too, but what about the fire?

What about it? I say, let it lie. I have found that it doesn’t really make sense to argue some points of the Bible, (even when you can back it up with Scripture). She seems content to believe that Hell is a miserable, terrible place of torment which the Bible plainly states that it is. She does not want to go to Hell and is motivated to avoid it at all costs and to follow the Lord, so why belabor it? To do so would merely create strife and division where there was none and where there is no need for any.

My answer was that people interpret the Bible differently; my belief is that Hell is a place of fire akin to living in the depths of a volcano.

2 Tim. 2:23 states: Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. James 4:1 adds: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

What desires is he talking about? The desire to always be right – The desire to prove our superior intellect and knowledge?

I had a guy tell me the other day that he was a Primitive Baptist and that they did not believe in having music in church.

Huh?

What about David singing praises?

Oh, well that is apparently okay. He told me that Primitive Baptists believe it is okay to sing in church, but you just can’t have accompaniment from musical instruments.

Why?

Because the Primitive Baptists believe it detracts from God.

Hmmm… Okay – Whatever….



It seems to me to argue such points accomplishes little, aside from disturbing someone’s psyche. Should such discussions be argued, they could become elevated and lead to hard and embittered feelings and are often difficult if not impossible to be settled, and are of no practical importance even if they could be determined.

Hey if he and others want to sing and worship God unaccompanied by musical instruments, then let them have at it. As for me, I prefer loud music in the service, (guitars, banjos, mandarins, drums, horn section, keyboard, piano, organ, strings, et al — full orchestra). This type music helps to drown out my out-of-key voice and it serves the dual purpose of making it easier to lip synch without being detected. Oh, and I also believe it greatly glorifies God in the process.

Most of all I think we should concentrate our discussions on sharing the undeniable love and compassion of Christ. Now that is useful and worth something.

Titus 3:9
But avoid foolish controversies, arguments about genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law. These things are useless and worthless.