A while back, we were enjoying a time of Bible study in our home, after enjoying some supper together with our friends. It was a very relaxed time and I think we were discussing Mark’s gospel.
An innocent question came up and the discussion veered to the topic of hell, specifically, if Jesus went to hell.
It turns out I had wrote a blog post titled “Did Jesus go to Hell?” a few months prior and suggested that instead of chasing this rabbit trail, that anyone interested in that topic may pursue my thoughts in their free time.
One brother did. Our previous posts supplied his concerns and the responses I supplied.
Out of all his concerns, his final comment struck me.
“If you believe otherwise with all due respect I pity you.”
Brother I do not seek your pity.
I do seek an open ear and a willing heart to discuss face to face the “heresy” I may be swimming in.
Your multiple refusals to accept my invitations to meet together tells me that I am not worthy of your time.
If you consider me an erring brother, accept my invitation to discuss.
If you can’t accept my conclusions, let’s seek to maintain peace and unity of purpose – peace with each other and love toward the lost.
Petty squabbles and hair splitting over doctrines such as this does not accomplish this other than feed the pride of doctrinal purity you may assume I have. This topic is not a core doctrine. At the most, it is simply a topic that caught my attention and my post was an effort to suggest a possible interpretation.
You may accept or reject – but you are still my brother because of the primary issue – Faith in the salvation supplied by the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of the Messiah.
Let us not forget that.
This ends my final response to him. I have called and texted him but to no avail.
I struggle with folk that are hard nosed, unwilling to discuss and understand an others position. I suppose I struggle with these hard nosed brothers, those that are on a crusade to protect the gospel in areas that are not primary.
I struggle with them since I am a recovering hard nosed brother, one that would seek to find a difference with a brother.
If you know a brother or sister that has different opinions regarding the message the Bible gives forth, give them a chance to explain their position.
Other than rejecting the gospel message of the risen Christ, the brother or sister that thinks differently may supply a challenge that will force you to reconsider the Scripture.
Considering the Bible is a good thing – the action of, and hopefully the blog also.
The Christian life is a life of repentance and growth. Without challenges to our thinking, growth may not occur other than from outside circumstances.
Let us not be so limited.
Find below the short study I mentioned in the previous post.
“Katakrino”
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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
