FIRST-PERSON: Examining hell (with help from C.S. Lewis)
A well-known podcaster recently brought the topic of hell to the forefront by advocating for annihilationism or conditionalism, the belief that the soul of the nonbeliever ceases to exist at the final judgment. A stir of responses followed! The doctrine of hell has always been a controversial one. The traditional view of hell as eternal conscious torment has so often been accused of being cruel, and even dare I say, unjust? Add to this medieval depictions of souls in agony burning forever in literal fire and it's a topic to offend even a passive skeptic. It may be helpful to consider the Bible’s teaching on hell again, with some help from C. S. Lewis.
FIRST-PERSON: You are not the church
I had arrived in Nepal less than 24 hours before. That was an experience. Coming off the plane, the airport was packed with jostling people speaking a language I could not understand. Hustlers were eager to take advantage of foreigners, quickly carrying my bags without asking and then demanding a tip. Thoughts entered my mind about whether I had just made a serious mistake traveling halfway around the world to the foothills of the Himalayas. I felt like a speck that would get lost in this ocean of people and never be found again.
Pastoring through an election year
This year no doubt will be filled with a perpetual barrage of politics. From Super Tuesday to November 5, our church people will be bombarded with political ads, phone calls, news segments and presidential debates. As pastors, how do we pastor through a year like this?
