Are the church doors open to welcome you in or take your faith out into the world?
We have talked about some of the scriptural images linked to beliefs about hell:
Hades, Luke 16:19-31, the “chasm” between Lazarus (with the angels) and the rich man (in torment). A very Greek notion, described by Luke, writing in the midst of Greek culture. The imagery is not likely from Jesus – though the original story might be.
Sheol, Psalm 139, the unseen state or land of the dead, or the ground where the dead are buried. God is just as much in Sheol as on earth or heaven, and will seek us there. The original Jewish belief about life after death was that “reward” came through long life and wealth, afterlife through ones children (specifically sons.)
Heaven, 2 Peter 3:3-13, the place were God and all the angels reside, in contrast to earth where all the creatures/ created ones dwell. According to “Peter” both realms will be burned up in a final fire, Heaven is not eternal. Hell is not mentioned, though the righteous will be saved from the fire, and others destroyed.
Apocalypse, Daniel 12:1-4, Revelation 20: 7-15, the end of life on earth, and earth itself, the ultimate destination that God will bring about. Images of thrones, and books, and lakes of fire are often taken from these apocalyptic visions and applied to images of life after individual death. Usually written in symbols and metaphors in times of persecution, to encourage those being persecuted for their faith.
Today: Gehenna or Valley of Hinnom
The three synoptic gospels use the term: Mark uses only Gehenna.
A couple of evil associations with the area, some proven by archaeology:
· In Solomon’s age, evidence of child sacrifice to Molech taking place here: 1 Kings 11:7.
· Later, it was desecrated and turned into the garbage dump, where fires burned continuously and scavenging animals gnashed their teeth. Talmud later saw it as a place of “purification”, where the evil were made clean by fire and then released (to Sheol.) This is often disputed by conservative churches.
· “Hill of Evil Counsel” closest to Jerusalem, where Caiaphas plotted to kill Jesus (obviously a tradition acquired later!) Also attributed to be the Potter's Field where Judas took his life.
Was it truly an image of eternal torment, or a wasted life? Opportunities for faithfulness to God, justice for the vulnerable abound, but we neglect them and end up in Gehenna.
Have to watch our English translations: Where it says “hell” substitute garbage dump!
Read Mark9:43-45; Matthew 23:33; Luke 12:4-5; Matthew 5:22-29 from different translations. Then James 3:6.
Chapter 7: Evil and Our Response to it
Irrefutable evil in our world always raises the question “why?”
We have enough resources, we have relationships and creative outlets in abundance.
So why do we end up in evil?
Genesis 3: the choice of Adam and Eve. Breaking God’s command. The snake’s role is to plant the seed of doubt in the human’s conscience. Is the snake from the devil? Or part of God’s plan?
Pendulum: from Absolute Trust Mistrust/Skepticism
p. 135 “Our traditional understanding of evil as disobedience would lead us to believe that it can be conquered simply by making the consequences painful…” avoiding punishment of hell
not really successful, it simply justifies eye for an eye, capital punishment kinds of justice
p. 135 “If we see the origin of evil coming primarily from mistrust, then we see that our task is one … of creating the atmosphere in which trust can be nurtured. “ Does that absolve the individual of the consequences? No, we pay realistic consequences for our choices, and God’s love sees us through…
Scott Peck: sin as the refusal to acknowledge that you have done badly, or from a social perspective (Wright), that society has gone astray.
Biblical image of “principalities and powers” – corporate evil – when the powerful are in the grip of something greater, a dark spirituality. Attributed to demons in the Bible, Wink suggests in modern times that there is a misplaced spirituality replacing divine vocation. Structural Injustice happens due to a domination system that has been handed over to idols or ideology.
Chapter 8: Implications of a Different Understanding of Hell
Wright affirms these conclusions:
1) Need for a punishing hell results from exclusive religious beliefs (US not THEM.)
2) Bible points us away from system of punishment reward to encouragement to love.
3) This could be really attractive in a church!
1.
War finds much of its inspiration in exclusivity, and Wright specifically points to religious exclusivism.
Another view
Story of Exodus – root cause of slavery was economic, not religious – though religion/ethnicity became the visible dividing line.
p. 147 – “What we are fighting over is who has not just the best way, but the ONLY way, to avoid the fires of Hell. But suppose we came to realize that there are no fires of Hell?... if we turn out the fires of Hell, we will make exclusivity unnecessary.”
2.
Wright quotes 1 Corinthians 13, and Matthew 25. The Biblical imperative is to love, without thought for reward or punishment. So what is the motivation? For Wright, p. 150, “They were responding to a love that had been lavished upon them and that set them free to love others and be responsive to their needs.” ie. God’s love
3.
Wright’s belief that “turning off the fires of hell” could open the doors to people longing for a more open, accepting faith – greater integrity with the gospel.
Question for Reflection: Do you think society is longing for that kind of gathering place? Or are we too individualistic? How does it shape our evangelism?