"You're going to hell." Common phrase and one that has been hurled at me many times for various reasons. My usually response is laughter because I don't believe in hell. Let me explain myself. There really isn't a biblical base for the concept of a place in another realm. What people have contrived as a place called hell, a fire pit, generally comes from Dante's book. Also there isn't really a biblical base for purgatory either. For me, from a theological stand point there's not room for hell - a place void of God and one that is full of endless pain and suffering. Genesis starts with a litany about how all things are created good. We then read throughout both testaments that God is good and all loving. So why would God, who is all loving and creates all things good create something that is bad and leave souls there to suffer. For me there are just too many inconsistencies in this idea of hell. If anything I believe that this concept of heaven/hell was created for humanity to have some sense of reward and punishment to fill a need within its self. It's an attempt to answer the question "what happens to people who do bad?" So please tell me to go to hell because to me you're telling to go to a place that doesn't exist and I'm okay with that. I like to play pretend too.
Happy New Year's Eve! 2024 is almost gone as I type this. And it's been ... a year. To whomever may be reading this know this: I'm glad you made it through 2024. You're you and you're here. That's enough. Whether you met your goal/goals or not, you survived. You're still breathing - even if it's hard to do sometimes. I'm proud of you. Keep going. Even if all you can manage is the next minute. Keep going. Here is my updates and reflection on 2024. The biggest thing for me has been my move and new ministry in Wisconsin. I said goodbye to two lovely rural Nebraska churches in February and started my new ministry in Wisconsin March 1. It was funny that I was actually attending a UCCB meeting in Ohio when I officially met my new conference minister in person on March 1. God has a sense of humor. This past 9 months has been learning about the systems of the church and the community and trying to find my place. I haven't been perfect in this, but I...
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