tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post2002639049936231485..comments2023-08-05T09:53:24.002-06:00Comments on twenty feet: In Conclusion: BeliefJacobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06106718028421755149noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-28097630938400304522009-08-20T00:48:30.890-06:002009-08-20T00:48:30.890-06:00Rick: I'm not certain of much. I'm certai...Rick: I'm not certain of much. I'm <i>certainly</i> not certain that there's no such place as hell. But this may be more a semantic disagreement than anything.<br /><br />Jens: A good point. I don't pretend that my understanding of belief is the same as that of the early church (although I think it's a fair bit closer than the pop-evangelical understanding).<br /><br />It's important to note the difference between saying "it's all useless unless Christ was literally raised" and "it's all useless unless we believe the doctrine of Christ's literal resurrection."<br /><br />Of course, in the grand scheme of things - that is, after we're dead - it makes a hell of a difference whether Christ literally rose from the dead. But in this life it makes no difference at all what your opinion on the matter is, except inasmuch as it affects the way you live your life. This is essentially James' point in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202:14-26;&version=31;" rel="nofollow">2:14-26</a>.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106718028421755149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-81568896527002291912009-08-18T16:35:44.568-06:002009-08-18T16:35:44.568-06:00Joel,
I just read Barclay's commentary on the...Joel,<br /><br />I just read Barclay's commentary on the book of Acts, and he pointed out that the literal belief in the ressurection was, for the early church, the lynchpin of both their beliefs and their good deeds. "If Christ is not raised, all out preaching is useless", that sort of thing. Interesting that you come to different conclusions,<br /><br />Rick, I mean to download your book and read it at some point. I generally agree with this blog's thoughts on hell, but I'm not sure how anyone can be "certain" of anything when it comes to the afterlife.Jensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7028661.post-4552769268508664092009-08-15T07:44:26.947-06:002009-08-15T07:44:26.947-06:00Thanks for sharing so honestly and deeply.
As a f...Thanks for sharing so honestly and deeply.<br /><br />As a former Evangelical, I can relate to much of what you're saying, especially how you came to feel about the doctrine of Hell.<br /><br />I've actually written an entire book on this topic--"Hell? No! Why You Can Be Certain There's No Such Place As Hell." If you'd like, please download a free Ecopy of it from my website: www.ricklannoye.com.<br /><br />After many years of studying this doctrine, as well as all that went into getting me, as a young teen, to buy into it, and keep me buying into for 2 decades, I think it will help, especially those who have any lingering doubts or feelings of fear about it.Rick Lannoyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15771612313060169125noreply@blogger.com