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Posted by Charlie............
Hi gang,I'm Charlie Relitiosito and my second name is Nicitynice. That's because I'm a very nice person who believes in a god who is also very, very nice---except for when he isn't. And the same is true of His Son, Jesus Christ. The part of him that is nasty and vindictive is his holiness, which is prefer not to think about much. It is that part of him that has foreordained to destroy the law and the prophets by doing to billions of perceptive creatures---his own offspring---what will never happen to himself. Why? It is because of the beauty of his holiness. You see, because our good shepherd is "holy" he has planned FROM ETERNITY PAST to lock most of His offspring and fellow human beings into "unholiness" and pain forever and ever.
Now please understand. I do *seriously believe* that marvelous truth about Triune Holy Love. However, a large part of me finds the whole idea revolting that He does not intend to practice what he preaches to others---which scares me! For if I can't delight in and hope in and sing of My heavenly father's righteous and holy judgments as David did, it makes me wonder how I could be *truly* born again! For shouldn't I be growing more and more into his holy likeness so that I can easily relate to my good father's holiness to lock nearly everyone into pain and unholiness forever?
However, that is another possibility inherent within my understanding of the gospel that I try not to think about much.
I realise that it's not entirely honest. However, I prefer fo rebuke universalists (and annhilationists) for their error while I go on living and preaching the gospel as though I myself am a universalist that believes God will guard all of my tommorrows and those of my loved ones and friends.
Why do that?
And why do I consistantly keep my belief in hell mentally backfiled and win others to Christ by emphasisng his love?
Here is why:
* I struggle with feelings of hopelessness that drive me nearly insane because I *know* that if escaping hell depends on *my* will power, I will never escape it. I have no confidence whatever that I will succeed in being diligent enough to MAKE MY CALLING AND ELECTION--- *SURE.* (Which means my election to go to heaven.) Meanwhile, I need SOMEONE to love me. So I bring a message of love and hope to others. That way at least SOMEONE will feel hope, and perhaps even love me for having been so nice and gracious in my presentation of the "gospel". I don't have God's approval, because I'm such a failure. So I CRAVE man's approval because I have to get it from *somewhere*, don't I?
* I want people to have a good first impression of my lord. I know he is not good IN ALL RESPECTS (as most of us understand goodness)---but what matters is making converts! How can God's kingdom be established (which is my NON-denomination) unless I try to get all of the remaining lost elect gathered into it?
* People can be taught the "darker aspects" of god's character later on---after I succeed in enticing them into the church. We have an excellent new converts class taught by our youth pastor. He even makes it fun, because many of these deeeep issues are discussed on camp-outs around a cozy campfire with hot dogs and marshmellows. Or on boating and fishing trips. I wish more churches had the laid back and non-religious and grace-oriented approach mine does! I HATE those legalisic churches that intimidate and control people with non-stop preaching on hell fire! THAT IS A SHABBY WAY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL!!! Christians are not supposed to *actually* believe in eternal punishment, for pete's sake! They are supposed to "believe" in it as we do and seek "balance." When will God's people ever learn about BALANCE!!?? Good grief, we're only talking about eternal destinies here...
* I realise that God pronounced "forever" judgments against Ammon, Israel, Eygpt and Elam and other peoples in O.T. times. And I realise He also promised to restore them. Moreover, I'm aware that this leaves me ABSOLUTELY NO GROUNDS for believing and teaching endless punishment. Even so, I still believe it though I do not teach it (except in catachism classes or only mention it in passing reference)--- and why? Because what would *people* say if I admitted I don't *ACTUALLY BELIEVE* in endless hell? I am so entrenched in my habit of being a people-pleaser (though I know most of them don't give a rip) that I would be *devastated* to be labled as a heretic.
* I know that belief in an endless hell---real and daily belief and actual fear of it---renders a grace message impossible with my understanding of the gospel. So I downplay my hell belief a much as I'm able so I can at least have the APPEARANCE of a grace message. For I can't figure out any other way to nurture folks in having a healthy undestanding of *WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST*---because---when seriously believed, endless hell fire leaves that question open for grabs. My belief that god's utimate purpose is to have a creation forever divided between "losers" and "winners" keeps getting in my way. So I mentally backfile my perception of God's REAL purpose and try to get people to believe that they are among the few winners who have a *good* purpose for being. For how can anyone overcome sin without a solid sense if *identity*? You can't know WHO you are unless you know WHOSE you are. So I downplay the fact that I believe "once saved always saved" ONLY applies to those who make their calling and election SURE. What else can I do?
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Meanwhile I want to warn all of you grace oriented annhilationists and universalists...
*YOU* are endangering many souls with your false doctrines built ONLY on your own wishful thinking! It is okay for me not to preach about hell, of course, because I at least "believe" in it. God DOES NOT think my approach is disnonest---only gracious and diplomatic. However he is FURIOUS with you because you think he sent his Son to ACTUALLY FULFILL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. No way Hozay!
Christ is *not* required to treat others as he will be treated---YOU are! I hope you understand that I'm only speaking the truth in love, of course.
Charlie (alias: Charlie Nicitynice Religisito)