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Let me again venture into shark-infested waters where I am not comfortable but called.

Few people understand how little the Old Testament has to say about hell. In fact, even today, the emphasis for Jews is more about living NOW than being pre-occupied with what perks come after physical life is extinguished. There is no clearly defined theology of eternal life in the Old Testament: that had to wait for the teaching of Jesus.

And here’s the serious question to which I doubt we could answer honesty, knowingly. If there was no after life, if there was no heaven or hell, if it all ended with our physical death, would we be kind, loving, caring, or virtuous? Why would we read the Bible? Would there be any reason at all to come to church?

Does our belief in heaven and hell motivate us wrongly?

Would we still love God- just for who He IS?

Then this leads me deeper into the darkened corners of theology, at least for me. I believe it was Brian McLaren who asked the question, “Would God ask us to do something that He Himself can’t or won’t do”? You know where that question leads us don’t you? How could God ask us to FORGIVE OTHERS, and yet He does not? Can you say hell- the ultimate unforgiveness. I’m looking forward to talking with Brian face-to-face when he visits us next year.

For the Hebrews, Sheol was a place of no punishment: a place where all go, good and bad. The Greek version was called Hades where the idea has progressed to a place for fallen souls. As we move into the New Testament, we adopt the MAETAPHOR for hell, which is called Ghenna! This was actually a dump where garbage and waste was burned as Isaiah mentions (66:24). I still don’t get the ministerial threats that I hear quite often about how we need to be good or we’ll burn in hell. What’s the point of that METAPHOR? And why do we use negative metaphors so much while dismissing the positive ones, like having our names written in heaven?

Back to the concept of retributive justice I spoke in weeks past. Doesn’t Jesus portray the Father as a loving, merciful, and forgiving person and not a vengeful, angry parent bent on punishment- eternally.

So, what am I saying, HEARING in today’s commentary?

I’m not sure! Sometimes we’re just suposed to THINK! But this I am do say with confidence. The church continues to misrepresent God. The institutional church is still majoring on minors. Don’t read that I don’t believe in hell: I just choose to concentrate on living the lifestyle that Jesus modeled for me (and you). I’m still not doing that very well; however, I am doing it better. The more time I spend with Him (quiet time), the more I find myself being transformed.

How much QUIET time will you spend with Him today?