Don't be "Myth-taken"
“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord...instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths… It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:1-20)
You can search all you want but you will not find a single verse in the Old Testament that even hints of a penalty for sin consistent with Christianity’s morbid concept of “hell” (eternal conscious torment). It is a myth. The penalty for sin is DEATH in the Bible.
In the New Testament the references of Jesus to Gehenna (translated "hell" in English) refers to the garbage dump outside Jerusalem where trash and some dead bodies were burned up. He was not talking about some never ending mythological torture chamber. In the garbage dump the worm does not die nor is the fire quenched until its job of consuming it contents is done.
Why Christians would make Gehenna a figure of speech for the Greek mythological hell is beyond my comprehension. The only explanation is they were deceived by the one whose job it is to deceive...Satan.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners from DEATH - the penalty for sin. But for more than 1900 years there have been an abundance of leaders in the church like “Hymenaeus and Alexander” shipwrecked in regard to their faith by strange doctrines and myths. In embracing the myth of eternal conscious torment they blaspheme God it seems to me. In effect they deny that Jesus is the Savior of the World.
You can search all you want but you will not find a single verse in the Old Testament that even hints of a penalty for sin consistent with Christianity’s morbid concept of “hell” (eternal conscious torment). It is a myth. The penalty for sin is DEATH in the Bible.
In the New Testament the references of Jesus to Gehenna (translated "hell" in English) refers to the garbage dump outside Jerusalem where trash and some dead bodies were burned up. He was not talking about some never ending mythological torture chamber. In the garbage dump the worm does not die nor is the fire quenched until its job of consuming it contents is done.
Why Christians would make Gehenna a figure of speech for the Greek mythological hell is beyond my comprehension. The only explanation is they were deceived by the one whose job it is to deceive...Satan.
Jesus came into the world to save sinners from DEATH - the penalty for sin. But for more than 1900 years there have been an abundance of leaders in the church like “Hymenaeus and Alexander” shipwrecked in regard to their faith by strange doctrines and myths. In embracing the myth of eternal conscious torment they blaspheme God it seems to me. In effect they deny that Jesus is the Savior of the World.
It is not that anyone will escape judgment or condemnation. It is just that all of God’s dealings with mankind in regard to judgment is with a view to the eventual reconciliation of ALL...even Hymenaeus and Alexander and their modern day counterparts. That is if you read and study the Bible, not some commentary or sermon of "Myth-taken" men (pun intended).
“…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...” (Colossians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5)
There is absolutely no thought in the minds of the writers of Scripture with regard to eternal conscious torment in hell. Such punitive retribution was introduced centuries ago by corrupt theology and is being passed on as truth by many today. Churches are full of good people doing some good things...but teaching myths and strange doctrine is not among them.
God will do what is necessary after the resurrection to set everyone right with God and changing us into His image.
I understand the frustration of Paul with these men, and why Paul simply had to hand “Hymenaeus and Alexander" over to Satan. They refused to listen to the Scripture and preferred their own religious doctrine to the truth. That is why I write this blog and quote Scripture to back up my thoughts. Too many are simply unaware of the mythological guilt trip these false teachers impose on people...
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)
“…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...” (Colossians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5)
There is absolutely no thought in the minds of the writers of Scripture with regard to eternal conscious torment in hell. Such punitive retribution was introduced centuries ago by corrupt theology and is being passed on as truth by many today. Churches are full of good people doing some good things...but teaching myths and strange doctrine is not among them.
God will do what is necessary after the resurrection to set everyone right with God and changing us into His image.
I understand the frustration of Paul with these men, and why Paul simply had to hand “Hymenaeus and Alexander" over to Satan. They refused to listen to the Scripture and preferred their own religious doctrine to the truth. That is why I write this blog and quote Scripture to back up my thoughts. Too many are simply unaware of the mythological guilt trip these false teachers impose on people...
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)