World News Through the Third Lens: Pastor Fired

"Who's in Hell? Pastor's Criticism of Eternal Torment for Some Sparks Fierce Debate." (Fox News, 3/24/11)

No, it's not the pastor who's image is gracing this blog (Rob Bell, Mars Hill Church) although he is definitely involved. This time it's Pastor Chad Holtz, who until recently pastored the 80 member Marrow's Chapel United Methodist Church in Henderson, NC who not only sparked some fierce debate by defending Rob Bell's recent book "Love Wins," but found himself being fired by his church. He had hoped that his personal beliefs, posted on facebook, would stir up some debate, but he never expected to be fired. His beliefs in the area of heaven and hell were deemed to be out of step with the beliefs of the people of Marrow's Chapel. When questioned about the incident, Gray Southern, district superintendent for the area that includes Henderson, said that there was more at stake than Holtz's facebook comments concerning Bell's book.

Holtz stated that church members had also been unhappy about his posts concerning gay marriage, the mix of religion and patriotism and that that the Bell posting was probably the last straw. Highlighted in the Fox News release was Bell's criticism of the belief that a select number of Christians will spend eternity in the bliss of heaven, while everyone else is tormented forever in hell. "This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus' message of love, peace, forgiveness and joy that our world so desperately needs," Bell writes in his book."

Through the third Lens of Scripture: Rob Bells quote makes Jesus sound like a flower-child-hippie from the '60's. Jesus did bring a message of love, peace, forgiveness and joy that is desperately needed by our world, but because His own cross was in the center of that message, He warned that it would NOT spread contagiously. Pastor Bell must have forgotten that the use of the word "world" in John 3:16 in no way supports his heresy of Universal Reconciliation. God's love was demonstrated towards the whole world, every last sinner, including you and me; but it would benefit only "whoever" believes. "For God so loved the world ['kosmos' - spec. inhabitants] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, NKJV).

As you read further on, you quickly realize that the entire world was under the condemnation, so that He came into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him. The only way to escape condemnation is to believe on Him, in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18). These verses record the words of Jesus, thus they are His message. His message continues "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit spoke these words concerning Jesus, "This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12).

Concerning the 'contagiousness" of Jesus' message, Jesus and the apostles had some pretty interesting things to say. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14). That doesn't sound like Jesus (the gate) is all that contagious. Right after this, Jesus warns us to beware of false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing. (v. 15).Did you ever stop and think about how many people are born into a religion? If you are born of Muslim parents, you are born a Muslim. If you are born of Hindu parents, you are born a Hindu. If you are born of Buddhist parents, you are born a Buddhist. And, while I don't wish to pick on any Roman Catholics here (I recognize there are some who actually preach the need to be "born again"), most people born of Catholic parents are considered Catholic. Other "Christian" denominations also place too much importance on natural birth, and run children through a program of religious instruction without ever mentioning the necessity of being "born again." Jesus said: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Again He said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.....Do not marvel that I said to you, 'you must be born again" (John 3:5, 7).

So we come with the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ, but immediately must proclaim to people that the way they were born will not get them to spend eternity in Heaven with God; they must be born again. The new birth is describe by John in these words: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God..." (1 John 5:1a) What it means to believe that Jesus is the Christ cannot be written on a bumper sticker. Paul scratches the surface best with these words: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel, which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all, that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

A person is not saved by believing some other gospel, no matter how sincerely he believes it. A person is not saved if he believes the true Gospel in vain and does not hold fast to it. Rob Bell's message of everyone ultimately being reconciled to God is a false gospel that makes him universally accepted by those who "perish because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Universal Reconciliation is the prelude to the "falling away" (2 Thessalonians 2:3) that will precede the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the prelude to a one-world religion spoken of in Revelation 13 and 17. The only thing that will stand opposed to this false religious system in the last days is true Christianity, which stands upon the exclusivity of Christ and His cross. "..the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,,,,we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24).

This message offends many who wish to be saved (assuming they even consider salvation) according to their own terms. When this message is preached accurately, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew :10-12). That doesn't sound like Jesus and His message will be all that contagious. And as the signs of the end times increase in frequency and intensity like birth pains in an expectant mother, Jesus placed right at the top of the list "deceivers" (Matthew 24:4). He went on to say, "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake" (Matthew 24:9).

Let me close with this additional warning, followed by a word of encouragement. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:26). Continue to stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Warn and admonish others that He is the only Way and having done all to stand, continue standing. Remember Jesus' promise: "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 24;13).