Degrees of misery in hell.

In a recent Sunday School class my soteriology was called into question. I guess it would be helpful to explain that I am the only Calvinist in my Church. I attend and serve within the local "Church of God" (a Pentecostal denomination). While there are a handful of Calvinists within the denomination, it is predominantly an Arminian Church when it comes to the issue of salvation. Shortly after I started attending services at my Church I shared with my Pastor and with a couple other Sunday School teachers my beliefs about predestination. Like John Piper, I truly believe that the ministry of a Calvinist can flourish within an Arminian atmosphere and I have no plans of leaving the Church. I truly believe God has placed me where I am and I am content with this.

Well during the class I was given an opportunity to share my beliefs more openly before the teenagers and the married couple that leads the youth ministry. My belief in sovereign grace was contested and I found myself having to answer many of the common objections that are thrown at Calvinists. One person asked me, "If predestination is true and there is an elect, then what is the point of evangelism?" Since this conversation was very explosive and energetic (question after question surfaced, opinion after opinion was offered), I was unable to answer as thoroughly as I would have liked to. But I offered two quick answers to the question. My first answer was that we evangelize out of obedience to Christ. If God tells us to do something then we surely must obey. My second answer (perhaps not a typical response) was that I believe we should evangelize all people because perhaps our message of truth could influence the lost sinners of this world to sin less frequently than they already do, even if they were to never exercise saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Sinning less would mean a lesser degree of misery in hell.

My first answer seemed forgotten by the time my second answer was brought forth. Jim, the husband of the married couple, said something along the lines of "there is no such thing as a lesser degree of hell." I explained that if every sin will be brought into account and judged by God then the logic follows that those who have committed more sins would suffer more in hell than those who haven't sinned as frequently. I also added that hell will be miserable for all, but some would suffer more than others.

I've given this some more thought and I must say that I still stand by everything I said within that class, especially my comment about the varying degrees of misery for those in hell. I realize my opinion is worth nothing. I hope to express why I believe what I said is true using the most reliable and accurate source there is, the Holy Word of God.

In Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 we are given these words, "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." If God planned on giving equal judgements based on the state of our souls (lost or saved), there would be no need to bring EVERY deed or secret thing into judgement. We see we will be judged based on what we've done and if that is so, each judgement will differ from person to person.

If we turn to Matthew 10 we read of Jesus sending out the 12 disciples (starting in verse 5). He gives them some instruction before they depart.

"These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town."

Jesus then adds (verse 15), "Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town."

I'd like to discuss verse 15 a bit more. Notice that Jesus expresses variations in judgement here. Jesus plainly says that although the judgement for Sodom and Gomorrah was bad, it will be much more intense for the people that refuse to listen or receive His great message of truth. The Scriptures tell us Sodom and Gomorrah were both destroyed for their great wickedness (Genesis 19:24-25). Yet Christ says it will be more bearable for these people of great wickedness than it will be for those who have sinned by rejection of Christ. It seems as if Jesus believed that the suffering of those in hell would vary from person to person based on this scripture. You can also see the same point being made in the 11th chapter of Matthew.

Matthew 11:21-24 states, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." If it will be more tolerable for Sodom, how can there not be different degrees of misery?

Matthew 12:40-45 also speaks of differing conditions during the judgement. "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." Here again we see differing conditions for judgement and the last state of a person being worse than the first. If we will be judged not by what general state we are in (lost or saved) but by the sins and conditions of our heart, then we must believe that those whose last state is worse than their first will be judged more severely.

Let's also look at the parable of the faithful steward in Luke chapter 12, verses 42-44. We find Jesus talking about those who are Christians and live their lives in subjection to the will of God, prepared for the return of Christ.

"And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions."

Then Jesus informs us of what happens to those who were not ready for His return (the non Christians) in verses 45-48.

"But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Jesus specifically says that there will be two types of beatings, a severe beating and a light beating. Here again we see Jesus expressing that judgement will be issued based on the behaviors and attitudes we've expressed and that not all judgements will be the same. Though both judgements are miserable, there seems to be a lesser degree of misery.

James 3:1 speaks of stricter judgement for false teachers of the Word. "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." How can judgement be stricter if it does not vary? Again we see that there will be different degrees of misery for those in hell based on our deeds.

"For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them." This scripture found in 2 Peter 2:20-21 tells us that we will even be held accountable for our knowledge of the truth. Those who have rejected the truth will be worse off than those who have never known the truth. We can assume they will be worse off in hell. Here again we see various degrees of misery.

One of the strongest cases for the degrees of misery is found in Revelation 20:13. "And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done." Notice that those who are judged are not being judged for the state they are in (saved or lost), but they're judged according to what they've done. Judgement for these people will not be equal, nor will the degree of misery be equal. How do we know this? Because we know that not everyone in the world has sinned an equal amount of times, nor have they all committed the same sins.

I'd like to leave you with a short excerpt from "Theology in Dialogue" by John H. Gerstner because the author explains the subject more clearly than I do. I greatly enjoyed reading this book and Gerstner's teachings were used to open my eyes to many Biblical truths. The book is a conversation between a Christian and an unbeliever (both sides portrayed by Gerstner). In chapter 20 the Christian (C) and the inquirer (I) are discussing degrees of misery in hell. The Christian has expressed that there will be less cursedness for some unsaved people in hell.

"C: Since there are gradations in hell, then every sin that is avoided in this world will not be punished in the world to come. As our Lord says, every idle word will be brought into judgement. If idle words are avoided, then that will mean much less judgement.

I: But we must still face the fact that hell is hell. Everybody is going to be perfectly miserable there!

C: Yes. But the whole meaning of degrees in hell is that some people will have greater degrees than others.

I: But if you are perfectly miserable, what difference does it make what degree of misery you have?

C: Think about it for a moment. If God does say that every idle word will be judged, does that not mean that God will bring every idle word into judgement? One idle word will receive it's judgement and the next idle word will receive its judgement. If God says that, manifestly, He can deliver on that threat. So you can be sure that three idle words will receive three times the intensity of the divine fury than just one idle word would. It is perfectly true that the power of His anger is beyond human comprehension. If that is beyond human comprehension, the gradations of it may well be beyond human comprehension. One thing we can comprehend is this: If God is going to punish every idle word, then He is going to punish it and make it felt. How He does it may be a mystery, but we know that He can do it. Consequently, it is important to keep the number of those idle words (and other sins) to a minimum, even if a person does perish."

Update

I have not been neglecting this blog willingly. It seems like every time I say "I'm gonna post this or that", something happens. I've been without regular Internet access for a while now. I am able to get on and check emails and messages via the mobile phone but it's not all that great. Hopefully I can get Internet again soon.

But I'd like to give you a brief update of some of the activities in my life. I am happy to say that I finally found a Church in Tennessee. It was less than a mile away from my home. The reason I did not find it sooner is because our family never took the road that took us to it. My entire immediate family is now saved and we are active within our Church.

On Monday nights our Church offers it's building for the use of a program called "Overcomers Outreach." This is a faith-based /alcohol recovery program. Many of the members that attend are court-ordered to do so. Our pastor encourages the Church to come out and support this ministry. After attending one of these courses I realized what a powerful ministry it is. I try to attend these classes on a regular basis. I pray for others while I'm there, I may share a scripture or two that applies to the message, and sometimes I simply listen to what others have to say. It may not seem like much, but I appreciate being able to help out in whatever way I can. After Overcomers ends, there is another class (Anger Management). I attend this one as well in hopes of being able to help out and minister to someone. I love these classes. The people are so sweet and while some of the attendees are saved, quite a few are not. It's an amazing way to present the Gospel.

I've also been getting back into youth ministry. Our Church recently had a youth night. We had a bonfire, food, games, and I got to share a message. I felt like it was a great way to bond with the kids. I've also been helping out in the teen Sunday school class. Jim and Margarita (the youth directors) are allowing me to plan the next couple of lessons for the teens. The subject? The sacrifices of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and how they apply to us. We'll eventually start having a weekly youth night for the teens. I cannot tell you how excited I am about this! The last weekly youth night I was actively involved with was when I lived in Maryland a couple of years ago.

I've been reading a lot more. I'm currently reading a book called "Tactics: A Game Plan For Discussing Your Christian Convictions" by Gregory Koukl. This book is not so much a witnessing style, as it is a conversation plan. It teaches you how to really listen to what others say, and expose their words and message for what it really is. Since reading this book I've learned that many people use words so lightly and our conversations are so full of slogans and cliche little phrases that have very little thought behind them. I'd suggest checking this book out if you get a chance. It's a quick read I've found to be very helpful in my every day life. I've also been working my way through "Institutes of The Christian Religion" by John Calvin (though it's been on the back burner for a bit since I've been busier than usual), and I have a good amount of books by R.C. Sproul that I need to finish.

Mikey turns 9 years old tomorrow. He's adorable as ever. He's recently discovered that he can film little video clips on Amber's laptop and edit them using the movie-maker program. We recorded a talk show with a puppet last night. He especially loved being able to add his favorite song to the beginning of the clip with an opening caption introducing the show.

Amber and I would like to start witnessing again. For a while there we were walking around our town and sharing our faith with whoever would talk to us. But since it's been so cold this past month or so, we haven't been doing it. I've got a good amount of tracts though and as it warms up, I'd like to start passing them out. At Church we're actually doing a series on evangelism for the teens. Perhaps we could have some sort of day to get together and have some evangelistic community outreach.

Last night we went to court (yeah... they have night court here). My dog Mr.Fancy got out of his kennel a month ago and barked at a few neighbors, barked at an older boy, and ran around the street. The neighbors got upset and called the police. When the officer showed up, Mr.Fancy barked at him too. We had to appear in court. The charge? Dog at large. I won't lie, seeing that on paper made me giggle. Since that happened, we've secured the top of the kennel (Mr.Fancy can climb and was climbing out over the door). The Judge said please just make sure we keep our dog in our yard and dismissed the case. Justice was served for Mr.Fancy.

I'm still looking for work. I've had no luck at all. I've applied all over our small town. Nobody is hiring in our town. In the Sunday paper for the city of Cleveland (the largest city near us) there was a total of 10 jobs listed. Six them were part time, four full time, and one of the jobs was as an Avon representative. I mean I understand the economy is bad, but I think here in the south it's a little worse. Situations like these make me miss Maryland.

Anyways, I hope to be able to update this more often. Thank you guys for always checking in and even commenting. Hopefully I'll be able to make this a more regular thing.

Even Kanye West knows...

Strength in times of weakness

As Christians we can get so discouraged when times are tough. We can feel frustrated when we don't understand why God hasn't answered our prayer. It frustrates us because we often feel like we have the right to a great life because of our faith in Jesus. This assumption often leads to great disappointment when moments of weakness comes along.

Nowhere in scripture are we told that the Christian life is going to be the coolest thing since sliced bread. We are not told that our relationship and faith in Jesus Christ is going to be like a trip through Sesame Street with sunny days.

Paul was a man that knew this well. The bible tells us that Paul had some sort of affliction which he described as "a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" The bible also tells us that this problem (whatever it was) was given to keep him from becoming conceited (2Cor 12:7).

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me" (2Cor 12:8)

Just like us, Paul spent a good amount of time in prayer over this issue that was troubling him. Three times he asked God to take this problem away.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness..." (2Cor 12 9a)

Without removing this affliction from Paul's life, the Lord solved the problem in a much greater way. He didn't end things, but told Paul- when you're weak, I'm strong! My power can be strong within you because you are depending on me, Your God, to carry you through these things.

Paul comments on this answer from God:

"...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2Cor 12:9b-10)

Paul really carries this out. He says not only does the Lord's power rest on me during times of weakness, but because of that power I have a strength from Christ. I will rejoice when my life is seeming to crumble because that only means Christ is all the more present with His grace to carry me through.

Are we going through anything we don't understand? Maybe there is a big issue we're struggling with? Perhaps its something smaller, but still bothersome? I think from these scriptures we can be encouraged and know that we are not alone. From such experiences, we are stronger because the power of God is with us. I pray that we can all apply some of this truth to our own lives and appreciate the presence of our Lord's love and grace in times of trouble.

I'm a princess.

Alright confession time! Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed about being a princess. Like most little girls I envisioned a castle, poofy dresses, and a pretty tiara sitting on top of my head. When Halloween would come around I was quick to purchase a tiara (even if I wasn't dressing up that year). I simply fell in love with the idea of being a princess. This idea carried over into my teenage and adult years as well. I mean really, who wouldn't want to be a part of a royal family?!

Ever since the LORD saved me when I was 19 years old, my life has changed. My desires and thoughts and ways have changed over the past few years. But my desire to be a princess has never changed. Then it hit me about a month ago- I am a princess!!

Now don't think I've lost it. I'm not currently dancing around my house in a gown with a crown upon my head or anything like that. But I was thinking about this- God is the KING. Numerous scriptures tell us this.

"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray" (Psalm 5:2)

"The LORD is King for ever and ever..." (Psalm 10:16)

"Life up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle" (Psalm 24:7,8)

"I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King" (Isaiah 43:15)

"No one is like you, O Lord: you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you" (Jeremiah 10:6,7)

We also know that God is our Father in heaven. Once we have given our lives to Him, we become His children. He adopts us as His own.

"...And by him we cry, "Abba, Father". The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:15-17)

"he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-"(Ephesians 1:5)

Christ Jesus Himself encouraged us to call upon God as our Father.

"This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9,10)

So if the scriptures are true it works out like this:
1. God is King.
2. God has made us His children.
3. By being God's children, we are now princesses and princes!

Do you guys realize how huge this is? Our Heavenly Father is the King! When I think about this I can't help but smile. This thought takes away so much anxiety and stress. Who cares what the world says? If they have a problem with us, they can talk to the KING!! But its more than just having an amazing Father who is KING. By having Him as our Father, we are also called to a higher standard than the world. We not only represent ourselves as prince and princesses (Christians), but we represent the King.

What do I mean when I call myself a Calvinist?

This summer I came to the realization that i was a Calvinist. I find myself answering a lot of questions about Calvinism and what I mean when I say I'm a Calvinist. To avoid repeating myself or typing up long explanations frequently, I figured I'd share this explanation I recently sent to a friend that asked.

When someone says they are a Calvinist they are saying they hold to 5 theological points about soteriology (the study of salvation). This is a huge theological system that effects every other doctrine and belief of scripture (or so I believe). Its called "Calvinism" because a man named John Calvin (an early Protestant/reformer) was one of the first teachers to document these teachings in written form. Before him, the most well known person to teach these things or document these beliefs in written form was St. Augustine. Calvinists do not follow all teachings of John Calvin, just 5 specific points regarding salvation. Sometimes I refer to these teachings as "The doctrines of grace". But mostly I stick with the title Calvinist because its the most familiar term with most people. But please keep in mind, I'm a Christian and follower of Christ first and foremost. I just agree with the teachings that Calvin outlined.

What are the 5 points? They can be known by the acronym TULIP.

T-Total depravity
U-Unconditional election
L-Limited atonement
I-Irresistible grace
P-Perseverance of the saints

Total Depravity: We believe that man (apart from Christ) is in a position of spiritual death. We believe that man is corrupt, wicked, sinful. Scripture goes as far as to say man is dead spiritually. We believe that on his own, man does not desire the things of God, nor can he see them, hear them, or comprehend them. Apart from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, we are walking corpses (spiritually speaking). We lack the ability to come to God on our own without the work of the Holy Spirit.

Unconditional election- We believe that God elected certain individuals for salvation before the foundations of the earth. We do not believe He elected everyone. We believe this election is not based on anything thing He foresaw in us (good or bad) or whether or not we had a desire for Him (because as the first point said, we can't even have that desire for Christ unless God gives it to us). We believe he predestined some individuals for salvation, others for vessels of wrath.

Limited atonement- We believe that while the death on the cross was sufficient to save all men and powerful enough to atone for all sins and all people, it was only efficient in redeeming the Lord's elect people. So what we're saying is that Christ did not die for every single person, but only those God has predestined for salvation.

Irresistible grace- We believe that salvation is wrought in the sinner by the work of God the Holy Spirit, not by man. We believe that if you are truly one of God's elect, then when the Holy Spirit regenerates you, you will ultimately come to Christ and be unable to resist the Holy Spirit and the grace given to you. Which just means- if you're one of God's elect, when He calls you, you can't resist that grace. We believe that all people are able to hear the external call of the gospel- the teaching that Jesus is God in the flesh, a call to repent and accept Christ by faith, and the promise of forgiveness. But we believe that only the elect can respond to that call by the irresistible grace given by God.

Perseverance of the saints- we believe that if an individual is truly one of God's elect and has been redeemed, then they cannot lose their salvation. We believe the elect cannot lose their salvation because it is in the hand of God, not of man. Once we are saved, we cannot part from the Father. This is not the same as "once saved always saved". That term suggests a false carnal Christianity where you can live however you want and claim Jesus as savior, but not acknowledge Him as Lord over your life, and still make it to heaven. That term almost implies a license to sin. We do not believe eternal security is a license to sin. We believe it is a gift and we should remain and abide in God's love and press on towards the goal. We believe that there is personal responsibility and that if one is truly a Christian, they will persevere to the end.

If anyone has a question about a specific point or would like some scriptural proof for a specific point, please let me know. I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible.

Direction of my blog

If this blog was a small child I'd hope to be deemed as an unfit mother. I've forgotten about it really. I'd like to redeem the relationship that I've developed with this blog though. Even my expression of small thoughts about theology or philosophy always left me feeling so happy. I miss that happiness. It kept me balanced in my mind. I hope to write something, anything really, sometime this week. If there is anyone that still follows this blog I thank you. I hope to fix it and give you something worth reading.

If you're interested, follow my new poetry blog. You can find it on my profile. I've been writing poetry lately. It rhymes a little too much, but other than that, I'm quite happy with it. I hope to have that blog setup and running by Monday morning.