Faith is the journey that so many of us have been missing. In its place Christian leader's seem to be focused on selling their followers on the absence of the destination of hell. Should this be the focus of the christian community? So many of us have heard ministers talk about the topic for years. This seems logical right, no wants the burn in flames for ever. Nor would they want a loved one to suffer such a fate. However there is something very lacking with this type of thinking.
Imagine a man about to propose to his sweetheart. He gets on his knees, and looks deeply into her eyes and asks her to marry him. Shortly followed by his explanation of why if she says no her life will surely be miserable. I don't know about you, but to me this method of message conveying would push me away, not draw me closer.
The issue is not with hell's existence, nor the fact that it can be so often mentioned in most religious circles. We find the issue with the rationality behind the presentation of its sale. Far too often we find it within the salvation message, if not entirely. Are we saved by grace, through our fear of hell? Obviously not, or Paul's words in Ephesians would have read much differently.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--
Ephesians 2:8
Through faith we are saved by Gods grace. Then why is faith not the focus of the salvation message? I believe this is because faith is so poorly understood. Often times a great deal of the well meaning ministers stick with what they obviously know hell. At the same time inadvertently steer clear of the critical important and less understood faith.
Now don't get me wrong here. I understand the word faith is far from a hot button that gets people upset. If anything hell would fit such a description far better. It is not like faith is not mentioned at all, or that it isn't presented fairly often. Faith is however sold far short of its true worth. Tossed around and giving away as nothing more then a blind belief in something unknown.
If you have not read my previously post titled Genesis of Faith. I would encourage you to do so now by clicking on the link below. This article lays the foundation for understanding the true meaning of faith.
But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin Romans 14:23
Faith is so important that even converting to Christianity for any other reason then faith could be looked at as sin. As believers we are not only challenged to believe in him, and present to mankind reason for our father in heavens right to reign on his throne. We must also make an undeniable case for putting all our trust in God to be the best candidate for the job of God. This can not be done without a correct understanding of faith, for this is faith. Regardless of how many times an individual is scared by the presentation of hell, such a presentation will never make a case for a person to come to our God in faith as intended.
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