Asking the Right Questions blog article from 2017
Asking wrong questions…
Do Christians have to go to church?
Can I _______ and still get to heaven?
Can Christians watch R-rated movies?
Should Christians tithe on all increase?
Asking right questions…
What is the importance of the church?
How does ________ affect my testimony and my reliance on God?
What parameters, what protections have I set for my mind, for my heart?
What part of my finances do I want God’s blessing on?
No one is righteous— not even one. Romans 3:10
We are fallible, errant, imperfect, flawed, envious, resentful, vengeful, unforgiving, selfish, proud, weak people in need of this God who was willing to die for us and deliver us from ourselves!
We first must address our humanity, our carnality, our sinfulness, yes, our wickedness. I am a sinner. I need a Savior!
“Do good people go to hell?”
Who is good? What does a good person look like? What constitutes being good? I mean, is doing good things enough?
“Who is perfect?”
Maybe the right question isn’t how many evil acts did God allow last week but how many He prevented!
So let’s talk a little bit about hell. Matthew 25:41
So “why would an all-loving God send people to hell?” is the wrong question. Because He doesn’t! We either choose to change direction and get on the lifeboat or stay on the sinking ship.
So maybe the question of heaven and hell isn’t who is perfect or who commits sin. Perhaps the real question is:
Who does eternity belong to?
Honestly, what is my true personal moral character?
How do I choose to respond to the greatest love ever displayed on earth?
A couple quick stories from the Bible:
- Saul’s “conversion” (Acts 9:1-28)
- Zacchaeus and Jesus. (Luke 19:1-9)
Jesus is willing to go out of His way to reach someone who is sincere and willing to listen!
- There is another story of a rich young man (Luke 18:18-23)
- Jesus even reaches out to those He knows will reject Him!
Every person must acknowledge their personal moral shortcomings,
realize Jesus is the only solution to sin,
and accept
His sacrifice as payment for our sin,
His grace as forgiveness of our sin and
His power for deliverance from our sin!
Church 29:11 