462 Clothman Goes to Hell, Part 6
Only 11-13% of people in my county attend church on any given Sunday. About a third of the churches would agree with my recent columns in which I stated that I no longer believe in a literal, eternal hell. Of the remaining churches, few ever mention hell.
Like the once popular rotary phone, one might conclude that hell is obsolete. Ah, but such a conclusion would be wrong.
Past Clothman columns on evolution, the Iraqi War, even sex pale in comparison to the enormous amount of feedback that my hell columns have produced. Apparently everyone has gone to hell in their mind and my writings have awakened a sleeping volcano of thoughts and doctrines.
For the record, 60% of the feedback has been positive. Of the negative, half has been polite. The rest have called me everything from a false prophet to Satan, insuring me that my new position on hell has most certainly doomed me to an eternity with the Prince of Darkness himself.
What folks don’t know is that I started to have serious doubts about hell long ago and have not believed in a literal, eternal hell for over six years. I kept my beliefs under wraps telling myself it wasn’t time to come out; but frankly, I was afraid to. I sensed the fallout would be bad. It was.
I have been expelled from groups that I belonged to and led for nearly 20 years. Speaking engagements have been cancelled. Friends have ceased speaking to me. I have heard more gossip about Clothman then Paris Hilton.
I have been trying to figure out how I suddenly become Satan’s twin in the eyes of many when in fact everything I have written and done over the past six years has been while I held this belief about hell. If I wasn’t a heretic then, why am I suddenly one now? Is doctrine so important so as to shun and exclude one from fellowship and friendship?
And where is the dialogue? I can count on one hand the number of church leaders who have actually talked with me about my studies on hell.
As I pondered these things I had a stunning revelation. I am now experiencing the very pain I caused others when I wrongfully judged and demonized them in the name of my doctrine. Indeed, what goes around, has come back around for Clothman.
How many times have I neglected Jesus’ teaching: “I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer… This is what God does. He gives his best – the sun to warm and the rain to nourish – to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. …In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow Up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you” (Matthew 5:44-48).
Instead of feeling sorry for myself lately, I’ve been busy making amends to those whom I mistreated in the past. Regardless of one’s view of the afterlife, I’ve learned that sin must be dealt with in this life. So, if I have ever offended you through a harsh column over the years, please forgive me.
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