“Sinners in the hands if an angry God”
On July 8, 1741, a mere mortal man struggled as he delivered his sermon to his congregation. Struggling I say because he wouldn’t lift his face for 45 minutes nor give any eye contact until he was done reading, word after word… Enfield Connecticut would never be the same after that fateful day. Jonathan Edwards preached, the congregation listened and one of the most convicting sermons ever was delivered.
This sermon is still one of my all time favorites and I love to talk about this sermon. In many perspectives, one of the greatest sermons ever delivered to the United States in its Great Awakening era. This great appeal to a sinner’s heart and mind, captured each person and forced everyone to recognize they will be judged by a righteous, good and holy God! Furthermore, this judgment should be more feared than death and will be more painful than human comprehension.
I think it’s safe to say there has been a lot of change from that day to today, so much change that I seldom think it’s the same world. So often I think we humans have “flipped the script” and today’s sermon might be titled “God in the hands of a diverse, equitable and inclusive society”. It doesn’t matter if you agree with the way the world looks now or if you agree with the way the world looked in the 1700’s, it’s different for certain.
So let’s look at the “was then” vs the “is now”.
| 1741 views | 2024 views |
| God is justified in casting all humankind into hell | No GOOD god would send me to hell |
| Justice means all have earned Hell. | Justice is relative, I decide what justice should be |
| The wicked are condemned to Hell. | Hell and Heaven are your own views of eternity |
| Satan wants all humans as his own. | Satan was unfairly treated by an oppressive god. |
| God restrains Satan, evil is limited. | Evil doesn’t exist except as a manmade construct |
| Lack of visualizing physical death is no excuse and does not mean it should not be feared. | Physical death is the end. There is no fear in death, the only fear is dying |
| Doing good for oneself or others does not make up for sin nor avoid wrath. | I do good all the time! ima good person! That’s your truth, let’s just “agree to disagree” |
| Hell’s pain is unavoidable. Christ has saving grace, there is no other way to avoid Hell. | All paths lead to the same place, Christians are bullies for saying anything different. |
| God’s salvation is only for his people! Not for all. | God is all LOVE. He can’t punish us good folks. |
Ohh, I know… I get that this is a simplified generalization of yesterday vs today, but it’s a helpful comparison for my blog, that’s it, a bit of Grace please!
Welcome to the “Matrix” (If you haven’t watched this movie, you may want to take the time right now to watch that movie before you continue reading this blog)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vKQi3bBA1y8?si=Dbxi7-JoRzZH-msj
Red Pill or Blue Pill?
Blue Pill: To trust in God is foolish. God is antiquated and doesn’t matter now.
Red Pill: God is still the creator of everything.
Blue Pill: A loving God wont send me to Hell.
Red Pill: Well, God is only giving you what you’re asking for, separation from him. Reject God? Ok, here is your forever home…
Blue Pill: Heaven is mine! I can make it however I want.
Red Pill: That’s so silly, just because you want something doesn’t mean you can have it, unless you have that power to grant it…
The Rabbit Hole: How do Christians hold these truth statements and live our lives like it matters? I remember this statement from “The Truth Project” many years ago and It still convicts my soul daily… “Do you believe that what you believe is really real?” I wish my faith were “really real”, I would act so much differently. But… just because my faith is weak doesn’t prove my beliefs are wrong, it just means I am weak.
Is God’s word true? How do I KNOW it is true? If Gods word is not true, what is true? What is the truth? Who decides what is true? Who decides what is not true? Do we all decide for ourselves? And the killer question: DOES TRUTH EVEN MATTER?
Jesus answered this question in front of a world leader: John 18:37
Bible Gatewayhttps://www.biblegateway.com › verse
For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”.
If Jesus thinks truth is this important, we should as well! I love this definition of truth: “Truth is reality as seen by God” that means we don’t get to decide truth. Does that mean God gets to pick what is true? Not really, God doesn’t actually pick, but truth does flow from Him. God is the source of all truth and God simply knows the truth (as His character is truth) and we can be deceived into thinking we get to choose truths.
The White Rabbit: I hear so many times the reaction “Well, as long as he is happy, what difference does it make?” I’m here today to contest this premise, I’m here to try and show that truth matters. I’m here to shed light on the idea “as long as nobody is being hurt, it’s fine!” THIS IS TRULY HATE SPEECH! Because if you truly love a person, you want them to know what’s real, and what’s not real… or is it just easier to allow a person to live in a fantasy world? Never knowing what’s real and what’s a delusion? I don’t know who is reading this today, but I love you so much that I am willing to take a chance of offending you so that you can know what is really real… That is love speech.
If you can’t tell, I believe we ALL deserve to know truth vs delusion. I believe a person deserves to have the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want to believe the truth or live a lie… I believe God wants us to know Him, to be with Him for all eternity. I also believe God does not force anyone to love Him but in the end, everyone will know the truth and take a knee to the Creator, some in reverence and love but others out of hatred and conviction… I want you to know Him now, not just on judgment day.
There is a scene in the movie “The Matrix” where Neo gestures for the Red Pill, Morpheus tells him “All I’m offering is the truth”.
Morpheus continues: “You take the blue pill – the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill – you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes”.
Now you decide, Red Pill or Blue Pill? Truth or a Lie?
With all my love and concern for your eternal home, Charlie.