Does Christianity Preach Fear? p9

Hell = Control? (4 of 5)

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The Ten Commandments Exodus 20:1-17

The Bible declares that the standard Jesus will use to judge those that refuse salvation are the very same Ten Commandments as given to Moses by the finger of God. These Commandments have stood solid throughout the ages as they are fundamental to humanity, realized through the heart and through the conscience. These laws stand true not by some committee or any body of legislators. Nay! These laws stand self-evident and true based upon self-realization, being written upon the hearts and conscience of all humanity (Romans:2:12-16).

Moses inside the Supreme Court's courtroom

Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses,
when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone,
written with the finger of God.

• Who can respect themselves if they have no respect for their parents?
• Who desires to be murdered? Do murderers value the life of the one they killed?
• Does any spouse rejoice knowing the one they love is cheating on them?
• Do liars believe anything anyone will tell him?
• Is there any honor among thieves?
• Who wants their property stolen?
• Who is comfortable knowing their neighbors desire that which belongs to them?

These laws are the foundation for human governance and they did not come from any religion other than in Israel, as no religion on earth delivered such a complete text as these; the very foundation of the Mosaic law and the Mercy Seat. The first four commands are directly related to all the others and because of this, secularists, spiritualists, religionists and atheists have it burned into their mind that the God of Israel (Christianity) is especially considered offensive to them because they have placed other gods before them. Do these people realize that the Bible agrees that they will be offended by these commands?

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 9:30-33

What is at stake?

Hans Memling, Hell 1485

These commandments come from the theocracy God created, as witnessed from Old Testament Israel, administered and governed by Kings, Judges and Priests, using the system God ordained and delivered to Moses; the Mosaic law. The people became corrupt because their rulers became corrupt. They could not keep the law.

God finally judged them after nearly 500 years, warning them by the preaching of the many prophets, having written their record to testify to us, thereby offering us faith and encouragement (Heb:11:39-40). Their testimony and prophecies are a verifiable part of recorded history. This truth should cause fear and trembling to everyone who hears the Gospel message.

This is the wisdom in understanding The Fear of The Lord.

The Mosaic Law was absolute. There is no mercy in the law. But Israel had a Mercy Seat at the very center of the Temple. This was the image of the one who would come and fulfill the law; by Grace. No man can fulfill the law. Have you ever broken even one of those Commandments?

Moses was the Law-Giver (death) but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ (life) (John 1:17), for the remission of sin though His blood (Matt:26:28) the price paid for redemption and salvation; the Atonement for sin (Lev:17:11).

The claim that teaching on damnation is fear and control is the frontal attack for moral decline. This is accomplished by attacking the sovereignty of God's authority, morality and judgment, with the administration of his law in the world of men, as was evidenced by how freedom can exist, expressed by the Godly men who penned our Bill of Rights, stating as fact and evidenced by the multitudes that came to our shores fleeing persecution of every sort, from the many non-Christian nations of the world:

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be... if we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed. ~Thomas Jefferson.

Humanists believe that preaching of a place called Hell is the way to control people and is the method used in order for the church to gain control of its members or potential new members. This claim is quite bogus however, as what is evident is the fear of a great many things in normal everyday life. Ask yourself a basic question: how many of the hundreds of millions cigarette smokers are in controlling fear of getting cancer, knowing full well that cigarette smoking is the number one cause of cancer? Answer: None!

Where is the claim that smoking cigarettes is so fearful to people that they are now controlled by the fear of getting cancer? Are there any movements taking place today to bring people into a church by the fear of these normal everyday things in order to control them? Making the claim that Damnation is a controlling fear to Christians is ridiculous. I don't know anyone who considers such an idea as valid. Why people make such claims is beyond me.

What Does The Bible Say About Fear?

As we have seen with the understanding of The Fear of the LORD we understand that by the wisdom God has revealed to mankind, through his written word, that God will judge sin. The Day of Judgment is the reason men are commanded to repent.

Luca Signorelli, The Damned Being Plunged into Hell 1499-1502

Acts 17:27-32
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

The simple fact is that many people find it offensive to be told that there is a Hell, because in their liberal thoughts, they believe they are good people because they do so much for the world. They are active in this event and that charity, they give to the Tsunami relief, support the Red Cross, give clothing and food to institutions throughout the world, and on and on and on it goes. These people will claim, that if a loving God did exist there is no way he would send anyone to such a place as Hell. The truth is however, that Jesus taught otherwise, and declared it true in simple, easy to understand language.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John 8:24

Secular socialists are the ones who want to declare that same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, child sex, polygamy and more, is morally acceptable to our society and that Christians in particular are seeking to control them through ancient and out-dated superstitious beliefs. These moral relativists have the right to seek that which they desire, as all free people do, and no one is denying their right of free expression. However, when the American population goes to the voting booth, exercising our God given rights, the vast majority overwhelmingly opposes such things as contrary and unacceptable to our society. The claim of control through fear, comes from the declaration of Hell and godless people are offended by such a claim, just as the Bible declared they would be.

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Copyright Wendell Leahy
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