Jesus never said “if you sin no more then you are good to go”; he said “go, and sin no more.” Jesus didn’t set the woman caught in adultery free from punishment because she promised never again to sin. He hoped she would stop sinning because she had been freely …
Deconstruct Calvinism
-
-
In contrast with the biblical portrayal of justice, which harmonizes retribution with mercy, the Augustinian-Calvinist “Hellfire” view asserts that God’s justice demands a rigid, eternal punishment for any sin. When I say rigid, I mean melting your skin in flames of fire forever and ever, a doctrine that always struck …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
The Doctrine of Hellfire: The Devastating Psychological Effects
by Dr. Eitan Bar 13 minutes readThis is a short testimony I came across on YouTube from a woman who grew up in what seems a conservative, fundamental Christian home: When I was 6 or 7, I burned my hand and it was excruciating. My mother took the opportunity to say, “Imagine if that feeling was …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
What is the Lake of Fire, Sulfur and Smoke in the Book of Revelation?
by Dr. Eitan Bar 11 minutes readVery little in the book of Revelation could be interpreted literally. While it is crucial to read and study the book thoroughly, appreciating its language, imagery, and themes, it is equally important to recognize the book’s genre and that almost every element in Revelation is steeped in references to Hebrew …
-
For an article on the meaning of the word “eternal” in Greek and Hebrew, visit here. The Epistle of Jude, which was written to warn of the destructive concourses of false doctrines, is often cited by the Augustinian-Calvinist Eternal Conscious Torment proponents as supporting the concept of hellfire. For instance, …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
What is “Everlasting Destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)?
by Dr. Eitan Bar 5 minutes readFor an article on the meaning of the word “eternal” in Greek and Hebrew, visit here. New Testament’s 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 is often cited by proponents of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) as a key passage supporting the doctrine of hellfire. However, a careful analysis of the text within its context …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
Fear God Who Could Throw You Into Hell?! (Matthew 10:28)
by Dr. Eitan Bar 12 minutes read“Then Jesus took the teenage girl and threw her into the fire. As he watched her scream in the flames, he said unto her, ‘Your parents warned you, but you did not listen!’” (Matthew 10:28, according to Calvinism) Sounds too harsh? Sadly, this is exactly how many Christians today read …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
What are the “Gates of Hell” (Matthew 16:18)?
by Dr. Eitan Bar 4 minutes readMatthew 16 is where Jesus finally introduces the concept of his death and resurrection to his disciples. In verse 18, Jesus declares something that confused many: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
“Lord Lord….”, “I Never Knew You. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23)
by Dr. Eitan Bar 5 minutes readThere are two kinds of “Christianity.” One is a religion that, on paper, intellectually adheres to all the correct theological recipes and doctrines about Jesus’ Lordship and Divinity. The other is a way of life—represented by the kingdom of heaven—embodied by Christ-like individuals who live out the values Jesus taught …
-
#Christianity #Jesus #Bible
What Are the “Unquenchable Fire” and “Wheat and Chaff”?
by Dr. Eitan Bar 9 minutes readWhen the Western mind encounters the word “fire,” it often conjures images of witches being burned at the stake, nuclear bombs, or Dante’s depictions of individuals tormented by flames, which has significantly influenced Western Christian theology. However, in the Bible, Judaism, and other ancient civilizations, fire, though potentially painful, primarily …
