Osama Bin Laden and Why I Believe In Hell

[Alright… I admit it… the title is a bit misleading.  I believe in hell primarily for only one reason.  Because the Bible teaches about its existence with absolute clarity.  It is a place for Satan, his demons and the unrepentant people of the earth.  However, I do find something comforting in the Biblical doctrine of hell.  That is what this post is about.]

Last night, as news rang out about the death of Osama Bin Laden at the hands of U.S. troops, a common phrase was being used – “Justice has been served.”  It is a statement that we run to quickly.  Yes, Bin Laden’s death is justified.  But is it justice?  I would submit, no… it just simply can’t be justice.

Why?  Simply put Bin Laden’s death is the death of one man.  A man responsible for killing thousands, perhaps ten’s of thousands of people.  Is one man’s death really justly equal to the death of thousands at his own hand?  Certainly not.

In fact, one could even say Bin Laden got off easy.  Of the thousands of people he killed, few went as easy as he did.  Think about the people in the buildings on 911 trapped above the fire.  They experienced nearly one hour or tortuous horror before falling to their deaths.  Or the people in the planes above Pennsylvania, many calling their relatives on cell phones to say “goodbye” before the plane inevitably went down.  Let alone the many others who suffered physically, emotionally, and psychologically at the hands of Bin Laden’s plans and plots – some still to this day.  What was “justice” for this?  A few minutes of a firefight and an instant, almost painless, death with a bullet through the head.  The quick death of Bin Laden seems to ring hallow to our sense of true justice.

This is the true problem of evil in the world today.  Try as we might, in our existence evil cannot receive true justice.  We can kill the terrorist but we cannot do so in a way that equates all the horror he’s inflicted upon the world.  How then is justice truly served?

Justice is found in the doctrine of hell.  In the biblical understanding of the afterlife, the evil will be judged based on their deed (Revelations 20-21).  While men like Bin Laden (at the hands of U.S. armed forces) or Hitler (killed by his own hand) might have experienced a quick death, they will not escape true justice.

There is such a thing as cumulative morality in the world.  People do evil things and good things and there is a record of the right or the wrong that we do.  Those who do evil things in this life that can never be completely or justly satisfied in this life will pay for their actions in eternity.  The doctrine of hell does satisfy this problem of evil.  Make no mistake about it, Bin Ladin was an evil man – more evil than most of humanity.  There is nothing Biblically wrong with believing that, and there is nothing Biblically wrong with being thankful that one like him received his due justice.  And hell does satisfy this sense of justice.

However, there is also such a thing as absolute morality.  That is our status as moral beings.  The Bible makes is clear that none of us has a good moral nature (Romans 3).  We are all, by nature, enemies of God (Ephesians 1-2).  And our offense against God is by nature eternal because God is eternal.  And an eternal crime CANNOT be satisfied even in an everlasting punishment in hell because eternity is GREATER than everlasting.  The reality is that from an absolute morality, I am no better than Bin Ladin.  Both by nature evil, both by nature an enemy of God, both by nature and the curse of sin doomed to an everlasting existence in hell.  So while hell does satisfy the cumulative nature of evil and justice, it cannot solve our absolute nature of evil and justice.

Only the cross of Christ can solve the problem of absolute morality.  That is because Jesus Christ was eternal and perfect.  He took on our sin by choice.  Died the death that sin required.  Because he was eternal (John 1), his morality and judgment was able to fulfill the requirements of our absolute moral state.  We are then made right, just, justified due to our faith in him and submission to his lordship (2 Corinthians 5).  Thus, in Jesus, every evil can be satisfied when we put our trust in him.  I can stand free from hell due to Jesus’ sacrifice for me, and the faith he grants me to trust that he satisfied the justice my sin deserves.

The reality of true justice is the reality that every evil ever committed will be completely paid for.  The question is, who pays for it?  Jesus with its absolute perfection through the death on the cross?  Or us in an everlasting existence in hell.  It is in this Biblical doctrine that justice is truly served.

A TRUMPet of Refreshing Discourse

Why does Donald Trump have the potential to be refreshing for 2012 Presidential Politics?

Before I get started let me say just one thing: I am not a Trump supporter for president.  In fact, there is only a VERY limit set of circumstances in which I would EVER consider voting for him.  However, I have always been fascinated by the Trump, and there is one major area in which he could be refreshing for the political process.

What area is that?  Simply put – frankness.

What do I mean?  I mean that by in large the political process has been hijacked by public relations spin doctors who have drilled the candidates with the notion that you can ONLY discuss the talking points (I have a degree in PR, so I can bash it a bit here).  The end result is that politicians rarely answer questions unless the reporter happens to throw one at them that perfectly fits the talking point.  This is infuriating to me because it demonstrates, at least a large percentage of the time, that politicians are afraid to be who they really are.

Trump, however, has build a personality-centered brand that projects him as the expert.  In short, he is his own handler (at least in the public’s eyes).  This means he’s far more likely to give candid, politically incorrect, or shocking, off-the-cuff answers to questions.  Sure, it will probably doom him in the end, but it will also further expose the phoniness of much of American politics.

Let me give you a few examples.

Last week I was watching an interview with Mitt Romney (someone I think is more qualified than Trump to be president).  The reporter asked Mitt, “You are successful businessman, Trump is a successful businessman.  In an economy like ours, what makes you more qualified then Mr. Trump to run the country?”

Mitt’s answer – talking points, most of which were more aimed at the weaknesess of the Obama economic policy than those of Trump’s.  The reporter rephrased and asked again.  Again, the SAME talking points.  What is so infuriating is that Romney actually has a very good answer – “I’ve been successful in politics, government and in business.  That means that I know the foundation of good economics, the ability to articulate my message, and the ability to work with people from differing political philosophies to makes sure we get the job done.  Mr. Trump has only done this in business, and while extremely successful in the private sector, will quickly find out that Senators and Congressmen do not respond well to being treated like employees.”  Okay, I admit, the last line was a bit over the top… but still.  He has a good answer.  Think for yourself and answer the stupid question.

While I’m not certain of the source, I saw an headline where Trump was asked a similar question about the difference between him and Romney.  Trump’s answer, “I have more net worth than he does.”  Sure… pompous, arrogant, ignoring some of the issues.  But he answered the stupid question and in a way that highlights the bottom line in an economic environment where the bottom line means a lot.  “I am better than the rich businessman because I am a richer businessman” makes it simple to identify the win.

Even in the stupid Obama birth certificate exchanges, how does Trump respond when Obama releases the documentation?  “I’m proud of myself… I won.”  Again, arrogant, pompous, something that no other politician would ever say, but in this political environment, there are portions of the Republican party that want to see a win.

The refreshing thing about Trump, especially if he gains any type of traction in the primaries, is that he has the opportunity to demonstrate the phoniness of talking points, the ability to stay on message without them, and the desire that people have for authenticity in their candidate.  That is what Clinton and Reagan had – messaging plus authenticity.  While I’m not rooting for him as a candidate, I am rooting for him as a change-agent to the way politicians talk with the American people.

My Princesses

A few weeks ago, my parent flew our family out to visit them in California – a belated Christmas present.  We all went to Disneyland for the day.  Below are pictures from a wonderful day of princess hunting.  Of course my girls (children and wife) are the greatest princesses of all.  Enjoy!

 

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Day of Pain

As some of you might have seen form my wife’s facebook post, I was in the Duke Hospital Emergency Room until about 4:30am last night with an excruciating headache.  Here is the brief story.

Sunday afternoon on my drive back from Christmas break, I noticed the right side of my face was very tender – like I’d been punched.  Then, over the course of a few more hours, a headache developed between my right nostril and my right temple.  I got home, took some pain meds, and everything went back to normal except the tenderness.  The same phenomenon happened again on Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesday, again the same thing occurred, but the headache was much more intense and it was coupled with pressure behind my eye, watering and redness of my right eye, and some body aches.  Pain meds helped the pain, but didn’t eliminate it.

Yesterday, again the same thing happened, but this time it was developing into my first full blow migraine and pain meds weren’t helping at all.  I had the day off and was watching the girls, so I called Tiffanee home to take the girls and went off to Duke Urgent Care in Brier Creek to get it checked out (since the pain came on at the same time each day, and was isolated essentially to my right eye, I sensed something was strange).

The doctor at Duke Urgent Care said it could be three things.  An Ocular Migraine, where the migraine had a central location behind my eye.  Cluster headaches, where a long series of headaches were attacking the same area of my head in groups.  Or, everyone’s favorite, a tumor.  He did rule out a stroke or blood clot.  He suggested a migraine medication and told me if symptoms got worse to go the Hospital so they could rule out other possibilities.

Two maximum doses of the migraine medication later, at about 1am, I was headed to Duke Hospital with some of the worse pain I’ve ever experienced.  I hoped I wasn’t just being a wuss with my first migraine (my wife gets them all the time), but at the same time I didn’t want to be the next Matt Chandler and they find a tumor behind my eye.  They got me in, hooked me up to an IV, pumped me full of migraine meds, Benedyrl and caffeine and began the diagnosis.  Again, cluster headaches, tumors and, another favorite, meningitis were on the docket.

They took a CT scan and, thankfully, discovered that I had a massive sinus blockage behind my right eye, which was created a headache with migraine like symptoms and pain.  So they gave me a antibiotic, some perkeset and, at about 4:30am, sent me home.

I’m feeling much better now.  Headache is mostly gone, pressure behind my eye is gone, and, while I’m a bit groggy, I’m alert, awake and enjoying the day.  A special thanks is owed to my wife, Tiffanee, for all she’s done for me in the last 24 hours – coming home, driving me to the ER, getting meds, etc.  She’s been awesome.  Also to Kathrine Holloway, who came over to our house last night at 1am to watch the girls while Tiff and I were gone.  Huge blessings.

I’ll keep you informed if there is anything new.

Blessings,

Jeremy

Fall with the Girls

We’ve had a lot of fun as a family this Fall.  September was Kara’s first birthday.  In October we went to the State Fair and enjoyed all the Fall Festivities.  Here are some pictures of our memories.  I love being a Dad!

 

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The Lost Ask Us To Pray

“So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” – Jonah 1:6

This Fall I’ve been taking some time to study the book of Jonah is great detail.  It is one of my favorite books of the Old Testament and a book that I will be teaching for an online Grace College of Divinity class next semester.

This morning I was reading the verse above.  The context is Jonah sleeping in the bottom of a ship after fleeing the command of God to go to Nineveh.  In an effort to stop his rebellion, God sends a powerful storm against the ship that Jonah is on.  The sailors are above throwing cargo overboard and calling out to every god they can think of, hoping that the storm will abate.  Meanwhile the one who is responsible for the storm and who is rebelling against the true God is asleep below.  That is when the captain finds Jonah and, in amazement and with earnest, makes the statement above.

One of the commentaries I am reading made a very insightful and applicable observation about this verse.  One that really challenged me this morning.  He said,

“There is extreme irony here: a ‘heathen sea captain’ pleaded with a Hebrew prophet to pray to his God.  It is sobering to see one who might be termed an ‘unbeliever’ pleading for spiritual action on the part of a ‘believer.’  The ‘unbeliever’ saw the gravity of the situation while the prophet slept.  It is a sad commentary when those who are committed to the truth of God’s word have to be prodded by a lost world into spiritual activity.” – Frank Page, New American Commentary, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, p. 231.

It is a chilling reminder.  Here is an unbeliever terrified for his life as he looks at his impending doom in the face of God’s action.  There is the prophet of truth, asleep and oblivious to the situation and to the plight of the unbeliever.   The prophet is awakened to the voice of an unbeliever begging him to pray to his God for their salvation.

It might not be loud, it might not be often, but I can’t help but think that there are unbelievers in our city begging the people of God to call out for their salvation – or even show them the way of salvation through Jesus Christ.  I certainly hope I don’t prove to be a Jonah – asleep and oblivious.

Food for thought.

Blessings,
Jeremy

Potty Training Surprise

On Labor Day weekend my wife and I finally decided to bite the bullet and start potty training Hailey.  Between our schedules, we would have four days at home and we could give the time and attention it required to do such a task.  So while most of you were sunning in the sand, or moving through the mountains, I spent four days cleaning pee pee and poo poo — mostly just out of her little girl potty.  By in large it worked, and Hailey is now mostly potty trained.

The most delightful moment of the weekend was actually last Saturday.  We worked out a reward system for Hailey to encourage her to “put pee pee and poo poo in the potty.”  The grand prize was a trip to the Disney Store to pick out her very own princess.  So last Saturday, we went.

It was her first time to such a store… and she had barely walked in before she thought she was in eternal glory!  She walked up to the first display of princess dolls (almost before we could get her out of her stroller), picked up her first princess turned towards Tiff and I and proudly and assuredly said, “mine!”  From there it was from one display to another, grasping, gazing, pleading, desiring, almost everything she could touch.  Before long I was looking at my wife saying, “we’ve got to get out of here!”

She walked away with a queens bounty – an Aura princess doll, a princess collection, Tinker Bell shoes, and a notepad.  Sigh… Pictures are below.

Bless,

Jeremy

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It’s Football Season – Proud Dad

Some adorable pics of my gals as I celebrated football season:

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The Gospel According to Barney

A few months ago my worst fear as a parent came true — Hailey LOVES Barney the purple, singing dinosaur.  I’m not sure how she found out about Barney, but one day we made the mistake of putting a DVD in, and now “we’re a happy family, with a great big hug” and all that stuff.  Sigh.

However, I have been surprised at the depth of theology that Barney reveals.  Below are my three favorites:

Barney the Savior Figure

Even from a very early age, humans understand that they are in need of a savior.  The writers of Barney, writing for an audience of 1.5-6 year olds, also understand this because Barney is the savior in all their episodes.  Let’s say you are stuck inside on a rainy day and want to go to the beach, who shows up to save you from your boredom?  Barney.  Let’s say your produce stand and pretend farm suddenly don’t meet the excitement needs of young BabyBop… who shows up to take you to a real farm and fill your produce stand with bunches of fresh fruits and vegetables?  Barney does!  Let’s say you are confused by elementary educational concepts, who is there to provide the key bits of knowledge?  Barney.  No matter the circumstances encountered by the friends of Barney, he’s there to rescue them and thus garners their love and affection.  Even in children’s programming, our innate understanding that we need rescuing and we need a savior is revealed and understood.

Barney the Idol

Barney also exposes the fact that all humans, not matter how young, will worship something.  Here is a frequent scenario in my house.  Things are going along peacefully during the afternoon and Hailey, who has already watching Barney at least once during the day, asks to watch Barney yet again.  Her mother or I  respond with “no.”  In a ferocious scream and violent collapse, she proceeds to create quite a ruckus.  She’s pitching a fit.  She has decided that her need to watch the purple dinosaur is more important than obedience to her parents — who actually love her and to whose family she actually belongs (her mom even dances and her dad even sings!).  So in obedience to her desire to watch Barney, she is willing to create chaos in the house and even risk injury in the way she thrashes on the floor — she is worshiping.  Barney is my two year old’s idol!  Even before she has a concept of religion, sacred writings, worship styles… by two year old has made an idol in her heart she has deemed worth worshiping and worth devotion – even to the expense of punishment from her parents for her misbehavior.

Barney the Moralist

There is nothing that makes the moralism of the world system sound more ridiculous than a Purple dinosaur costume as a prophet.  Hearing Barney sing of things like “Its not so tough to share your stuff,” or “its much more fun when you take your turn,” or “when you’re feeling a little tired, and feeling kinda sleeping, maybe feel a little grumpy too… it could be that a little nap could be just right for you” just seems a little powerless.  Granted, since he’s become my two year olds idol, it caries a little more weight.  The funny thing is that I’ve even heard adults tell my child, “Barney wouldn’t want you to do that…”  WHAT!?  Seriously?  And yet, there is something revealing about the emptiness of Barney’s commands.  When you survey the philosophies or morality given by the world systems that deny God, they all come up short.  Might makes right has the problem of the playground bully.  Communism has the problems of 1980′s eastern Europe.  Morality is whatever society as a whole deems right has the problem of Nazi Germany.  Relativism has the problem of logic.  Humanism has the problem of the serial killer.  It could be that picking a pretend purple dinosaur is the best spokesperson the philosophies of the world system could have picked to try and spread their ideas of basic human problems and goodness.

For the record, I will continue to let my children watch Barney.  He is educational and, for the most part, harmless.  But it is intriguing how such a simple, silly, and, often, annoying entertainment program has the ability to point people to the truths that can only be found in Jesus Christ — the only satisfying savior, the only one worthy of worship and in whom the only logical and true morality can be found as well as the ability to live in that morality.

Beach Vacation 2010

Here are some fun pictures of our vacation last week.  Great time with family!

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