{"id":11022,"date":"2012-04-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-04-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=11022"},"modified":"2012-05-04T07:04:58","modified_gmt":"2012-05-04T11:04:58","slug":"running-headlong-into-hell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/running-headlong-into-hell\/","title":{"rendered":"Running Headlong into Hell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Heroes<\/p>\n

Great men and women of faith are those who follow God in running headlong toward hell<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Heroes of the Faith<\/h2>\n

Abraham was called to follow God to a foreign country, full of enemies and idol worshippers. Moses was told to return to the land which had a bounty on his head, and tell the ruler of that land to set free all his slaves. Joshua and Caleb saw opportunity and blessing where others saw only death and destruction. Judges like Gideon and Deborah went out against all odds to deliver people from enemies and idolatry. David went out against Goliath to protect Israel from bondage and captivity. All the prophets called the people of God back to obedience, mercy, and justice despite the threats from rulers, kings, and authorities.<\/p>\n

And just because we run headlong with Jesus into hell does not mean we will escape with our lives. We may very well die in this desperate rescue mission.<\/p>\n

John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus went to the cross. Stephen was stoned to death. James the brother of Jesus was thrown off the temple tower and clubbed to death. Paul was imprisoned and beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down. Thomas was tortured, run through with spears, and then baked alive in an oven. Even today, many Christians in China, Africa, and the Middle East lose their lives as a result of following Jesus into the darkness.<\/p>\n

Following Jesus is not safe<\/h2>\n

Following Jesus is full of risks, not just to our pride, power, and personal reputation, but to our very life and health! The call to follow Jesus is not a call to dignity, comfort, or respectability. It is a call to danger. True ministry does not happen when we go home with a full belly and a happy Christian tune running through our heads. True ministry happens when we feel the flames on our faces and carry the smell of smoke in our hair, when we know that every day may be our last.<\/p>\n

In an excellent short sermon called \u201cThe Chocolate Soldier<\/a>\u201d C. T. Studd includes this little hymn sung by many believers of our day:<\/p>\n

I must be carried to the skies
\nOn a flowery bed of ease.
\nLet others fight to win the prize,
\nOr sail through bloody seas.<\/p>\n

Mark time, Christian heroes,
\nNever go to war;
\nStop and mind the babies
\nPlaying on the floor.<\/p>\n

Wash and dress and feed them
\nForty times a week.
\nTill they\u2019re roly-poly,
\nPuddings, so to speak.<\/p>\n

Round and round the nursery
\nLet us ambulate,
\nSugar and spice and all that\u2019s nice
\nMust be on our slate.<\/p>\n

C. T. Studd goes on to say that we must be \u201cParagons of Pluck; Dare-devil Desperadoes for Jesus; Gamblers for God. Fools and Madmen\u201d and that this must be our song:<\/p>\n

Learn to scorn the praise of men,
\nLearn to lose with God;
\nJesus won the world through shame!
\nAnd beckons us His road.<\/p>\n

The idea of going into battle to \u201close with God\u201d is a shocking idea. Should not our goal be to win? No. That is what makes our battle so dangerous. We do not enter it to win, but head toward the gates of hell knowing full well that we will lose.<\/p>\n

[This post is part of a series called “To Hell with the Church<\/a>”\u00a0which will form a chapter in my forthcoming book,\u00a0Close Your Church for Good<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em>To get a free copy when it comes out,\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>.]<\/h6>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Running headlong into hell with Jesus does not mean we will escape with our lives. We may very well die in this desperate rescue mission. Following Jesus is not safe. It is full of risks, not just to our pride, power, and personal reputation, but to our very life and health!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[15],"class_list":{"0":"post-11022","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"tag-close-your-church-for-good","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nRunning Headlong into Hell<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Running headlong into hell with Jesus does not mean we will escape with our lives. 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