Condemned to Hell?

 

CONDEMNED TO HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY?

My thoughts this morning (on Tuesday, January 6, 2024) . . .

Some “religious people” claim that if a person does not “accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior” (and then completely conform their lives to this or that particular, and frankly “man-made,” way of following the Gospel), then he or she is destined for eternal damnation (i.e., after death, that person will suffer the torments of the everlasting fires of hell).

In response to such thinking, I may be at risk of being called a “heretic,” but I prefer to believe in a God who so loves each and every one of his children, that he does so without conditions and/or exceptions.  No human “dogma” can ever overrule the infinite and compassionate love of a God who loves us more than anyone of us (especially the dogmatists) can ever possibly imagine!

Can any one of us really know the actual and possibly conflicted minds, hearts and personal struggles, and even the “faith” of others, especially those who are otherwise and often quickly labeled as “sinners?”  Can just anyone simply identify him/herself as “saved,” and then claim the right to be the arbiter of God’s boundless love?

I can’t . . .

As a person of faith in a merciful, forgiving, and ever-loving God, it’s clear to me that the concept of “hell” is all too often simply used as an instrument to frighten people into conformity with the whims and biases of those “in power” (and who “at the moment” happen to “control” the religious narratives of the day).

It’s also apparent to me that this type of pharisaical approach to exercising “religious authority” is unfortunately and somehow present, to some degree or another, within the minds of a number of “fanatical” adherents to many and various Christian denominations, “religious systems,” faith expressions, and spiritual traditions throughout the world, and this seems to be the case “from time immemorial.”  And I believe as such it’s a scourge on the human quest to know and serve God and God’s people.

Sorry Pharisees of all stripes, I believe the idea of “hell” to which you ascribe is quite an empty concept (if, as you explain and use it, your teaching is wielded to threaten those of us you label as “unsaved sinners,” and/or if in fact the infernal region is “a place” at all).

Amen!

Praise God!

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Some additional thoughts after feedback from others . . .

I don’t doubt the words of Jesus, the teachings of the Church, and I certainly believe in the authority of the Scriptures.  I also believe that OUR human understandings of these things are in constant need of refinement and clarity. This I think is our path to authentic obedience to such things.  

Unfortunately, the words of Jesus, the teachings of the Church, and even the Holy Scriptures themselves are often weaponized (by some "Christians" who in fact are very uncharitable) against the poor, the marginalized, and those who are “different.” It seems to me the “Pharisees” are sometimes quick to do so in order to justify their hatred towards such people, and as such they then distort concepts of true faith, genuine hope and unconditional love (a love empowered by God and that never ends!). 

I couldn’t agree with those who have reminded me of their faith in a a Jesus who promises to be “the Way the Truth, and the Life.”  But the arguments against what I have shared above have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the sentiments I originally expressed.

My “personal relationship” with Jesus is extremely important to me as a Christian man of faith. It guides my life, and the daily decisions I make about how to authentically remain faithful to my God!

My friends, please don’t jump to conclusions about the thoughts I shared above. My perception is that some have completely missed the point I tried to make. Perhaps they might want to read more carefully what I wrote!

My whole point is about how I think some “religious people” are so preoccupied with judging others in this life that they are very quick, and don’t hesitate, to pass the “sentence of hell” on them for the next.

I believe I cannot do that because only God knows the hearts and minds of the people around me. “Judge not, lest you be judged” comes to my mind.

Matthew 7:1-3
“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?”

It seems to me far too many “Christians” think they can exempt themselves from this admonition of Jesus (and only because they now identify themselves as “saved”). I believe such people are in reality the “modern day Pharisees,” and so I for my part will do everything possible in my own faith life to stay as far away from such “pharisaical thinking.”

GOD IS LOVE! ❤️

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There are but three things that remain: 

faith, hope and love. 

And the greatest of these is love.

1st Corinthians 13:13 

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On January 14, 2024, in an interview on Italian television, Pope Francis was asked to comment on the idea of hell, and if he believes God will forgives all those who have sinned.  Said the Pope: “It’s difficult to imagine [hell]. What I would say is not a dogma of faith, but my personal thought: I like to think hell is empty; I hope it is.”

**I love Pope Francis! 

A Young Man Greatly Loved By All, and Gone Too Soon: . . . . . . . – My Friend +Nicholas Roger Hickman (d. 01/25/24)

 

+Nicholas Roger Hickman (12/03/96-01/25/24)

This heart wrenching photo is of a young man whose name was +Nicholas Roger Hickman. He recently died very suddenly, and under tragic circumstances (at the age of 27). 

 

I met +Nick in May of 2020 when I was the Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, Overlea, Baltimore, Maryland.  He came to our door looking for help and guidance.  At the time, it was at the height of the COVID-19 lock-down.  It didn't take long for me and the other friars of our friary to "take him under our wings."  I believe we all did so with great compassion, affection, and care!

The image of +Nick above now rips apart my heart. His sudden passing early in the morning of Thursday, January 25, 2024 caused tremendous grief and sadness for all those who knew and who had great affection for him, including me! To be sure, +Nick left behind many, many people who loved him dearly! 

By chance (and for reasons that are only clearer to me now in my grief), some time ago I snapped a screenshot of +Nick late one night while we were video chatting.  That night, he was struggling with many of (I'm sad to report) his usual demons, and as he shed lots of tears, he once again poured out his heart to me.

+Nick was full of anguish and pain for many reasons (many of which those who knew him were well aware).  I believe this is why he so often turned to fleeting pleasures to ease his inner pain.

+Nick so enthusiastically showered others in so many ways with his incredibly loving heart and spirit. And I, and countless others, received that love in wonderful and lasting ways.  

Sadly, it seems +Nick was never able to turn that love inward towards himself, and that led him to make some choices that were simply very destructive and hurtful to himself and to the very people he loved the most (and I’d like to include myself in that—I was a true recipient of his great ability to love others, a love he so energetically and unconditionally gave to everyone!). 

 

Now that he’s gone, I think those who loved +Nick might find some comfort in the reality that he’s no longer in pain, no longer shedding tears, no longer hurting himself and those of us who loved him so very much.  

For our peace of mind, we need to let go, forgive him of any failings, and entrust him to God, who now and forever will hold +Nick tight in his everlasting, peaceful, and loving embrace.  That's now how we must, and the only way we can, continue in our great love for +Nick.

Let us be at peace, and worry not about this or that, the "what ifs," the "should have dones," and/or for that matter, ever doubt how much he loved us. 

We know +Nick often used the expression "I love you with all my heart!"  

And now, although our hearts are broken and filled with grief, we can take comfort in knowing that +Nick’s love for us will forever be eternal, pure, and without end!  

I take comfort, and find some consolation in this.  

Rest in peace my dear friend!

You will be terribly missed for sure.  💔

With unceasing love for you +Nick!

Adios Amigo!

Your faithful friend, and as you would often say, "'dawgs' to infinity and back!"

Much love, Timothy

 

I Dedicate the Words to this Song to +Nick:

I Still Can See Your Face

By Barbra Streisand--with words slightly adapted

At least one moment everyday
I hear the echo of your voice
And though it's only in my mind
It stays with me, I have no choice

I reach for you as if you're here
Your tender touch, your warm embrace
And though my heart is filled with grief
I still can see your face

We're all just prisoners of time
The days go rushing by
With memories we've locked away
There may not been much I regret
But there were things we couldn't say

Maybe the ending came too soon
You are the one I can't replace
And though my heart is filled with grief
I still can see your face

Somehow we knew another love would find us
We'd carry on, leave yesterday behind us
Sometimes I find, the quiet nights
I close my eyes and realize
I've never loved you more

And if by chance we meet again
A sudden crazy twist of fate
A place where we have never been
And with the hour getting late
You run into to my arms and heart
Like all the grief has been erased

In every shadow of my thoughts
I still can see your face

In every shadow of my thoughts
I still can see your face
I still can see your face
I still can see your face

[Words changed above:  "And though it's been so many years" changed to "And though my heart is filled with grief;" "I've never loved too far" changed to "I've never loved you more;" "A street where we have never been" changed to "A place where we have never been," "In every shadow of the past" changed to "In every shadow of my thoughts."]

Find this song on YouTube at the following in link: I Still Can See Your Face

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w3cDrVainI

 

** The photos above were taken: (1) during a video chat in Baltimore, Maryland on October 27, 2022; (2, 3, and 4) on November 6, 2022 at High Rock Overlook, Smithburg, Maryland; (5) on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023 on White Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, (6) on May 12, 2021 in the front parlor of St. Michael the Archangel Rectory, Overlea, Baltimore, Maryland, and (7) with Jesus now!  And (8) the funeral memorial card.

The Tree

 

THE TREE

This morning, I made my usual ministry call at St. Joseph's Nursing Home, Catonsville, Maryland. 

After Mass and my visits to room-bound residents, and as I departed the home and I made my way to my car, once again I was awestruck by the magnificence and beauty of the very huge, ancient, and winter-barren tree in front of the building.  Today for some reason, the tree's form and stature spoke loudly to my thoughts!

Imagine how much life that seemingly “dead” tree has in fact already sustained, and will no doubt continue to generate! 

As I gazed upward into the majestic stretches of the tree's many branches, my thoughts took me to an encounter I had with one of the residents just a short while earlier. 

As I made the rounds accompanied by the ever faithful Sister Theresa, we visited and prayed with a beautiful resident named Shirley, a very elderly woman and the mother of a beloved son named +Barry who passed-away just yesterday after a long struggle with a difficult illness.  Today, Shirley is stricken with tremendous grief, and although she and her family are Jewish and Sister and I Christians, we held hands and prayed together for +Barry's soul and for his family and friends who are filled with sorrow. It was a powerful moment, and I believe Shirley found at least some consolation through our prayers, and by the conversation we had during which she shared her heartache and pain.  

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the fragility of human life. In very recent times, I too have experienced pain, grief, and loss caused by the deaths of family and friends I have greatly loved.  From so many perspectives, my encounter with Shirley this morning certainly amplified my thoughts about these realities! 

I'm thinking . . . 

Some who've gone before us had lives cut way too short, others thankfully had quite long lives filled with many blessings! 

Nonetheless, our grief and heartache at the deaths of our loved ones, no matter the amount of years they spent on this earth, or whatever faith perspectives they had, or we might have, likely causes contemplation about the brevity of our own mortal lives (this at least as we consider hoped for “eternal realities”).

The stark truth is that no one can escape death, and the eventual end to our present lives. And this reality almost always causes sorrow, grief and heartache for those left behind.

Truth also is we have only 'today.'  Let's be grateful for every breath we take, and in this moment and every day, let's cherish our family members, friends, and loved-ones with whom we have been, and are now blessed to share the journey.  

It is a fact that the tree, although seemingly dead, actually is promised resurrection and new life!  Our faith in a loving, eternal God somehow points in that same direction!  For the tree, and for now, life has simply changed, not ended.  Its yearning for springtime is clearly evident and filled with joyful hope as its branches reach to the skies! 

My friends, may that fervent desire be ours as well! 

– Please pray for the consolation and peace of Shirley, and for the peaceful repose of her very beloved son +Barry.  And of course, may we never forget, and always cherish, the memories we hold within our hearts of our own family members, friends and loved ones who have passed from this life to the next! 

Praise God!