My fear of Hell

[IceMan84]

Let me start off by saying that I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and scrupulosity, which is common among people with OCD. If you don't know, scrupulosity is basically a morbid fear and obsession with the idea that God is going to punish you either in this lifetime or through eternal damnation in hell. When you have scrupulosity, no matter how strong of a Christian you feel you are, you constantly fear that He will punish you. Now I was brought up in a Southern Baptist church, which taught the idea of everlasting torment...even if you are a good person who went out of their way to help others and be kind, you were still going to suffer eternal torture in hell if you were not "saved". I always struggled with this idea and couldn't stand the thought of many of my friends, and possibly even myself, ending up in this state of eternal torture. I also couldn't understand how so many other people seemed to have no problem with the idea or concept that a loving God could do this. I was really relieved when I found out about Christian Universalism, because it was something that finally made sense to me and seemed to describe the true nature of a loving God...as well as having scripture to back it up. However, my OCD still makes it hard for me to totally let go of my fears about hell. Even though I believe that God will be just and fair, I just have this tiny doubt that maybe all these people preaching about hell, fire, and brimestone are actually correct. I find myself going to youtube and listening to these preachers talk about how horrible hell will be...I've heard it described as trillions of times worse than the Holocaust, only it never ends. Now I start to think to myself...even if there is only a tiny chance of this being true, the idea of everlasting torture seems like enough reason for me to worry about it. I start to obsess about what it will be like if I am in Hell for eternity...how will I overcome the misery? Will God come and save me or leave me to burn for eternity? When you have OCD, your mind basically becomes stuck on these types of thoughts and its hard to move on. Anyway, I know there is probably not much you can do to help me, but I just wanted to share with you what I have been going through...sometimes it makes me feel better to talk to others. Thanks for listening.

[Beloved Servant]

But now you know the truth.
Why look back?

[IceMan84]

But now you know the truth.
Why look back?

I ask myself the same question. I think when you are brought up being taught something, such as I was with eternal torment, it just makes it tough to completely free yourself from that line of thinking. I am fairly new to Christian Universalism, so I hope to strengthen my faith going forward.

[Beloved Servant]

I went through the same thing.
You are not alone.
When He was only 12 Jesus said that He must be about His Father's business.
For the rest of us — it usually takes a little longer.

[willieH]

willieH: Hi IceMan... :hithere:

But now you know the truth.
Why look back?

I ask myself the same question. I think when you are brought up being taught something, such as I was with eternal torment, it just makes it tough to completely free yourself from that line of thinking. I am fairly new to Christian Universalism, so I hope to strengthen my faith going forward.

Here's the deal IceMan... When have you EVER witnessed ANYONE with TRUE and DEEP LOVE for another, ever... ever... tormenting the one they LOVE?  This is UNTHINKABLE, and ILLOGICAL, ...Especially when considered on an ON-GOING, CONTINUOUS and NEVER ENDING, ...basis!! :mnah:

GOD has given us LOVE in this realm, that we can OBSERVE it in others and in ourselves...

PEACE is in LOVE, and PERFECT or COMPLETE LOVE -- 1 John 4:18 -- casts OUT FEAR... which is exactly why an INFANT or young child, is not FRIGHTENED at the sight or appearance of his/her mother... rather, gravitates to her anxiously!

Be engulfed of PEACE and let PEACE enter in, ...where the VIOLENT storms of FALLACY and NONSENSE that LIED to you in that Baptist church, FALSELY teaching that God shall torment His precious LOVED ones -- one of which is YOU, brother IceMan!!  YOU are HIS SON, IceMan!  :LoveH1:  He LOVES YOU...  :HeartThrob:

Just focus on HIS LOVE, bro...

...willieH  :cloud9:

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Stop feeding the fear IceMan; that's what you're doing by listening to them. Take your concordance and read and mediate on every scripture that talks about His love, His peace, His joy, ect. Think on these things, whatesover things be pure, ect. Blessings....

[willieH]

willieH: Hi dear sister R... :hithere:

:cloud9: Stop feeding the fear IceMan; that's what you're doing by listening to them. Take your concordance and read and mediate on every scripture that talks about His love, His peace, His joy, ect. Think on these things, whatesover things be pure, ect. Blessings....

:iagree: ---> :Urock: Rebecca! --->  :gangel:

...willieH  :cloud9:

[Pierac]

willieH: Hi IceMan... :hithere:

But now you know the truth.
Why look back?

I ask myself the same question. I think when you are brought up being taught something, such as I was with eternal torment, it just makes it tough to completely free yourself from that line of thinking. I am fairly new to Christian Universalism, so I hope to strengthen my faith going forward.

Here's the deal IceMan... When have you EVER witnessed ANYONE with TRUE and DEEP LOVE for another, ever... ever... tormenting the one they LOVE?  This is UNTHINKABLE, and ILLOGICAL, ...Especially when considered on an ON-GOING, CONTINUOUS and NEVER ENDING, ...basis!! :mnah:

GOD has given us LOVE in this realm, that we can OBSERVE it in others and in ourselves...

PEACE is in LOVE, and PERFECT or COMPLETE LOVE -- 1 John 4:18 -- casts OUT FEAR... which is exactly why an INFANT or young child, is not FRIGHTENED at the sight or appearance of his/her mother... rather, gravitates to her anxiously!

Be engulfed of PEACE and let PEACE enter in, ...where the VIOLENT storms of FALLACY and NONSENSE that LIED to you in that Baptist church, FALSELY teaching that God shall torment His precious LOVED ones -- one of which is YOU, brother IceMan!!  YOU are HIS SON, IceMan!  :LoveH1:  He LOVES YOU...  :HeartThrob:

Just focus on HIS LOVE, bro...

...willieH  :cloud9:

Preach it bro WillieH!

Paul

[Tim B]

Dude, I totally know what you're talking about. I have a form of OCD as well. Thankfully though I've been blessed with medicine which has severely downsized the problem. You might try it man, it helped me a lot (I basically don't have it anymore, although it does rear its ugly head occasionally)! Ask you're doctor about it or somethin'. I also totally know what it feels like to feel better after talking to people. That's absolutely what you have to do. That, and/or talk common sense into yourself. That's what I have to do sometimes. I rationalize the situation in my head until I take the truth to heart, and then my fears drop out. Of course, it's not always as easy as said, but I would definitely recommend talking to others about your fears, as much as you need to.

On a brighter note though: you don't have to worry about Hell! It doesn't exist!  :bigGrin: I'd go so far as to say this: if Hell exists then God doesn't. But that would mean, then Hell doesn't exist either anyway xD God definitely exists though, and so does Love (that is, God), and you're loved man.

[jabcat]

I also have OCD, and I relate to what you're talking about.  Not so easy to turn off...the mind conspires against us.  As I guess with most things, the battle is internal.  I do agree much can be done by thinking, rethinking with facts and helpful thoughts (as mentioned, whatsover is pure, honest, of good report, etc.)....Feel free to PM me.  God's blessing, James.

[sparrow]

IceMan... I REALLY understand where you are coming from.

Don't feed the fear.

This verse was written ESPECIALLY for you:

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

[wolverine11989]

Let me start off by saying that I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and scrupulosity, which is common among people with OCD. If you don't know, scrupulosity is basically a morbid fear and obsession with the idea that God is going to punish you either in this lifetime or through eternal damnation in hell. When you have scrupulosity, no matter how strong of a Christian you feel you are, you constantly fear that He will punish you. Now I was brought up in a Southern Baptist church, which taught the idea of everlasting torment...even if you are a good person who went out of their way to help others and be kind, you were still going to suffer eternal torture in hell if you were not "saved". I always struggled with this idea and couldn't stand the thought of many of my friends, and possibly even myself, ending up in this state of eternal torture. I also couldn't understand how so many other people seemed to have no problem with the idea or concept that a loving God could do this. I was really relieved when I found out about Christian Universalism, because it was something that finally made sense to me and seemed to describe the true nature of a loving God...as well as having scripture to back it up. However, my OCD still makes it hard for me to totally let go of my fears about hell. Even though I believe that God will be just and fair, I just have this tiny doubt that maybe all these people preaching about hell, fire, and brimestone are actually correct. I find myself going to youtube and listening to these preachers talk about how horrible hell will be...I've heard it described as trillions of times worse than the Holocaust, only it never ends. Now I start to think to myself...even if there is only a tiny chance of this being true, the idea of everlasting torture seems like enough reason for me to worry about it. I start to obsess about what it will be like if I am in Hell for eternity...how will I overcome the misery? Will God come and save me or leave me to burn for eternity? When you have OCD, your mind basically becomes stuck on these types of thoughts and its hard to move on. Anyway, I know there is probably not much you can do to help me, but I just wanted to share with you what I have been going through...sometimes it makes me feel better to talk to others. Thanks for listening.

You know i got OCD too ,the fear of hell was all consuming to me..........But it says that God does not give the spirit of fear....this is either true or God is a liar or Man is the liar by putting things in Gods word that don't belong......by believing this i let go of hell ,i laugh at it now because i know its not what preachers preach it to be ,also the lake of fire is not a literal fire ,because if it was then why does God throw death and the grave itself into it?????it has to be spiritual.......these things take common sense to figure out but at the time i was so blinded by the teachings of the church ,until there was a conflict within me that would not allow me to worship or serve a God that will send most the world to torment ,i got so angry at the teaching that i didn't care if i ended up in the "supposed" place ,it was all until i came across universal salvation through some searches with no intentions on finding UR....(I think it was God who led me to it)but at first i rejected it ,but i added things together and came to the conclusion that God is either one big lying Contradiction or He is a loving God who has been misinterpreted and promoted in the wrong light by men with bad intentions.........UR makes way more sense and fits perfectly into the bible instead of the eternal torture crap i believed at one time..................my fam still believes in hell tho.smh but i think they will come thru...

[willieH]

willieH: Hi Wolverine...  :welcome: to Tentmaker!

You know i got OCD too ,the fear of hell was all consuming to me..........But it says that God does not give the spirit of fear....this is either true or God is a liar or Man is the liar by putting things in Gods word that don't belong......by believing this i let go of hell ,i laugh at it now because i know its not what preachers preach it to be ,also the lake of fire is not a literal fire ,because if it was then why does God throw death and the grave itself into it?????it has to be spiritual.......these things take common sense to figure out but at the time i was so blinded by the teachings of the church ,until there was a conflict within me that would not allow me to worship or serve a God that will send most the world to torment ,i got so angry at the teaching that i didn't care if i ended up in the "supposed" place ,it was all until i came across universal salvation through some searches with no intentions on finding UR....(I think it was God who led me to it)but at first i rejected it ,but i added things together and came to the conclusion that God is either one big lying Contradiction or He is a loving God who has been misinterpreted and promoted in the wrong light by men with bad intentions.........UR makes way more sense and fits perfectly into the bible instead of the eternal torture crap i believed at one time..................my fam still believes in hell tho.smh but i think they will come thru...

Great post new brother!  :goodpost:

Hope you enjoy your stay here at TM... stay long and prosper !!

...willieH  :cloud9:

[preistsplace]

Let me start off by saying that I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and scrupulosity, which is common among people with OCD. If you don't know, scrupulosity is basically a morbid fear and obsession with the idea that God is going to punish you either in this lifetime or through eternal damnation in hell. When you have scrupulosity, no matter how strong of a Christian you feel you are, you constantly fear that He will punish you. Now I was brought up in a Southern Baptist church, which taught the idea of everlasting torment...even if you are a good person who went out of their way to help others and be kind, you were still going to suffer eternal torture in hell if you were not "saved". I always struggled with this idea and couldn't stand the thought of many of my friends, and possibly even myself, ending up in this state of eternal torture. I also couldn't understand how so many other people seemed to have no problem with the idea or concept that a loving God could do this. I was really relieved when I found out about Christian Universalism, because it was something that finally made sense to me and seemed to describe the true nature of a loving God...as well as having scripture to back it up. However, my OCD still makes it hard for me to totally let go of my fears about hell. Even though I believe that God will be just and fair, I just have this tiny doubt that maybe all these people preaching about hell, fire, and brimestone are actually correct. I find myself going to youtube and listening to these preachers talk about how horrible hell will be...I've heard it described as trillions of times worse than the Holocaust, only it never ends. Now I start to think to myself...even if there is only a tiny chance of this being true, the idea of everlasting torture seems like enough reason for me to worry about it. I start to obsess about what it will be like if I am in Hell for eternity...how will I overcome the misery? Will God come and save me or leave me to burn for eternity? When you have OCD, your mind basically becomes stuck on these types of thoughts and its hard to move on. Anyway, I know there is probably not much you can do to help me, but I just wanted to share with you what I have been going through...sometimes it makes me feel better to talk to others. Thanks for listening.

Hey there Iceman God loves you and all of his creation intensely he did not create mankind to torture them endlessly. I want to tell you that this has been a subject of interest for me for some time. As a young man I had decided that if God was this great monster that they had described to me in church, that I wanted nothing to do with him. But He has shown me that this teaching is the teaching of men. He even warns of them in the Bible. "wolves in sheeps clothing"Not all of them are evil, most are mislead ( the blind leading the blind and what happens ?both fall in the ditch of course!)But the doctrine of eternal punishment is Highly damaging to the human mind and spirit. Keep in mind God doesnt want us to follow him out of fear but out of love and sincerity. We have taken up the cross and began to follow the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in truth and love lets not look back . I will be praying for you brother!

[crumb]

But the doctrine of eternal punishment is Highly damaging to the human mind and spirit. Keep in mind God doesnt want us to follow him out of fear but out of love and sincerity. We have taken up the cross and began to follow the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in truth and love lets not look back .

I think this hits the nail on the head, for it does hurt the spirit. The spirit of God IN God as in is us. We became ill spirited and we assumed God to be dark spirited as well. I considered my whole life long that if God loves just any of the people around me not enough to save him/her from hell then I myself would directly go there. So one could basically say I prepared myself for hell my whole life long. This caused me to detest the Christian religion as blind and in itself illogical for a very very long time.  My spirit was hurt by the damaged picture of God's spirit that I had back then. I think one day people will realize that we are just as evil, as sad and as destructive as the things we believe in.  So therefore I actually think that not just the human spirit is hurt by it but we hurt the spirit of God by belittling his glory, his mercy, his grace and most important his love.

and Iceman:

I was really relieved when I found out about Christian Universalism, because it was something that finally made sense to me and seemed to describe the true nature of a loving God...as well as having scripture to back it up.

I think a lot of people can directly cling to this. I am sure it isn't easy to overcome this fear. One thing is important for us to remember always: we do not believe in universal salvation because we find it more pleasing than hell, we have probably more than most people considered hell as quite an option for us, even if not a preferable one. But the real reason why universal salvation is the truth is because otherwise 1st: Jesus died in vain and 2nd: God is not perfect, neither in his forgiveness, nor in his love, not in his mercy or his glory. So God would be in perfect. So when I fall back into my "I'll go to hell" phases (and one does) I rationalize my fears by facing the fact that they are based on an imperfect picture of God.

[preistsplace]

I had actually come to the point where I wanted nothing to do with God, even though I believed in him .This position is very dangerous especially when you listen to the message of traditional Christianity,which was telling me of course that this belief was putting me in the runnings to be the Devils best friend. I began to search for the truth in atheism , paganism, taoism,etc..,and worse than that when someone would try to talk to me about Christianity I would not listen I squirmed became uncomfortable. Here is the real Irony I am sure that If I were to witness to any of the people that tryed to witness the gospel to me I am sure that they would feel very uncomfortable. To find the truth you have to be willing to go against convention and risk the damnation of so called "rational" or "spiritual" men.
The feeling of Gods true love is overwhelming!!!!

[IceMan84]

Thanks for all the positive and supportive comments everyone. It has definitely made me feel better.

[sven]

Jeremiah 7:31 became somehow my favorite verse, as the Valley of Hinnom is the place supposed to have become the name for hell

And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, To burn up their sons and their daughters in the fire, - Which I commanded not, Neither came it up on my heart,

[Tim B]

To the verse just quoted above ^^^

Isn't it funny how the very thing that we can't see ourselves doing (burning our children) He can't imagine doing either? Our hearts are a lot more aligned with God's than most people think.

[Raggedy Anne]

Iceman,

I spent many years with the same obsessive/compulsive thoughts because of the toxic dogma I was fed from childhood.   The level of anxiety, depression, fear and hopelessness came close to killing me.  I never dreamed I'd be delivered from all that religious fear.  But then in 2001 I found the Tentmaker website and after reading much and listening to tapes by Gary Amirault I was delivered from all of it.  It was a miraculous deliverance.   I still battle depression because of the condition of this world and all the suffering and violence.  But I never go back to that place of fear that almost killed me.   A seed of hope was planted in me that has stayed with me since 2001.   I pray that you will be delivered from the power of fear.

Sincerely -
Anne

[jabcat]

Iceman,

I spent many years with the same obsessive/compulsive thoughts because of the toxic dogma I was fed from childhood.   The level of anxiety, depression, fear and hopelessness came close to killing me.  I never dreamed I'd be delivered from all that religious fear.  But then in 2001 I found the Tentmaker website and after reading much and listening to tapes by Gary Amirault I was delivered from all of it.  It was a miraculous deliverance.   I still battle depression because of the condition of this world and all the suffering and violence.  But I never go back to that place of fear that almost killed me.   A seed of hope was planted in me that has stayed with me since 2001.   I pray that you will be delivered from the power of fear.

Sincerely -
Anne

:angelharp:

[wolverine11989]

willieH: Hi Wolverine...  :welcome: to Tentmaker!

You know i got OCD too ,the fear of hell was all consuming to me..........But it says that God does not give the spirit of fear....this is either true or God is a liar or Man is the liar by putting things in Gods word that don't belong......by believing this i let go of hell ,i laugh at it now because i know its not what preachers preach it to be ,also the lake of fire is not a literal fire ,because if it was then why does God throw death and the grave itself into it?????it has to be spiritual.......these things take common sense to figure out but at the time i was so blinded by the teachings of the church ,until there was a conflict within me that would not allow me to worship or serve a God that will send most the world to torment ,i got so angry at the teaching that i didn't care if i ended up in the "supposed" place ,it was all until i came across universal salvation through some searches with no intentions on finding UR....(I think it was God who led me to it)but at first i rejected it ,but i added things together and came to the conclusion that God is either one big lying Contradiction or He is a loving God who has been misinterpreted and promoted in the wrong light by men with bad intentions.........UR makes way more sense and fits perfectly into the bible instead of the eternal torture crap i believed at one time..................my fam still believes in hell tho.smh but i think they will come thru...

Great post new brother!  :goodpost:

Hope you enjoy your stay here at TM... stay long and prosper !!

...willieH  :cloud9:

Thanks ,so far im liking this site...

[wolverine11989]

Iceman,

I spent many years with the same obsessive/compulsive thoughts because of the toxic dogma I was fed from childhood.   The level of anxiety, depression, fear and hopelessness came close to killing me.  I never dreamed I'd be delivered from all that religious fear.  But then in 2001 I found the Tentmaker website and after reading much and listening to tapes by Gary Amirault I was delivered from all of it.  It was a miraculous deliverance.   I still battle depression because of the condition of this world and all the suffering and violence.  But I never go back to that place of fear that almost killed me.   A seed of hope was planted in me that has stayed with me since 2001.   I pray that you will be delivered from the power of fear.

Sincerely -
Anne

Same ,but i was afraid to live or just suicide ,i kinda hoped a car would just hit me out of nowhere but it didn't happen ,i didn't think there was any hope ,i thought the traditional things i was taught about christianity was THE TRUTH ,glad i found something way better.....it took a 2 ton weight off me...lol