Și cum trebuie să mă despart de prieteni,
De frați, surori plângând;
Sufletul meu în las mâna cea mare a lui Dumnezeu,
Până la Împărăția Ta, dormind.
2Corinteni 13:5 Cercetati-va pe voi insiva daca sunteti in credinta; incercati-va pe voi insiva. Sau nu va cunoasteti voi singuri bine ca Hristos Iisus este intru voi? Afara numai daca nu sunteti netrebnici.
Genesa (Facerea) 3
1. Şarpele era mai şiret decât toate fiarele câmpului pe care le făcuse Yehowah Dumnezeu. El a zis femeii: "Oare a zis Dumnezeu cu adevărat: "Să nu mâncaţi din toţi pomii din grădină"?"
2. Femeia a răspuns şarpelui: "Putem să mâncăm din rodul tuturor pomilor din grădină.
3. Dar despre rodul pomului din mijlocul grădinii, Dumnezeu a zis: "Să nu mâncaţi din el şi nici să nu vă atingeţi de el, ca să nu muriţi."
4. Atunci şarpele a zis femeii: "Hotărât, că nu veţi muri,
5. dar Dumnezeu ştie că, în ziua când veţi mânca din el, vi se vor deschide ochii şi veţi fi ca Dumnezeu, cunoscând binele şi răul."
- Mulţi oameni nu înţeleg ce este moartea, de aceea controversa lansată de Diavol în minunata grădină a Edenului (Plăcerii), nu s-a stins, ci contiună şi azi. Unii consideră moartea ca pe o usă spre o altă viaţă şi nu ca pe o uşă care închide viaţa, învierea fiind de fapt în opinia mea acea uşă care deschide din nou dreptul la viaţă. Dar oare care opinie este adevărată?
De aceea, pe mulţi oameni îi pasionează să ştie, dacă există viaţă după ce mor - în sensul că oare poţi trăi şi fără înviere, după ce mori...?
Unii sunt ferm convinşi că nu există viaţă fără înviere (în sens total, nici pentru trup, nici pentru suflet), alţii cred că există viaţă doar pentru suflet şi astfel pentru ei învierea trupului nici nu mai este necesară, iar alţii cred că se pot duce în cer şi fără înviere şi cred că învierea este doar întregirea fiinţei care s-a dus în cer, cu trupul care a rămas pe pământ... Alţii nu ştiu ce să creadă şi sunt frământaţi în această privinţă, pe cine să creadă, ce părere să preia, căci fiecare parte vine cu explicaţii.
Ce este de făcut atunci când sunt mai multe păreri din care trebuie să alegi şi nu eşti sigur pe care să o crezi?
Vedem un bun exemplu la Iov.
Şi el a fost frâmântat de ce un om drept trebuie să sufere pe nedrept şi nu găsea o explicaţie plauzibilă lui. În cele din urmă îşi recunoaşte neputinţa şi admite că trebuie să se căiască de nişte afirmaţii făcute (Iov 42:6) şi îl roagă pe Dumnezeu să îl înveţe:
1. Iov a răspuns lui Yehowah şi a zis:
2. "Ştiu că Tu poţi totul şi că nimic nu poate sta împotriva gândurilor Tale." -
3. "Cine este acela care are nebunia să-Mi întunece
planurile?" - "Da, am vorbit, fără să le înţeleg, de minuni, care sunt
mai presus de mine şi pe care nu le pricep." -
4. "Ascultă-Mă şi voi vorbi; te voi întreba, şi Mă vei învăţa." -
5. "Urechea mea auzise vorbindu-se de Tine; dar acum ochiul meu Te-a văzut.
6. De aceea mi-e scârbă de mine şi mă pocăiesc în ţărână şi cenuşă."
The Apostles Creed | The Nicene Creed |
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. |
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen. |
Hell and Mr. Fudge
- A little story about a big lie.
Short Movie Info
A young preacher (Mackenzie Astin) comes under attack from other members of his denomination when he dedicates a year of his life to prove whether or not hell really exists. This is a little story about a big lie.
Release Date (Streaming):
May 22, 2012, in *DVD 2014
Runtime:
1h 37m
Synopsis
Based on a true story, “Hell and Mr. Fudge” is the heartwarming story of a young Bible-belt preacher who is hired to research the subject of Hell, and as he immerses himself his life takes a spin. He finds himself on the outs with church and family, and facing opposition from a long-time foe. As his research takes him deeper, he questions whether God would punish a young friend in the fires of hell for “just wanting to see the world.” While some of his core beliefs about God and judgment are shaken, Edward Fudge emerges as a defender of faith and Scripture and a champion for God’s love.
Dove Review
This movie, based on a true story, is about grace but it is not without controversy regarding Hell. Primarily, the question that Edward Fudge intends to answer is: “Is Hell an eternal punishment or do evil doers simply perish?” Many fundamentalist Christians will not agree with Mr. Fudge’s conclusion.
Mackenzie Astin turns in a fine performance as the compassionate preacher who focuses on God’s grace for everyone. Soon he is searching the scriptures to determine whether the soul is immortal or not. He concludes that those who go to hell will finally perish and not exist in conscious eternal suffering. However, this idea of the soul being immortal for believers, but not for the unbeliever is not accepted by most churches past or present.
There are some nice qualities, including the emphasis on grace for “whosoever will”, and the viewer is left with some evidence and the expectation that they will make up their own mind on the topic of eternal suffering for non-believers. We award this interesting yet controversial film our Dove “Faith Friendly” Seal for ages 12 and over.
Information from the webpage
http://www.hellandmrfudge.org/
An eccentric stranger hires Edward Fudge for
a bizarre project: He wants Fudge to investigate Hell.
Edward Fudge is a small-town Bible-belt preacher. Son of a respected church
leader known for his conservative religious views, Edward is confident that
whatever the Bible really teaches is right. He dedicates a year of his life to
a systematic study of Hell – and his life will never be the same.
As Fudge immerses himself in research, other aspects of his life begin to
crumble. Leaders of his own denomination attack him for suggesting that members
of other churches can be saved.
His own congregation – people he loves and serves – fires him after he invites
a black man to pray from the podium. The publishing company he has worked for
since childhood terminates his employment because he refuses to recant his
liberal positions.
He becomes so committed to his research that his relationship with his wife and
children begins to suffer. And, most importantly, in the course of his
investigation some of his core beliefs about God and judgment and eternity are
shaken from their foundations. Ultimately, Fudge emerges as a defender of faith
and Scripture, and a champion for God's love.
Today Edward Fudge is remembered as a well-respected author, lecturer, and
theologian. The book that resulted from his research, The Fire That Consumes, is
a compelling study on the subject of Hell and eternal torment. It stands as a
testimony to a man who had the courage to search for truth and to share what he
found no matter what the cost.
Viewer Comments
"A movie that every individual on planet earth needs to see!" B.O., TX
"For Edward, the driving question is "What is God's character? This movie sounds this theme over and over. Great production!" B.F., TX
"What an incredible movie! I loved the style; the way the movie showed his struggle in a personal dialogue with the 'documentor.' Absolutely wonderful... It inspires me to dig deeper in the Bible and to stand firm for my views. I think it would be a great inspiration to the church, especially teenagers and college students." S.B., IL
"Fantastic - humor mixed with truth plus excellent acting!" K.M., CA
"God's grace came out Loud and Clear! The subject or 'Hell' faded in the light of God's Grace. Most powerful!" T.A., CA
"I was raised in the — church, and even as a child I couldn’t understand how a God of love could torment people for eternity. You’ve confirmed my childhood beliefs and I can hardly wait for my friends and family to see this!" CA
"We loved the film. It is funny, maddening, innocently romantic, spiritually inspiring, and God-honoring. It tells how a young preacher chose to follow the truth of Scripture wherever it led him; and, how -- though he was repeatedly 'wounded in the house of his friends'-- he came through it all without being consumed by bitterness, or forsaking his call to proclaim God's Word... Edward's scholarship is impeccable, and his character Christlike." Tom Warner, ID
Hell and Mr. Fudge is a brilliant little film, smartly directed, that tackles an issue facing every person of faith. I can't think of a topic that has more at stake. Hell and Mr. Fudge brings you into the eye of the storm. The writing is evocative. The acting is first rate and the impact is profound." Martin Doblmeier, President, Journey Films
“Hell and Mr. Fudge tells us something, and in a compelling way, about both hell and Edward Fudge. But it also vividly depicts the dark fire of stubborn self-righteousness in the face of even good news, as well as the bright strength of loyal friends and family." John Stackhouse, Professor of Theology, Regent College
"Hell and Mr. Fudge is a riveting piece of cinema.” Christian Film Guide
"Itʼs a heart-warming tale about standing up for your beliefs in the face of ardent opposition...” 303 Magazine
"Hell and Mr. Fudge debunks a common biblical misconception in a way that entertains while it enlightens – a novel way to reach minds and, more important, hearts.”