newprotest.org: UNFORGIVABLE SIN

UNFORGIVABLE SIN

April 20, 2007
by: jovial_cynic
A recent article on boingboing referenced a site called Blasphemy Challenge. That site encourages people to get on youtube and video themselves denying the Holy Spirit, just for fun.

Why? Because, according to Mark 3:29 in the Holy Bible, "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." Jesus will forgive you for just about anything, but he won't forgive you for denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. Ever. This is a one-way road you're taking here.

How amusing. I'm sure there will be a lot of religious mothers warning their children not to do it, for fear that their children will be forever damned.

So what does it mean, anyway? Can a person hop on youtube and record themselves denying the Holy Spirit and secure themselves a seat in the pits of hell? Is it that easy? What does it mean to "deny the Holy Spirit?"

I'll frame it this way: a true believer, filled by the Holy Spirit, is called, drawn, and ultimately dragged into relationship with God. In that sense, relationship doesn't happen because a person wants to be close to God, but because God desires to be close to that person. And in this, God will not be denied. Those who are chosen will see the work of the Holy Spirit, and will be thrilled to see God doing stuff. Those who are not chosen will fail to see the Holy Spirit, and will by default be in denial of the Holy Spirit's work. They are forced into denial, because without the call of God, they simply can't believe. The scriptures are clear on this -- you can't accidentally stumble upon a relationship with God. God is the initiator of that relationship.

So... no. Saying "I deny the Holy Spirit" will not damn you to hell. That has nothing to do with what Jesus was saying in that passage.
np category: religion
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