"Friends Don't Let Friends Go To Hell", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

If there is one major disturbing factor in the "post modern Church era" (whatever that really means), it's the casual indifference to the truth of God.

It's as if the "fire insurance" has been paid, so people feel they can breathe easier.

Unfortunately that's not the way God has set it up.

God has intended that we care for each other during our time on this planet.

It makes perfect sense.

Contemplate this for a moment:

WE are "The Body of Christ". That is what the Church is. The Body of Christ. Literally.

We are the hands, eyes, feet, voice, of Jesus Christ.

Since He physically sits in His present (resurrected) physical body at the right hand of God, then He is not making regular commutes from the Throne to Earth.

He is spiritually present through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in each living stone (us) which is placed in the foundation of the Church.

Following me so far?

Jesus has endowed us with power through the Holy Spirit and the use of His Name. Think of it as us having power of attorney through His name to conduct His business here on earth. He has told us we can (in fact should) evangelize and heal people, cast out demons, etc., all through His mighty name.

So, it is without question, from both the OT and the NT, that we have an accountability and a responsibility to carry on the work of God here on earth.

The most chilling moment I ever had was when I first found this out early in my Christian experience.


Ezekiel 3:18 - "If I say to the wicked, You shall surely die, and you do not give him warning or speak to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked way, to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at your hand."

(20) "Again, if a righteous man turns from his righteousness (right doing and right standing with God) and some gift or providence which I lay before him he perverts into an occasion to sin and he commits iniquity, he shall die; because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood will I require at your hand."

Wow. Or "Yikes" might be a better term.

I really am my brothers keeper.

See, that's where Cain went wrong. He never thought he was (Am I my brother's keeper?).

He was out for himself, and it is obvious that there is no room in Kingdom living for such a person.

Cain was banished for his murderous action, but I think it was more of his callous indifference to humanity that was what God saw in his heart.

Word of advice: it's often not what we do that is the threat against our right standing with God, but what we fail to do.

God doesn't like it when people drive themselves up to the gates of hell. He doesn't like it for numerous reasons, but one reason is that He realizes they had help getting there.

What's going on around you today? How many people do you know are short circuited in their faith? How many do you know that you used to see in Church on Sunday and you are wondering about where they went? How's your neighbor? Your co-worker? Your own spouse?

Well, God understands that we all have our own free will, so for every scary charge in those two previous verses, there is a coexisting verse that is converse to it. In other words, when we have done what is required and they still choose against God, it is not held against us if we have warned them.

Simply put, tell someone about Jesus. Let them know that God requires us to acknowledge and accept what Jesus has done for us.

Friends don't let friends go to hell.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><