Little known fear we all need to get tools to deal with

I wrote this for my pastor to consider for a sermon starting a series on hell.   I feel privileged to have this information  Two years ago, while watching one of my favorite shows, I encountered the term.  I  can't believe Christians don't know about this!  Well, you do now.  Hope it makes sense.  There is one swear word in context when reading it, you will know why it is in there.

I'm going to ask a question - but before I do, I want those who really know what I'm about to say keep quiet.  Do you have Stygiophobia?

Come on, admit it ... most of us are loaded with Stygiophobia.  You might say, Pastor , I don't even know what the hell that is, how could I have it?  Well, Stygiophobia is the fear of hell.  People try to say hell doesn't exist because they have Stygiophobia.  Or worse, they try to say God doesn't exist because they Ihave Stygiophobia.

Stygiophobia is a serious disease - worse than any physical disease.  There is only one remedy.  Trust.  Trust in Jesus.  I have to admit that myself and many pastors have actually perpetuated Stygiophobia.  We say to someone new to the faith...Accept Jesus - before it is too late!  Shouldn't God decide when it is too late?  We also hear about making a choice between being politically correct and following Jesus.  Jesus is correct - not just politically, but psychologically,  physically, and most definitely spiritually.  We have fear because it is said that our children are born in sin.  Pastor, do you really think my 5 year old is going to hell because she is born in sin?  What about my gay/bisexual friend?  Please say hell isn't real!  Sorry, its real.  But don't you think God should take the census?

Turn to Isaiah 14 in your bibles.  Note about the fall of Lucifer.  He was sent to hell to prepare a place for the wicked.  Jesus is preparing a place for people too.  Not just for people who appear to be Christian, but for people who really love him.    We should accept Jesus not because we fear hell, but because we LOVE him.  Note what he did - especially the death and suffering.  We need to realize that without Jesus, WE ARE SCREWED.  We are a wicked people.  We all deserve hell.  However, Jesus came, and he is there to cure the rampant cases of Stygiophobia out there.  Come to him, admit your brokenness.  This is not an ultimatum.  Stop taking yourself to hell everyday here on earth because you insist on taking the census.  Jesus is here to reduce the population in hell.  Right now, it just might be population one.  That one is Satan, he has been deceiving us from the beginning.  By accepting that you have flaws and brokenness and then taking them to Jesus, you are saying to Satan,, I will be deceived no more!  No more.  I will not be taunted by you, I am sorry you are so lonely, but I will not be taunted by you.  Cry to Jesus and understand that we live in a fallen world.  We should not worry about other people's behavior, just try to emulate Jesus in our own.  

Consider Jesus on the cross.  We don't have any pictures of Jesus in here because we want people to develop their own sense of Jesus.  Think now and get a picture in your mind.  Is he a mess?  Yes!  He's covered in blood, practically from head to foot, and his face is dripping with tears.  He did that for you and for everyone in this room because HE LOVES US SO MUCH.  He is by no means saying...believe in me, or you will go to hell.  He is saying, I LOVE YOU! Just look at me!  

People who have issues with their sexual identity are no different than the rest of us.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  Thanks to the devil, some of them have the worst case of stygiophobia you can imagine.  How dare people take one sin out of the Bible and magnify it?  Jesus said, before you take the speck out of your brother’s eye, take the log out of your own eye!  

Jesus said that if any man harbors  hatred for his brother, he is  committing  murder in his  heart.  Jesus knows our hearts, and most of us, at one time or another,  have been murderers.  If you think of your sin in that context, JESUS’ context, you know how guilty we all are!  But instead of emphasizing that guilt any further, Emphasize Jesus’ love.  Look at all the tears and the blood.  Why wouldn’t you love someone who would go to those lengths for you.  Again, this is not an ultimatum.  Jesus is not about that.  But stop taking the census for hell.