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Two adolescent boys in walmart and a flat tire later, we pulled into the dark campsite.  Night had come and I wasn’t looking forward to putting up our tent in the dark.  As we drove around trying to find a spot to set-up camp we saw some other campers wave to us.  We came around again and pulled over by their spot.  Ben and Andrea were the nicest people you could hope to run into.  They pulled out the map of the campsite and were more than helpful in any way they could (including offering us fire wood) possible be.  I thought to my self how wonderful it is to run into super friendly and happy people.

Maybe because their were signs posted everywhere to warn us about bears, or maybe because it was dark and we really didn’t feel like going deeper into the woods, we set up camp right next to our new friends.

The next day we experienced my favorite thing to do while camping- we did nothing.  Before we knew it, it was time to check in at the office to go on our river run.  We had rented a canoe and a kayak.

After six hours on the water we came back to our site in the best mood.  We saw our Canadian friends and started getting to know them.  We were enjoying their company a great deal.  We ended up having dinner together and then they invited someone else to our party (from Switzerland).  We were sharing stories and laughing and just having a great time.  I remember thinking to myself how well such humble and honest poeple would respond to Jesus.

I asked them about their life back home and then it came around to me.  I shared that I was a part-time handy man.  “What else do you do?” Andrea pressed. I leaned back in my chair and turned my head.  I didn’t want to tell them that I was a pastor, not because I’m ashamed of the gospel, but because I wanted to build up more of a rapport.  Ben and Andrea pressed a little more.  Finally I said it:  “I’m a pastor”.  They looked surprised- taken aback. 

What I love about these two is their authenticity.  What you see is what you get.  A lot of people say they are like that, but this couple is the real thing.  The first thing out of Andrea’s mouth was: “well I don’t believe in God, in Jesus or that I’m going to hell”.  At that I was “thrown a little” and maybe that is why I don’t remember what Ben said exactly.  I think he said something about how he was getting to know someone and they were enjoyng each others company (easy to do with Ben) and within five minutes of the conversation the man told Ben he was going to hell. 

So, here are two people I totally adore and respect- looking at me to see if I too was going to condemn them to hell.  Creepy Christians had infiltrated this camp and they weren’t even here. 

James Kirkwood in his book The God Man, tells of a Texas preacher who shares with his congregation what sounds like a similar situation.  His response to those who told him that they didn’t believe in hell was that you don’t have to believe in it to go there.  His congregation applauded.  There is some creepy stuff going on and I don’t think for a second that Jesus is behind it. 

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:17

As Ben, Andrea, my nephew and my son stared at me waiting for me to respond, I took a minute to think.  My brain was ready to go into the theology of how we all deserve hell, but I felt God’s Spirit leading me back to a previous thought I had about these two (As I mentioned above, these are the type of people Jesus would attract.)

So I replied, no I don’t think you are going to hell. I think that if you met the Jesus I know you would want to get to know Him more- you would be drawn to him.

“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”               ^{John 3:20-21}

^{Before you panic and think I’ve gone liberal, consider how Jesus treated people.  He was quick to offend the religious- not the humble.  I challenge you to search to scriptures to discover the context in which Jesus brought up hell.}

To hear more, go to www.vintage-faith.com and download the sermon entitled:  Creepy Christians Part 3