What's the scariest verse in the Bible?

We all have that 'thing' that scares us most.

Spiders. Wasps. Clowns. Heights. The dark. Middle school.

But the scariest things are those we DON'T see coming. (Spiders make that list too!) You can't fear what you don't know or recognize... and to me, that makes the fear all the more visceral.

Which leads me to my question: What's the scariest verse in the Bible.

I'm sure that answer really depends on how you define scary. If you're an atheist, none of it should scare you, but for some reason, much of the Bible sure seems to. But, that's the topic of a different blog. :)

Does God's wrath scare you? It should, but you are already aware of it, so that awareness, to me, automatically pushes it down. Not because it isn't frightening, but because you know it exists.

Does Hell scare you? Well, if an eternity in a burning lake of fire never to be quenched doesn't scare you, then you're an atheist. So, the verses regarding Hell, while scary, again, blatantly warn us of the danger, so it brings awareness to the forefront.

What about being stoned to death (not the Colorado way) for adultery or disobeying your parents? We live in a culture where that law doesn't really apply anymore but those are easy to avoid. So, the fear factor there really lies in the fact of punishment. Don't do something wrong, and you'll avoid it.

Let's be a bit more abstract...

What about defining sin? Sin is scary...so that places James 4:17 high on the list: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."

Uh oh. So, not only do we have to worry about our sinful actions, but our sinful NON-actions too? Oh geez. That's pretty dang scary. The 'don't-do-it' sins are tough enough to avoid sometimes, although pretty straightforward. But, the 'I-should-have-but-didn't' sins? That is certainly up there in terms of scare-quotient.

What about how to get into Heaven? Missing out on that is pretty scary. John 14:6 says (Jesus speaking), "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man gets to the father but through me." So... this verse says the ONLY way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. That is pretty dang scary (and polarizing if you want to think we all worship the same God and there are many roads to Heaven.)

But to me... the height of fear is being mislead into something, thinking you were right all along.

So, to me, the scariest verse (and passage) in all God's Word is Matthew 7:21-27.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-- and great was its fall."

Imagine being in math class, having a teacher who's engaging and fun. They sound smart and wise. You go into your final exam brimming with confidence because this teacher you relied on has taught you what you need to know... and know it you do!

To the tune of a 55 on your final exam and you fail the class. You know enough just to be dangerous but are really clueless.

Wait? What?! Not only did your teacher not write the final exam (administered by a third party), but he stands by his teaching. He taught you 2+2=4. But he also taught you a+b=z. And he somehow blames the test for being wrong... not him!

How would you know? He taught you so much other right stuff, or stuff that sounded right, why would you doubt him? I mean, good grief... he's a teacher for God's sake!

Now the question becomes does he really believe the lies he's been teaching or is he taking it upon himself to determine what SHOULD be the answer, according to him?

The veil here is pretty obvious. But the scariest thing I can imagine is thinking you are right but being so very wrong when it concerns your soul.

I know many who disagree with my views on things will contend that maybe I'M the one who's wrong. The only answer I have for that is I've educated myself enough to know the difference in what is real vs rationalized. Matthew 7:15 warns us to beware false teachers. The only way to know they are false is to know enough truth so when they touch upon it in their teaching, you'll recognize and be able to separate God's truth from their distortion.

1 Timothy 4 deals with this as well.

I'm in no way declaring I know it all. I am no way declaring I don't have my own sin and issues I deal with. I am  wholeheartedly declaring I DO and that it's a constant struggle for me. But, I do know enough to know not to rationalize my sin. I recognize it for what it is.

What breaks my heart is seeing many Christians seduced and buying into things that 'sound' Biblical but aren't. They post articles by slick heretics who (again) are either misguided or purposeful in their deception. When you come across someone and you like what they are saying, do a bit of research on them. Maybe not everything they say is a perversion of truth, but I sure won't be quoting or linking to things written by people I know are not Biblical. Because if I endorse one thing they say, I've essentially endorsed THEM... and that's not going to happen.

They may have a nice quote here and there to use. But, people... PLEASE beware and guard yourself!

Below are three popular people I believe to be heretics... people who preach a false (or nonexistent) gospel. This is in no way a complete list. It's just the three most common I've seen linked to or quoted that I know who have twisted the truth...

John Pavlovitz - WAY too many Christians have linked to this guy. Look at what he espouses. He's a tricky one but his views on the church and fallibility of the Bible are very concerning.

Rob Bell - Spreads the message that we can get into Heaven even if we go to hell. There's more to the guy than this, but this is enough for me to label him severely misguided.

Joel Osteen - The definition of feel-good religion. There is NO gospel in his message. Just spiritual 'enlightenment' mixed with a few references to God.

http://www.religiouslyincorrect.com/Articles/FalseProphets1.shtml

There's so much more I could talk about. But maybe that will become part of a larger discussion. Maybe not.

But if you sincerely call yourself a born-again Christian, please be careful on who you listen to and what you follow. And if for some reason you think I'm dangerous for the stuff I spout, feel free not to listen to me.

I doubt you'll get that same acknowledgment from the others...