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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Brian Jones is a successful Christian Church Minister who for years struggled with the idea of Hell. In fact, due to his aversion to coming across as holier-than-thou and reluctance to scare people into heaven – along with a heavy dose of liberal teaching in seminary – he stopped believing in and preaching the reality of Heaven’s counterpart. The really disturbing aspect of Mr. Jones’ dilemma is that it has become so common among certain segments of society today. The cure? As with so many other issues – scripture. Which is what finally convinced Mr. Jones of the reality of Hell and inspired him to write, Hell Is Real (But I hate to admit it).1
Some today hold the Bible’s teaching on Hell as inaccurate at best, hateful at worst. Others, who do believe in Hell, stop preaching about it because they allow non-believers to dictate the conversation; buying into the idea that the topic is intolerant and bigoted. Asking: ‘What kind of God would send anyone to hell?’; they forget, or ignore Paul’s warning to, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16 Besides which, if we can discount one principle clearly taught in scripture because it makes us uncomfortable – and it is clearly taught – why not discount other uncomfortable doctrine as well? Which ultimately leads to a questioning of faith in its entirety. (And if our insistence on accepting the whole Bible as God’s word brings us ridicule – so be it! In fact, scripture assures us that will happen and encourages us to consider ourselves blessed when it does. (See Matthew 5:11; John 15:18; 1 Peter 4:14)
Scripture further teaches us to, “…keep hold of the deep teachings of the faith with a clear conscience.” 1 Timothy 3:9; and hell is one of those “deep truths” taught throughout scripture. The book of Matthew alone recording twelve separate times where Jesus taught about judgment and eternal punishment – if not using the word Hell specifically; summarized in Matthew 13:49,50 “This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (See also Matthew 5:22; 7:13 & 23; 8:12; 13:42 & 50; 18:8,9; 22:13; 24:51;25:30 & 46)
Taken seriously, and applied lovingly – which they can be – these teachings highlight Richard Niebuhr’s insistence that, “…great Christian revolutions come not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when somebody takes radically something that was already there.”2 (A graphic example being Luther’s “discovery” of salvation by grace.)
There is no hint in Jesus’ reference to Hell of reluctance or apology. The thrust of the message being that it is a reality, so get out there and tell people how to avoid it. Paul summarizing what the rest of the New Testament teaches. “…the Lord Jesus (will be) revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord…” 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8 Lending urgency to our commission to, “go… teach… baptize…” in Matthew 28:19,20
Some still ask: ‘How can I appear compassionate when preaching on the certainty of hell?’ The real question being: ‘How can I not be willing to explain the whole risk of not accepting Christ when preaching salvation?’ After all, we are preaching salvation from something to someone, aren’t we? (Not just to be a better, more fulfilled person.) If it’s not true that God judges unbelievers, making it, “…a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31; where’s the urgency to our ministry? And if this isn’t an issue of ultimate importance, why did Christ die a substitutionary death for us? John 3:16 reiterating the fact of Jesus’ love in saving us from Hell; teaching all aspects of that truth being a loving act as well one of adherence to God’s word.
Elton Trueblood asserts that, “Most people are reached one by one, as each is made to see the inadequacy of his own life and the glory that might come in his life if he were really to give himself fully to the cause of Christ. But we must never suggest that such discipleship is easy or mild. Everyone who enters, says Jesus, enters violently or not at all. (Matthew 11:12) There is no easy Christianity; there is no mild Christianity. It is violent or nothing at all.3 (Which is not to excuse violent behavior on our part, but to suggest that being a genuine Christian entails difficult choices and a resolve to stand firm in the faith regardless of the opinion and actions of others.)
Some find that offensive. And I suppose it is; especially to the pagan unbeliever or believers in a faith-system based on something or someone other than Christ. But so are Jesus’ words from John 14:6, “I am the way …the truth …the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” All of which highlights the fact that, by Jesus’ standards, all belief-systems are not equally valid. Only one will get us to heaven. (See Acts 4:32) St. Chrysostom asserting that, “We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God.4
Scripture assures us that people are, “…destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Hebrews 9:27 Hopefully creating a sense of urgency to our decision to follow Christ and in our resolve to witness to others about God’s plan of salvation; which encompasses everything necessary to see us saved, but does not save everyone in spite of themselves. Love drove Christ to the cross, compelling us to then share the story of that love and the danger inherent in not responding to His offer of grace flowing from it. Magician and spiritual skeptic Penn Jillette pointedly saying, “I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. If you believe there is a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell… and you think it’s not worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward… how much do you have to hate someone to not proselytize? (Or simply not care.) How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them?”5
Mr. Jones then gets it exactly right when he asserts that, “Christianity is a religion meant to solve a sin problem. It is not a religion meant to solve all the problems of this world. It is not a system of religious thought meant to usher in Utopia here on earth.”
“Christianity is apocalyptic. It begins with the end in mind, namely these things: This world is going to end, all humanity is reaching toward final judgment, and God charged the followers of the risen Jesus with brining the possibility of spiritual rebirth to the human race. While we are sent to carry out that mission, we also happen to love the poor, care for the downtrodden, and fight for the rights of the oppressed. We do that out of love. But followers of Jesus know that our ultimate mission is not to make this world a better place to live, as important as that is. Our mission is to give every human being on earth the news that their relationship with God can be restored through Jesus death on the cross.6
1David C. Cook Publishing and Distribution
2Quoted by Mr. Jones in Hell Is Real
3 The Yoke of Christ, Word Books
4From, Six Books of the Priesthood, Vladmir’s Seminary Press
5 From, A Gift of a Bible, Crackle video
6 Quoted by Brian Jones in, Hell is Real
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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