When I was an altar boy, my mother used to say, “You have to believe in Hell but you don’t have to believe anyone is there.” This was my mothers gracious understanding of an essential Christian doctrine. But her understanding was decidedly Universalist – the heresy that says all of us, everyone, even non-Christians, will go to Heaven. And it was expressly against Catholic doctrine of the time. But wasn’t she right about one thing: Don’t you have to believe in Hell to be a Christian? This must be the case, if Universalism is a heresy.
Right now Rob Bell is in the hot seat with Neo-Evangelicals, Hyper-Reformed Calvinists and other Christian Fundamentalists because his new book, “Love Wins”, is apparently suggesting that no one goes to Hell. I’m not sure if he says there is a Hell or not – I haven’t read the book. Apparently none of his detractors have either, basing their criticisms on promotional sound bites. But the blogging world is alight with angry Christians who are essentially condemning Bell to Hell for not believing in Hell, which I imagine for Bell would be a tough sell. (Cute, huh?)
The progressive Christian defense of Bell has been tremendous. Many Emerging Church bloggers have been busting the chops of people like Piper, MacArthur and Hagee for accusing Bell of the Universalist heresy. And, for the most part, they are right on the theological money. They rightly criticize the conservative Christian tendency to make Hell such a big part of their theology, to the point to which this doctrine obscures most of the Gospel message. But, sadly, few of them go far enough.
Because in their defense of Bell they make it quite clear that they, too, are not willing to let go of the doctrine of Hell, but only change it to make it more palatable, much as my mother did. Almost all of them embrace the mostly orthodox doctrine of a Final Judgment and most will not dismiss the idea of a physical, supernatural, punishment, even though they may not focus on it. Even with little or no scriptural support for it. As I heard a pastor once say, God is merciful or God is just, but God cannot be both. But even that alludes to a judgmental God.
I think the reason conservative Christians are so emotional about holding on to Hell, and why the progressives still cling to its vestiges, is that, in reality, Hell has been the cornerstone of the Church, not Jesus. Because without Hell, what is there for Jesus to do? What does he save us from?
No Hell = no Jesus. Or at least the Jesus so many love and a few fear. Without Hell he loses his job description. He loses his purpose, and any meaning he may have had for millions of Christians.
Without Hell, can Jesus have any value, any meaning, as our savior? I certainly think so, he does for me. The love I have for this man’s heart, as shown through his teachings and the example of his life and death, compels me to reject the doctrine of Hell as untenable and ultimately depraved. If I believe, as he claimed, that as I have ‘seen’ him then I have also ‘seen’ the Father, then I cannot believe a God ordained Hell exists. As someone once said, the opposite of fear is love, and if God is love then God need not be feared. Conversely, how can I love something I fear?
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
#1 by 1sttime0ffender on March 10, 2011 - 2:33 pm
Thats a great post, I am putting Love Wins on my book wish list. Thanks!
#2 by logiopath on March 11, 2011 - 7:27 pm
My first few days at You Know Where were a living hell–really, especially with the glass door in my “classroom” unlocked during the day.
But seriously, I think that if it all is real, that a loving God would not send his most honored creatures, if humans are indeed in His image, into the eternal flaming toilet.
On the other hand, the Seventh Day Adventists doctrine of soul sleep and Annihilation seem inadequate (John R. W. Stott also believes in this doctrine).
Honestly, I think some form of soul recycling makes more sense than hell–not in the sense of a second chance to attone for sins, but maybe for further learning.
#3 by Christian Beyer on March 12, 2011 - 8:52 am
Annihilation is the most logical but reincarnation is appealing.Perhaps universalism, which offend so many, is the answer precisely because it seems so “unjust”. ‘Forgive your enemies should apply to God as well.
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#4 by logiopath on March 11, 2011 - 7:29 pm
Plato believed in this idea of soul regeneration. I don’t like “reincarnation” per se, but I think we don’t really KNOW the ultimate outcome of our souls. I mean, the historic doctrine heaven in exchange for loyalty to Christ IS a promising and hopeful idea, but we don’t really know.
#5 by Christian Beyer on March 12, 2011 - 8:45 am
Promising to a Christian, but according to the Bible (Matt. 25) they should avoid smugness (alas). They may have gotten it all wrong. Which, I believe they have ( guess I’m not really a Christian, huh?). Fortunately for them, there is no Hell.
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#6 by andy on May 9, 2011 - 2:56 pm
Whoa, this was a pretty god article but a MAJOR break in the logical thought chain. No Hell=No Jesus? I’m afraid not.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
The word “hell” in the bible was translated from the original jewish word ” SHEOL ” which means “GRAVE”. In most of the bible the different translations have “grave” in for “sheol” but in about 14 or 15 spots they chose to use the word “hell” instead.
Jesus was real for he is in historical census records as is his family, and yes the bible does not describe a “hell” but JESUS DID SAVE YOU IF YOU go to him. He DIED for our sins because the wages for sin is DEATH.
It says throughout the bible all the way back to when Adam ate the apple and was told he would “surely die” not “surely burn in hell”. There will be a RAPTURE where ALL tHE DEAD will rise from the GRAVE (sheol) and GOD will bring eternal life to those who have gone through Jesus and all the rest will be cast into the lake of fire, including Satan and Death. They will be destroyed not tortured.
People that go to “sheol” know NOTHING according to the bible “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going”…Ecclesiastes (9:5,10 That’s ALL people. good and bad. They know nothing, not torture, not consciousness. Sheol cannot be hell and grave at the same time. So you see, it is a GIFT because GOD loves you. You can die like an atheist’s wet dream or you can spend eternal life with the GOD who is offering it to you.
#7 by Christian Beyer on May 9, 2011 - 3:53 pm
I think you misunderstood me, Andy. My point is that for the majority of Christians, who (mistakenly) believe in Hell, this is the reason that Jesus ever existed. Take away this (mis) understanding and, in their minds, there is no reason to believe in Jesus or his ministry.
Though I believe in an an afterlife, I haven’t a clue as to what it might be. I trust in God so I trust it will be “good”. And although in some ways the fate of “annihilation” makes perfect sense for those who continue to turn away from God, there is no reason to believe that God does not, in the end, save everyone. Certainly the Jesus Way is the sure way towards God but I don’t think it is the only way. Nor do I think Jesus died for our sins but rather that he died because of our sin – selfishness and the sacrificing of others for our own gain, comfort, security and fears.
#8 by andy on May 10, 2011 - 12:25 am
Well you can think what you think or you can believe the words in the bible. The bible doesn’t say everyone is saved. The bible says the ONLY way is through Jesus Christ who is the Son of GOD. If you don’t believe Jesus died as PAYMENT for our sin, then you must disregard a whole lot of verses from the bible.
#9 by Christian Beyer on May 10, 2011 - 12:42 am
The Bible says a lot of things. I’ll betcha you don’t believe all of them yourself. As it is, the “words” were not the original words .
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#10 by Christian Beyer on May 10, 2011 - 12:44 am
Or you may believe in things that are not in the Bible. Like the Rapture.
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