Al Mohler has written a good piece on the doctrine of hell. He details the steps by which the doctrine has become liberalized in many churches:
- It ceases to be discussed
- It is revised and retained in a reduced form
- It is subject to ridicule
- The doctrine is reformulated (annihilationism, etc.)
I would add a possible fifth step as well: The doctrine is denied.
This same pattern can be applied to the liberalization of any Biblical doctrine. We must be on guard so as not to follow this pattern. The best way to guard against it is to preach and teach on the full spectrum of Biblical doctrines, rather than focusing on a handful and ignoring others. In general, what ceases to be taught ceases to be believed.
Mohler also had some challenging words on the tendency to lament, or apologize for the doctrine of hell. As Mohler describes it, there are Bible believing Christians who will affirm that the Bible teaches the doctrine of hell, but admit they do not like the doctrine and wish it were not true. I think we’ve all been there, and understandably so. But Mohler raises some good points against this disposition:
What does this say about God? What does this imply about God’s truth? Can a truth clearly revealed in the Bible be anything less than good for us? … Apologizing for a doctrine is tantamount to impugning the character of God. Do we believe that hell is a part of the perfection of God’s justice? If not, we have far greater theological problems than those localized to hell.
Indeed. As Dennis Prager once noted, it would be the epitome of injustice if the evil had the same fate as the righteous. If we love God, then we will love righteousness and justice. And if we love righteousness and justice, then the existence of hell is not something we should lament.
Thinking to Believe 
January 27, 2010 at 9:50 am
Wow – not thought of it that way.
I have thought of a way in which hell can be described in not so bad terms – when we reach judgement, all of us (saved and unsaved) will request to be put in hell. Only the saved will be saved by Jesus and will enter heaven instead.
My view is based on everyone’s meeting of God where they basically cry out that they’re not worthy.
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January 27, 2010 at 9:58 am
Mohler sort-of touched on this issue too. He mentioned those who say we aren’t sent to hell, but go to hell. I’ve presented it this way in the past too. While this is true in the sense that we choose to sin and refuse to repent (and thus hell is the natural consequence), God does send people to hell. I don’t think anybody in their right mind would want to go to hell. They may not want God either, but they surely don’t want to suffer.
What you are saying is a variant on this idea. I’m not so sure I believe people would ask God to send them to hell, but I definitely agree with you that all will recognize they deserve it.
Jason
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January 27, 2010 at 12:25 pm
It seems to me that we SHOULD lament the existence of hell, but not because it somehow calls into question God’s moral perfection; rather, because humans made its existence necessary by our moral IMperfection. Every human in hell deserves to be there, and every human in heaven deserves to be in hell (except Jesus, of course).
In philosophical discussions, I usually characterize heaven and hell as simply making permanent whatever relationship a person has with God upon his or her death. If you know and love God, that continues forever (heaven); if not, that continues forever (hell). Salvation is entering into a mutually voluntary love relationship with God as Lord, which is only possible because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
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January 27, 2010 at 2:43 pm
aletheist,
Neither I, nor Mohler are suggesting that we should be happy about hell. Even God would prefer that the devil’s hell be empty of humans.
I agree with your explanation. Dorothy Sayers once put it this way: “Sin (moral evil) is the deliberate choice of the non-God. … Damnation, or hell, is the permanent choice of the not-God.” Or as John Stackhouse puts it, “Hell is the logical and inexorable outcome of the careers of freely willing sinners, to which a regretful God allows them to go.” And what quoting party would be complete without a couple from C.S. Lewis:
“In the long run the answer to all those who object to the doctrine of hell is itself a question: ‘What are you asking God to do?’ To wipe out their past sins and, at all costs, to give them a fresh start, smoothing every difficulty and offering every miraculous help? But He has done so, on Calvary. To forgive them? They will not be forgiven. To leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what He does.”
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, ‘Thy will be done.’”
Jason
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January 30, 2010 at 9:51 am
Hey Jason, its been a while. Interesting post. And if you think this is bad try looking up Carlton Pearson. He will make you vomit!
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January 30, 2010 at 2:00 pm
I always have mixed feeling about these kinds of arguments.
Eg, the Bible says that if you believe in God and pray for something, it will be granted. But the prayers are not answered. The choices are limited:
(a) God lied.
(b) God failed.
(c) You lied. (You didn’t really pray for it to happen because, if you had, it would have happened.)
(d) You failed. (You only had 100% pure faith, not triple dog faith.)
(e) Although Scripture clearly appears to say X, it really says Y.
(f) The Scripture only applies to people who are True Christians(R), and the fact that your prayers aren’t answered proves that you are not a True Christian(R).
(g) The Bible is not true.
None of the answers are satisfying.
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January 30, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Does the OP’s principle extend beyond Hell?
For example, if you say that you wish that the Bible’s salvation requirements were clearer, and if you were writing the Bible you would have made it clearer, then you are questioning God? And we shouldn’t do that?
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February 1, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Arthur,
I think “e” is satisfying. If someone thinks God promised that He will do whatever you ask him to do, one is obviously misunderstanding the passage.
As for this being an “OP” principle, who said that (assuming by “OP” you mean “Oneness Pentecostal)? This applies to any Christian.
Jason
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February 2, 2010 at 12:37 am
Jason,
Where can one go to learn about what happens to people who have never heard the word? Also, is there a way to determine at what age one becomes accountable to God?
p.s. Love the Oneness site. Are my answers there somewhere?
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February 2, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Mark,
Thanks! No, I don’t address either of those topics on the site. Briefly, regarding those who have never heard the Word, I think Romans 1-3 et al is quite clear that such is not the case. According to Paul, all people have access to the general revelation of creation and conscience. The problem is not their ignorance, but their will. Paul said what can be known of God is plain to them. The problem is that they suppress that knowledge so they can be their own god, and serve their own gods.
As for the age of accountability, I don’t think there is any magic age. I’ve heard Simeon Costa tell how he remembers feeling conviction for his sin at age 4! Some kids might take longer.
Jason
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February 2, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Greetings! To all
The reason that most churches seem to shy away from preaching about hell or other doctrines of holy scriptures is due to the fact that God Almighty did not establish them. For if God establishes the church then that church will affirm every word of God because it will esteem every word or doctrine of God to be pure or right. Therefore, I advise you all to cleave tightly unto the truth of the kingdom of heaven that you may be accounted worthy of eternal life.
May the God of all grace continue to shew forth mercy, grace, and patience unto you all to lead you to all truth. in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Marquest Burton
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February 2, 2010 at 5:17 pm
OP means “original post” – the source of the thread. But in this case, I was really referring to Al Mohler and his article.
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February 3, 2010 at 12:37 am
Jason,
Thank you.
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