Evangelicals who believe in a literal hell are very keen to argue that rejecting hell means rejecting Scripture. But no amount of posturing or Bible thumping can turn that extremely mistaken notion into the truth. Why? Because there is solid scriptural support for the three radically differing traditional Christian models of hell known as Eternal Torment, Annihilationism, and Universalism.
The theory of Eternal Torment posits that upon death all Christians go to heaven, while all non-Christians go to the eternal torment of hell. This theory is supported by scripture found at Isaiah 66:24; Daniel 12:2, Matthew 5:22, Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 7:13, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 13:38-42, Matthew 13:49-50, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 9:43-45; Luke 12:5 and Luke 16:19-26.
Annihilationism teaches that upon dying some Christians go to heaven, while everyone else is annihilated into nothingness, and nobody goes to hell. This theory is supported by the scriptural passages of Matthew 19:29-30, Matthew 25:46, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:54, John 6:68, John 10:28 and Romans 5:21.
Universalism teaches that after death literally everyone is eventually reconciled, redeemed, and ushered into heaven. The theory of universalism is supported by John 12:32, Acts 3:21, Romans 5:18, Romans 11:32, 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Timothy 2:4, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:2, and 2 Peter 3:9.
Throughout sundry stretches of history, each of these theories of hell has enjoyed prominence over the other two.
In our current era it is, of course, the theory of Eternal Damnation which reigns supreme.
Now, isn’t it interesting that the theory of Eternal Damnation is the only theory among the three that lends itself to making money? And what about that theory lends itself so readily to wallet squeezing?
It’s the only one that engenders profound fear of the afterlife.
If you want people to pay good money to support your institution, you can’t beat making foundational to that institution the belief that not supporting it condemns one to eternal torture.
To quote … well, me: Show me a Christian terrified of hell, and I’ll show you a Christian ready to pay good money for the assurance that he isn’t going there.
Fear + doctrine of hell = ca-ching!
If you are a Christian who harbors the idea that a literal hell is grossly incompatible with an all-loving and all-powerful God, please rest assured that rejecting the notion of hell is not only morally and rationally right, it is supported by Scripture. You can also be assured that the day is quickly dawning when more Christians than not will feel the same way.
* This post is based upon my review of Kevin Miller’s excellent documentary about hell, Hellbound? (from which I also saved the image atop this post), which is now available for streaming on Netflix.
I’m the author of UNFAIR: Christians and the LGBT Question:
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