Last week I got a private message from someone I’ve known for a few years. He told me I was a false teacher and said he was praying that I would repent of preaching a false Gospel. Not that he was willing to dialog with me about what the Gospel actually was, or to read a free copy of my book to find out what I actually believe about the topics he was offended about. It was just easier to... Read more
When it comes to the doctrine of Hell, most American Christians know next to nothing about the origins of their own view [Eternal Torment] and even less about other perspectives on the topic. Here are 7 things that every American Christian needs to know about the doctrine of Hell 1- There have always been 3 “Biblical” Christian views of Hell. It’s true. Those 3 views are: Universal Reconciliation, Annihilation and Eternal Torment. Note this reference in the New Schaff-Herzog Christian... Read more
Sometimes the simplicity of Jesus gets lost in the quagmire of today’s Christian Theology and it’s helpful to stop and ask ourselves some fundamental questions, like: “Is Jesus right about who God is?” “Is Jesus Right About Who We Are?” “Is Jesus Right About Our Fundamental Problems?” “Is Jesus Right About The Solutions To Our Biggest Problems?” Let’s take some time to examine these, shall we? Who Is God? According To Jesus, God is: *Not Wrathful *Always Loving *Quick to... Read more
A few days ago my wife and I watched a little film on Netflix called “A Silent Voice” at the insistence of our youngest son. The recommendation was well-deserved and in fact it inspired me to ask a few profound questions afterwards. The story follows a group of Junior High Students who all struggle for identity and meaning in their lives. They each deal with their doubts about self-worth and respond in different ways. Some sacrifice their identity to... Read more
One of the most difficult things to explain to someone who embraces Eternal Torment is the idea that the words in their English Bibles probably don’t mean what they seem to mean. For example, there are dozens of verses in the New Testament that use words like “endless” and “everlasting” and “eternal” to describe judgement, punishment and torment, [and smoke and worms and fire], but in each case the actual word in the Greek [Aionius] doesn’t actually mean “infinite.” So,... Read more
Early Christians weren’t perfect. I know that. For a long time I used to think they were, but the more I’ve read their writings the more I’ve realized not only their spiritual genius, but also their embarrassing tendency towards patriarchy, among other things. Still, there is plenty we could learn from those early Christians. For example, as I’ve been researching their beliefs about Hell I’ve come across a fascinating realization that I think most people overlook. See, for the first... Read more
One of the hardest things to do is to convince a Christian that the version of Hell they’ve been taught isn’t actually in the Bible. This is challenging because: A) They have never been told anything else B) They’re convinced the Bible supports their view C) They’ve been taught that fear is necessary for conversion D) Evangelism as they know it won’t work without an eternal Hell to escape from E) Some of them wouldn’t remain a Christian if the... Read more
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8 Every time I point out that God is Love, and quote the verse in the New Testament that affirms this truth, someone will invariably try to counter this by saying, “Yes, but God is also wrathful!” But, is God wrathful? Is that who God is?... Read more
You hear it all the time: “No one spoke more about Hell than Jesus!” But, is that true? Is Jesus really our primary source for the doctrine of Hell? No. And yes. It’s complicated. On the one hand, yes, Jesus is where those who teach the Doctrine of Eternal Torment go to most often for verses that support their view. That is true. So, in one sense one could affirm that “No one spoke more about Hell than Jesus!”... Read more
If you look for the traditional view of Hell – Eternal Conscious Torment – in the Old Testament Scriptures what you’ll find is a giant goose egg. There’s not one verse – literally nothing whatsoever – to suggest that those who perish without faith in God will suffer endlessly in a lake of fire without any hope of rescue or relief. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Nil. Which, in itself, should tell you a little something about the doctrine. I mean, if... Read more
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