by Alan Langstaff
Recently I read an article about “Hell.” It related to a prominent progressive Christian influencer and bestselling author, Jen Hatmaker. She quit attending church last year and says she no longer believes in Hell. In an essay posted on her Substack titled “There You Are. Laying down my belief in hell didn’t cost me my faith – it rescued it,” she tells of her Christian upbringing and growing up believing Hell existed. (The Christian Post)
Now she is an example of typical progressive Christians who walk away from traditional Christian beliefs. Before looking at “Hell” in the Bible, let us give a brief overview of Jen Hatmaker.
JEN HATMAKER
She was born in 1974 and is in her early fifties. She was written about in Christianity Today. In 2008, she and her then-husband, Brandon, founded Austin New Church in Austin, Texas. At one stage, she was thought to be a successor to Houston Evangelist Beth Moore. She has five children; she is divorced. She has come to a place in an effort to be compassionate and loving, coming out in support of LGBTQ relationships. She even referred to them as “holy.” This in turn became known as the “affirming” position.
It is clear that her doctrine is no longer evangelical in that it is accepting of Bible teachings. I do not propose to discuss her other teachings but concentrate on the “Hell” question.
This is not a theological article but is simply to point out key thoughts on Hell.
HELL
The picture of Hell is such that many churches have varying concepts regarding Hell.
The historic view of hell is expressed in the Westminster Confession – a Reformed confession of faith.
“The wicked who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” (The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXXIII Of the Last Judgment)
As the evangelical Methodist church put it, “The saint goes from the judgment to enjoy eternal bliss; the impenitent sinner is turned away into everlasting condemnation, punishment, and misery.”
Hell is traditionally considered a literal place of eternal torture that results from separation from God Himself. A catholic pope has also described Hell as the condition of pain that results from alienation from God, a thing of one’s own doing, not a place.
So, various churches have various views on Hell, but a few things are clear –
1) Man is eternal and lives on in eternity
;
2) Man will spend eternity with God or eternity separate from God;
3) The choice belongs to man himself.
Some today, mostly Protestants, such as Karl Barth, believe that after serving their sentence in Gehenna, they are reconciled to God and admitted to heaven. Some teachers, such as C.S. Lewis, have seen hell as “eternal separation” from God.
Some have made statements that there are more references to Hell in the New Testament than to Heaven.
It seems so in the case of the Gospels. One should look at what Jesus taught regarding Hell. We won’t look at them all, but rather I would point to one amazing story to be found in Luke 16 verse 19. Before we look at that story, let us note the description of Hell given in the Word that are used.
There are three words that lie behind the concept of Hell.
Sheol – an unseen state. Modern translations typically render Sheol as “the grave,” “pit,” or “death.”
Hades – the unseen world. It is a Greek word that is used in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew “Hell.”
Gehenna – the valley of Hinnom and is often used to translate simply as Hell.
They are used in various ways, including allegorically.
RICH MAN AND LAZARUS
In Luke 16:19, Jesus told about two men. It is interesting to note that this is the only story (parable, etc.) that Jesus told that gives the name of the person He was speaking about.
The first man was a rich man who fared each day sumptuously. The second man, Lazarus, was a beggar full of sores who was laid at his gate each day, desiring to be fed with crumbs from the rich man’s table.
In time, the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and found himself in torment in Hades. Lifting up his eyes, he saw Lazarus sitting in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man cried out as he was tormented in the flames. But Abraham reminded him that in his lifetime he received his good things and Lazarus evil things, and now he is comforted. “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.” (Verse 26).
The rich man made reference to his five brothers to avoid hell. But Abraham reminds him that they have Moses and the prophets. “Let them hear them.” (Verse 29). He replies, “They will repent” if someone goes to them from the dead. But he is told, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” (Verse 31)
Jesus is very clear in this story. Both men died, but their souls lived on. There was a great separation – one to Abraham’s bosom and the other to torment. Each was responsible for their own actions.
Jesus reminds us that there are two places awaiting us after death.
Heaven – to be with the Lord forever.
Hell – to be out of the presence of the Lord forever.
So Jesus taught about Hell with that in mind; it would be a good place to avoid.
HOW DO WE AVOID HELL
It doesn’t do any good denying that Hell exists. It is the simple message of the Gospel.
By faith, as we come in repentance, acknowledging our sinfulness and receiving Christ as Savior and Lord. Being set free from the penalty of sin which is death. We receive the gift of eternal life. By faith we receive Christ into our hearts.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)
If you have never done that and received Christ into your heart, I urge you to do it now. Receive Him as your Savior and Lord.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Some time back I wrote to the pastor of one of the evangelical mega churches here in the city. I had been listening to his sermons, and I wanted to commend his teaching. To my surprise, he wrote a short note back to me and said:
“Rev. Alan, thank you for the note. You are so right about Pastors steering clear of the doctrine of sin, Hell, and judgment. It’s tragic. Grateful that you choose Jesus and His Word.”
I trust that you too will choose Jesus and His Word.
