Fear and Trembling

Reformation Theology quotes a pastor on the reality of hell at this link. Here’s the quote: A very good friend of mine, Pastor Graeme Adams, from Dundee, Scotland writes, "“Are you orthodox on the issue of hell? Good! Does it cause you to pray and weep for the lost and actively seek ways to reach them with the good news of Jesus, or be smug or worse because you know something Rob Bell doesn’t? It’s incredibly sad and harmful when high profile leaders propagate heresy, AND when millions of Christians profess faith, historical biblical faith, and yet don’t live it. Heresy and Cold lifeless heartless Orthodoxy are partners in crime against humanity and God. May God use this issue to break our hearts.”

I agree with Justin Taylor that Rob Bell now seems to have outwardly embraced universalism . He seems to be teaching that all people ultimately go to heaven. Taylor provides Bell’s video at this link , and Bell’s own words condemn him.  (If this turns out to be some kind of publicity stunt, then woe to Bell for taking liberties with his message.) I have written about Bell’s dangerous theological leanings before (see the links here and here ), but this new teaching takes him far outside orthodox Christianity. Jesus is the figure from the Bible who says the most about hell. He describes it as eternal (Mt. 25:41, 46; Mk. 9:43, 48) and as a place of torment (Mt. 25:30). To venture outside these teachings is to find oneself arrayed against the Lord of Glory Himself. (I recommend an audio presentation by R. C. Sproul on hell at this link .) I do not relish the idea of anyone going to hell, and I find it encouraging that God does not either (Ezek. 33:11, Mt. 23:37-38). ...

Trevin Wax posts a great scene from the TV show ER.   Every liberal Christian theologian should watch the video at this link .

I am astonished at some on the internet who accuse me of being happy / glad / satisfied / gleeful that God would send some people to hell. From Ray Comfort’s blog : Do you think "happy" would be the right word to use to describe that state of mind of those who were saved in the lifeboats of the Titanic as their loved ones and others were being swallowed into an icy grave? No doubt they were unspeakably grateful that they are saved, but it would be entirely inappropriate to use the word "happy" to describe their circumstance. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not horrified at what’s in store for those who die in their sins… Ray says it well.