When is the last time the topic of hell came up in your conversation with those who are headed there?
I’ll admit, this is one of my least favorite truths to discuss when trying to “woo” someone over to the bright side of life with Christ. If we’re not careful though, we can fall victim to the trap of treating our Christian faith as a doctrinal buffet line from which we pick and choose our favorite subjects, leaving the broccoli (the doctrine of hell) right over there in the corner where the last guy left it. My good friend, Bob Schultz, brought this to light for me recently, reminding me that this is not the way our Christian faith works.
Each Christian doctrine is just as important as the others, and together, they give a complete picture of reality as designed by God. Taking one doctrine while leaving another is nothing short of undermining the very Word of God. To teach of God’s mercy without teaching of God’s justice is to conceal half the story. To teach of heaven and neglect the reality of hell is to only impart half of the truth on our listeners. The true joy of the Light lies in the fact that darkness is, indeed, a very dark reality.
If we are going to be teachers, preachers, parents, and friends who share biblical truth with others, we owe it to them to tell the whole truth, not just those truths which are most easy on the ears.
In the next few posts, we’ll look at some key insights I gleaned from Bob’s message including: why hell is necessary, how to get to hell & how to make sure you don’t, and how to handle those who are headed to hell. For now, take a look at this list of 99 essential doctrines, and see if anything stands out as something you may be overlooking in your conversations with those who are far from God.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof , for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
Father, help me to believe this and to live as though I do. Help me to tell the truth… the whole truth…