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The Forgotten Doctrine

It is really a shame that so many “Christian” churches have completely forgotten, or purposely forgotten, to inform the lost about their eternal punishment to come. It seems that they are intentionally ignoring this doctrine because it seems harsh and can be a turn off to unbelievers. Of course this should be preached lovingly, not with hatred. Instead of trying to compassionately tell people the truth, many groups are altogether throwing out any mention of it. Unbelievers are warned not to sin, but they are never told what will happen to them after death. The wages of sin is death… eternal death. There will only be weeping, pain, sorrow, anguish, and torment for those who die in their sins separated from Christ. John MacArthur very bluntly describes with Scripture what is to come for the lost after death:

“The punishment of the wicked is never ending as the bliss of the righteous. The wicked are not given a second chance, nor are they annihilated. The punishment of the wicked dead is described throughout Scripture as ‘eternal fire’ (Mt 25:41); ‘unquenchable fire’ (Mt 3:12); ‘disgrace and everlasting contempt’ (Da 12:2); a place where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched’ (Mk 9:44-49); a place of ‘torments’ and ‘flame’ (Lk 16:23-24); ‘eternal destruction’ (2Th 1:9); a place of torment with ‘fire and brimstone’ where ‘the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever’ (Rev 14:10-11); and a ‘lake of fire, and brimstone’ (Rev20:10). Here Jesus indicates that the punishment itself is everlasting—not merely the smoke and flames. The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. They consciously suffer shame and contempt and the assaults of an accusing conscience—along with the fiery wrath of an offended deity—for all of eternity. Even hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Ps 76:10); those who are there will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (cf. Dt 32:3-5).”

How do you think your church congregation would respond if they were to hear “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards this Sunday morning? Let’s not assume that God is infinitely patient. He is love, but He is also justice. Though this doctrine is becoming more and more unpopular, it is still real as ever. Let’s never be accused of only preaching half truths. We are born depraved, incapable of doing good. Only Christ can save us from our sins and the jaws of Sheol.

This entry was posted on March 5, 2008 at 12:57 am and is filed under Church, Today's World, Doctrine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

7 Responses to “The Forgotten Doctrine”

  1. Christian Bible Study says:
    March 5, 2008 at 1:06 am

    …wrote an interesting post today on Here’s a quick excerpt It is really a shame that so many “Christian” churches have completely forgotten, or purposely forgotten, to inform the lost about their eternal punishment to come. It seems that they are intentionally ignoring this doctrine because it seems harsh and can be a turn off to unbelievers. Of course this should be preached lovingly, not with hatred. Instead of trying to compassionately tell people the truth, many groups are altogether throwing out any mention of it. Unbelievers are warned not to sin…

  2. Mrs. U says:
    March 5, 2008 at 1:08 am

    Sadly, the church I grew up in (United Methodist) NEVER spoke of hell. For that matter, they never acknowledged that ANYONE wasn’t heaven bound. We were all good people just trying to be moral- at least, that’s what I remember about it.

    I wonder if there is a loving way to tell people that they are going to hell without Christ? The very act of letting them know the realities of it, yes, that is loving. But how could it be worded in such a way to be loving? Is that possible?

    His,
    Mrs. U

  3. Administrator says:
    March 5, 2008 at 1:31 am

    Thanks for commenting Mrs. U. You wanted to know how we can lovingly preach this reality: The opposite of being loving would be Westboro Baptist who seem to be happy that people ARE going to hell. A loving way to express this truth is through a sincere concern for their future. As former slaves to sin, we were in that position. We understand what it’s like to be hopeless. It should grieve us that people are going to hell. A loving approach is a sincere concern for their future since we understand what we have been saved from by the blood of Christ.

  4. Ginny says:
    March 7, 2008 at 11:08 am

    The Way of the Master has a great way to lovingly tell people that they need to be saved from hell. Of course, you have to remember that just because someone doesn’t react the way you want them to, doesn’t mean that you presented it wrong. People are not going to like hearing that they are headed for hell. Be prepared for that.

    www.wayofthemaster.com

  5. Phil Perkins says:
    March 30, 2008 at 10:45 am

    Mrs. U,
    Follow the advice of Ginny. Way of the Master stuff is really good.

    I appaud your desire to witness, so I want to say this as gently as possible, but it must be said. Your question, or rather the fear behind it, is exactly the root of the sin preachers and other Christians commit when they refuse to warn others of the coming judgment. In other words your concern is exactly the opposite of the biblical attitude. Let me explain.

    First, your definition of loving, from what I have gathered is not biblical in the least. II John 5:2-3 defines love for us. It is the act of keeping God’s commandments. When we refuse to warn of the judgment to come, we sin. We are unloving. Ez. 33. A better question is this: “How unloving must I be not to tell my neighbors, family, co-workers, and everyone I can about the judgment to come and the need to repent of sin?” If you gage your “love” on the reaction of others to your words, you hate Jesus. Most went away from Him, and He is the God of love. They killed Him, remember?

    Second, the emphasis on delivery style is in direct disobedience against Christ’s plain teaching. In fact, review Christ’s handling of that very subject in both Matthew and Luke, where He is recorded as saying this: “John came neither eating or drinking and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man come eating and drinking and you say, ‘Behold and glutton and a drunkard.’” By this He pointed out the silliness of being caught up in debates over HOW the gospel is said.

    Third, we in the Evangelical church blaspheme in this way often. You aren’t going to save anyone or damn anyone by choosing just the right words, whatever that might be. God said the gospel is the power to save. Why don’t we just believe that? When we try to be more “loving” than the God who constantly spoke sternly of judgment, we are intensely arrogant. When did we get more godly than God? How do we explain such conceit and unbelief among us? (I, too, thought this way once, so I am not being harder on others than I have come to be on myself.) Paul said he didn’t come with cleverness, but with the power of the Gospel. Why do you think you’re smarter than Paul?

    Fourth, don’t expect to say the gospel and not be hated. Just don’t expect that. Preachers murdered the most loving Man on earth for saying it. Is the servant better than the master? In Luke 9 or 10 Jesus told His disciples, “If they listen to you, they listen to Me. If they reject you, they reject Me.” Gaging your “love” by another’s response will not work. It is not the biblical way. Measure you love by many how many people you tell and how much time you will put in making sure you have accurately delivered the gospel to them.

    Finally, when presenting the gospel, we are doing the same thing the Israelites did walking around Jericho. Just do what God has told us all to do. God will work. We can’t save anyone. So go out, witness, and enjoy the joy that will come.

    In Christ,
    Phil Perkins.

  6. DT says:
    April 3, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    Phil,

    In my teaching from the pulpit (as I am a pastor) and in the college forum your post reminds me of a lot of posts, comments, or questions that are received.

    Having been around many certain groups that shall remain un-named and hearing them talk about:
    1. If you don’t share with someone every day you are going to Hell because you must not be saved
    2. If you don’t share with someone at least once a week, month or whenever then you are going to Hell for the same reason.
    3. If you don’t cry your eyes out every night over the lost you are seriously backslidden or not saved.
    4. If you have never led someone to Christ then …(you get the idea).

    I think the idea or question that Mrs. U might have been putting forth (though I could be wrong) is how do we share the gospel in a loving way without coming across as happy they are going to blow Hell wide open.

    You said “When we refuse to warn of the judgment to come, we sin. We are unloving.”

    This is not good logic. I can tell an enemy that he is going to Hell and that does not mean that I love him. I have just told him the truth but I have not loved him.

    You said “the emphasis on delivery style is in direct disobedience against Christ’s plain teaching.”

    Where is this in Scripture? Jesus did not speak the same way to every group of people that He encountered.

    You said “When did we get more godly than God? How do we explain such conceit and unbelief among us? (I, too, thought this way once, so I am not being harder on others than I have come to be on myself.)”

    This REEKS of arrogance and pride. Obviously you have arrived and God has sent you to condemn, blast, and reprove everyone who does not agree with you.
    You might want to read 1Cor. 10.12- Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

    You said “Measure you love by many how many people you tell and how much time you will put in making sure you have accurately delivered the gospel to them.”

    Is this like keeping notches in your belt as to how many you share with? Where is Scripture to support this?

    Just remember, God does not need you to witness. He allows us to witness and be an instrument in His hand. When the instrument takes the credit (and yes, that is what is happening here in your post) then you have just created an idol and broken the 1st commandment.

    You wrote on your blog description “If you don’t like what I say, hit back.”

    I did.

    I welcome your reply,
    DT

  7. Mrs. U says:
    April 9, 2008 at 10:14 pm

    Sorry, Phil. I was obviously misunderstood by you.

    I said…
    “I wonder if there is a loving way to tell people that they are going to hell without Christ? The very act of letting them know the realities of it, yes, that is loving. But how could it be worded in such a way to be loving? Is that possible?”

    This was written pretty sarcastically (hate that it can’t always be read the way something is written. Sigh.). Any way that it is worded, it will come across as hateful to the lost. But as Christians, you and I know that speaking the Truth is the ONLY way to truly show love. People that truly love me will tell me the truth because they love me and not fill my head full of lies.

    His,
    Mrs. U

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