A New Theology of Hell?

Lately, I have been involved in several events that have caused me to reflect theologically about one topic that is often overlooked and largely avoided in today’s society – hell. Now I’ll admit that even though I may believe in a literal hell I rarely ever preach the typical old-time-fundamental-evangelical-bapticostal Hell, Fire and Brimstone sermon. Homiletically speaking, I am often a wimp; however, strategically I believe it is more effective to preach a positive gospel centered in the love and grace of Lord Jesus wins as opposed to common scare tactic (hell escape, hell’s flames, left behind, etc.) approach.

A frightening trend among many evangelicals (the more “liberal” ones) is to treat all references to Hell as allegorical or metaphorical. In fact, many evangelicals have adopted either beliefs in Universalism (all will be saved) or annihilationism (people just cease to exist at death). However, those views are difficult to swallow considering all the evidence for the existence of hell contained within scripture. In addition, there was no subject broached more often than hell by Jesus. With that being said, here are a few things that can be learned about hell:

1. Hell is eternal/everlasting (Isaiah 66:24; Matt. 18:8; 25:41; 25:46; 2 Thes. 1:9; Jude 1:7, Dan. 12:2; Matt. 25:46)
2. Hell is hot, compared to an unquenchable fire and a lake of fire (Mark 9:43, Rev. 19:20; 20:10, 14, 15; 21:8)
3. The wicked will never cease to exist and their body will never be consumed (Isaiah 66:24; Mark 9:43, 48)
4. It is a form of eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46)
5. It is separation from the presence of God (2 Thes. 1:9)
6. It is a place of Judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; Heb. 9:27; 10:27, 30; Rev. 20:11-15)
7. And the list goes on – you get the idea

We get the idea – Hell is a terrible place and to paraphrase Lazarus, “a place to avoid at all costs!”

But what if both the conservative and liberal commentators are both correct? Or at least both groups have elements of truth to be found in their interpretations. What if Hell is a real place as the conservatives proclaim, but what if the description is more allegorical – meaning that it may not be an actual lake of fire, but the actual effects of “this place” is like a lake of fire? After all, for some I know (namely college girls) spend $30 for one half hour in an oven and look as if they tanned outside a “lake of fire” (note this is Tongue & Cheek). Think about it what would be a more cruel punishment: eternal fire or enduring your worst fear/nightmare/experience perpetually for eternity?

If that were the case, I would have to say it would be waking each morning walking the aisles of Wal-Mart (insert retail store of choice here) and than in a blink of an eye being teleported to Main Street (Circleville) listening to an 80’s cover band performing at Pumpkin Show (insert fair or carnival of choice here) while ingesting the combination of cigarettes, Porta-John and Funnel Cakes into my nasal passage and lungs. Could you imagine living that for an eternity? That would truly scare one straight!

Anyway, what would be your hell?

PS – Thought I’d take a lighter approach to get back into the swing of things. I hope I have not offended too many.