Where would modern day Christianity be without hell?

[98cwitr]

+1 Paul Washer x2

 

[Howard Cneal]

+1 Paul Washer x2

I thought you would like that.

 

[Yarddog]

I'm wondering where modern day Christianity would be without its belief in hell?

Hell or fear of hell has more to do with lack of faith than faith in Christianity. It is not mentioned very many times in the NT. (12 times I think)

Would it even still exist?

Yes.

Modern day Christianity tends to often almost 'scare' people into having faith (or some semblance of faith) so I'm curious what would become of Christianity without such a belief?

The main reason I left the Baptist Church was because of this type of message from the pastor.

In the Catholic Church, I don't recall it mentioned very much because the message is about forgiveness and love.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

So you won't flame in particular only generally. I don't agree with that at all. The ELCA EVANGELICAL Lutheran Church in America rarely mentions hell and my experience with other Protestant denominations that I have visited are similar. The emphasis is always on the love of God and God's grace.

Funnily enough, growing up in a Catholic Church I was exposed to much more of the idea of hell as a motivator, yet earlier you seemed to think the RCC is not that type of church but most Protestant churches are. Granted, the RCC has undergone many changes since I was in Catholic school and I include them in what I earlier described as mainline Christian churches that focus on love not hell.

This is how it was with me when I was a RC in my early years.

But back in the early centuries, but it was used mainly as a "scare tactic" to keep those RC Christions from leaving the RCC?

http://www.christianforums.com/t7480460/#post55147842


If I leave the Catholic Church will someone (like a priest) come and tell me I am going to Hell?

It is a long story, but I was abused by a priest, and yesterday spoke about it for the first time. I was treated abominably. I am now afraid. I was treated as though I had done something wrong myself. I had to see where I had sinned.

I can't take it any more. I have to leave. But I expect I will be told I am going to Hell. I went to an Anglican Church this morning and it was beautiful. So reverent. I felt free. Is this so wrong?

 

[Jpark]

I'm wondering where modern day Christianity would be without its belief in hell? Would it even still exist? Why or why not? What do you think?

Modern day Christianity tends to often almost 'scare' people into having faith (or some semblance of faith) so I'm curious what would become of Christianity without such a belief? Could Christianity even survive without the belief in hell?

The heart of the gospel, as told by many Christian movements, is that hell is real, you're going there unless you accept Christ as Savior and that is your ticket to escape God's wrath, right?

So, what are your thoughts?

Where would Christianity be without hell???

No scare tactic would mean that a new tactic would have to be devised or a old tactic revived, such as 1 Cor. 9:19-23.

It doesn't really matter which tactic is used since it's only because God grants repentance (2 Tim. 2:25) that people can come to Him.

Reception will always be this without God's decision:

Matt. 7:6

But our teaching should be with gentleness.

 

[ebia]

The unhealthy problem is not with the idea that one can opt out of Gods kingdom, but the way "hell" is portrayed as fiery punishment rather than as simply the reality of that opting out.

It's not mature to describe everything in terms of punishment but neither is it mature to pretend that choices don't have consequences.

The gospel, however, must be unqualified good news, not qualified bad news.

 

[Howard Cneal]

I find the way most people try to preach the gospel, it is seen as anything but good news.

 

[ivebeenshown]

Well, consider this gem (which I absorbed from 'godandscience'):

Between eternal flames and eternal bliss in the presence of God, I have spoken to many an atheist who has said "I wouldn't want to be in heaven praising God forever and ever and ever. That would be so boring. That would be my hell."

They choose the alternative.

 

[ThomasDa]

I'm wondering where modern day Christianity would be without its belief in hell? Would it even still exist? Why or why not? What do you think?

It would be more knowledgeable.

It's not taught in the Bible so true Christians don't teach it.

Satan and his demons are the only ones who will be punished
forever. Of course he would like you to believe that is your fate too. Satan is the one who propagates that teaching.

 

[bbbbbbb]

It would be more knowledgeable.

It's not taught in the Bible so true Christians don't teach it.

Satan and his demons are the only ones who will be punished
forever. Of course he would like you to believe that is your fate too. Satan is the one who propagates that teaching.

Are you a Universalist?

 

[Yab Yum]

Well, consider this gem (which I absorbed from 'godandscience'):

Between eternal flames and eternal bliss in the presence of God, I have spoken to many an atheist who has said "I wouldn't want to be in heaven praising God forever and ever and ever. That would be so boring. That would be my hell."

They choose the alternative.

Hell is never boring, I suppose.

 

[SummaScriptura]

I'm wondering where modern day Christianity would be without its belief in hell? Would it even still exist? Why or why not? What do you think?

Modern day Christianity tends to often almost 'scare' people into having faith (or some semblance of faith) so I'm curious what would become of Christianity without such a belief? Could Christianity even survive without the belief in hell?

The heart of the gospel, as told by many Christian movements, is that hell is real, you're going there unless you accept Christ as Savior and that is your ticket to escape God's wrath, right?

So, what are your thoughts?

Where would Christianity be without hell???

So, is that a good methodology for working through theology?

If we can afford to loose the doctrine of hell and since it is a pretty unpopular idea these days, why not just drop it?

A theology of pragmatism?

 

[SummaScriptura]

<snip>"I wouldn't want to be in heaven praising God forever and ever and ever. That would be so boring. That would be my hell."<snip>

We do the idea of heaven a diservice if that is the picture we paint of it.

 

[SummaScriptura]

Hell or fear of hell has more to do with lack of faith than faith in Christianity. It is not mentioned very many times in the NT. (12 times I think)

Yes.

The main reason I left the Baptist Church was because of this type of message from the pastor.

In the Catholic Church, I don't recall it mentioned very much because the message is about forgiveness and love.

Its odd the anecdotal way in which we experience our world.

I heard quite a bit about hell from the church when I was growing up Catholic. Now that I am Baptist, it is a subject nearly missing from the pulpit.

 

[the geech]

I'm wondering where modern day Christianity would be without its belief in hell? Would it even still exist? Why or why not? What do you think?

Modern day Christianity tends to often almost 'scare' people into having faith (or some semblance of faith) so I'm curious what would become of Christianity without such a belief? Could Christianity even survive without the belief in hell?

The heart of the gospel, as told by many Christian movements, is that hell is real, you're going there unless you accept Christ as Savior and that is your ticket to escape God's wrath, right?

So, what are your thoughts?

Where would Christianity be without hell???

I believe Christianity would still be as widespread as it is, though it's followers would largely be following a paradigm which, IMHO, is closer to the reality Jesus intended.

I'm convinced that living the way of Jesus is a better way to live, a self sacrificing lifestyle centered around loving acts of compassion and generosity.

 

[ebia]

I guess they've never read The Great Divorce

 

[Deut 5:29]

Are you a Universalist?

.

 

[Kaitlin08]

The unhealthy problem is not with the idea that one can opt out of Gods kingdom, but the way "hell" is portrayed as fiery punishment rather than as simply the reality of that opting out.

It's not mature to describe everything in terms of punishment but neither is it mature to pretend that choices don't have consequences.

The gospel, however, must be unqualified good news, not qualified bad news.

I doubt there is unqualified good news. Good news for one is bad for another.

 

[heymikey80]

I totally agree.

But where would Christianity itself be, if there was no belief or teaching of hell?

Would people still follow and love God, even without threat of eternal damnation?

I think we have to consider other questions than this, alone.

Maybe, "Where would Christianity be without a teaching about hell or eternal damnation?"

Well, what would it look like? Does that mean omitting the judgment of God -- is that the intent of this question?

 

[Yarddog]

Its odd the anecdotal way in which we experience our world.

Itcan be.

I heard quite a bit about hell from the church when I was growing up Catholic. Now that I am Baptist, it is a subject nearly missing from the pulpit.[/quote]
Well, I've only been Catholic since '82 but I've heard "hell"acious stories about those nuns in the old Catholic schools.

Not all Baptist ministers are the same in their approach. The last one was a fire and brimstone preacher, wanting to scare us into obedience. It was not for me. I quit when I was about 13 and it caused me to reject God.

Later, when God was bringing me back, I did like to listen to Rev. Charles Stanley.