November 14, 2000 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Those who call themselves “Evangelicals” (a term that has become almost meaningless) are increasingly questioning and modifying the biblical doctrine of an eternal, fiery Hell. Consider the following examples:
In October 1966, George Ladd, professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, told the Los Angeles Times that Hell will simply “be an eternity outside of fellowship with God and the enjoyment of the blessings of God.” This is a half truth which ignores the Bible’s description of Hell as conscious and eternal torment in fire.
In 1971, Fuller Theological Seminary published a new edition of its doctrinal statement which “departs from its original position on eternal punishment for unbelievers, simply saying that the wicked shall be separated from God’s presence” (F.E.A. News & Views, May/June 1971). This leaves room for false views of Hell.
In 1980, Eerdmans published Neil Punt’s Unconditional Good News: Toward an Understanding of Biblical Universalism, which claims that men can possibly be saved apart from faith in Christ. Punt “encouraged ministers not to warn sinners about the dangers of eternal damnation” (The Christian News, March 23, 1987).
In 1987, Verdict Books published Edward Fudge’s The Fire That Consumes, a book that denies everlasting torment. The book was praised by leading Evangelical leaders Clark Pinnock and F.F. Bruce. In Christianity Today, March 20, 1987, Pinnock said: “The fire of hell does not torment, but rather consumes the wicked.” Pinnock later called the traditional doctrine of eternal torment in Hell “an outrageous doctrine,” claiming that “a God who would do such a thing is more nearly like Satan than like God.”
In 1988, John R.W. Stott, prominent British Evangelical leader, stated in the book A Liberal-Evangelical Dialogue (published by InterVarsity Press) that the torment of Hell is not eternal in duration.
In 1989, Eerdmans published The True Image: The Origin and Destiny of Man in Christ by Philip Hughes, which promotes the false doctrine of annihilation.
In 1990, the Radio Bible Class published Herbert Vander Lugt’s What Does the Bible Say about Hell?, in which the author states that “a hell in which all burn in a literal fire does not allow for significant degrees of punishment” and postulates that the fire of Hell might be symbolic.
In 1991, Kenneth Kantzer, former editor of Christianity Today and head of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, said that “when Jesus spoke of flames . . . these are most likely figurative warnings” (U.S. News & World Report, March 25, 1991).
In 1991, prominent Anglican Evangelical leader J.I. Packer, former senior editor of Christianity Today, said that he does not believe that the essence of Hell is “grotesque bodily discomfort” but is rather “an inner misery of helpless remorse.” Of course, that is not the Hell described for us by the Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1992, Baker Books published Universalism and the Doctrine of Hell, in which John Wenham defended the doctrine of “conditional immortality.” This is the false idea that unsaved men will not exist eternally in Hell. It confuses immortality and eternal life with eternal existence.
In 1993, Michael Van Horn resigned from the Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary because he denied the traditional biblical doctrine of Hell. When confronted by 22 Michigan pastors, Professor Van Horn denied that there was a literal heaven or a literal Hell and especially denied the literal fire of Hell.
When drawing up a resolution on Hell, the Council of Eighteen of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) refused to state in their resolution on hell that there was “literal fire” there. “Dr. Clay Nuttall was present as a witness. In his written report, he mentioned that when a man suggested ‘literal fire’ be inserted in the GARBC resolution on hell, a Council of Eighteen member said they couldn’t do that because many of the Pastors and people of the GARBC fellowship do not believe there is Îliteral fire’ in hell” (D.A. Waite, Four Reasons for Defending the King James Bible, 1993, pp. 20,21).
In 1994, Paternoster Press republished The Fire That Consumes: The Biblical Case for Conditional Immortality by Edward Fudge.
In April 2000, a commission of the Evangelical Alliance of Britain published a report titled The Nature of Hell, which states that Evangelicals have agreed to disagree about the doctrine of Hell. It admits that “conditional immortality is a significant minority evangelical view” claiming that “the debate on hell should be regarded as a secondary rather than a primary issue for evangelical theology.” This reminds us that modern Evangelicalism has wrongly put unity above doctrine. The Bible plainly teaches that Hell is eternal fiery torment. (See the Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity.) This is not a “secondary” issue. The faith once delivered to the saints is given to us in the Scriptures (Jude 3), and our job is to earnestly contend for it, and that means all of it and not merely that part of it which we consider “primary.” Timothy, who was taught doctrine by the Apostle Paul, was instructed not to allow “any other doctrine” to come into the churches under his care (1 Timothy 1:3). Timothy was instructed to pass along exactly the same doctrine to the next generation (2 Tim. 2:2). Nowhere was he told that some of the doctrine was secondary and therefore not very important.
Whether or not all unsaved men go to Hell, the nature of that Hell, and whether or not their judgment is eternal in duration is extremely important for the preaching of the Gospel.
Praise God for the full salvation that was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ for all that will call upon him in repentance and faith. Let us who know the Lord not be guilty of being lazy in getting the Gospel to the ends of the earth.