Christians, and perhaps more specifically Evangelicals, often emphasize the reality of eternal punishment, or Hell, when sharing the gospel. This reality may seem to overshadow or focus more energy on the potential negatives of spiritual life, rather than highlighting the joy, hope, and fulfillment a relationship with Christ provides. From a theological perspective, this may cause some to question the effectiveness of this approach: Why do Christians, including myself, place so much emphasis on Hell?

At the outset, it is critical to understand that the Bible does indeed portray an afterlife that includes both an eternal, joyous presencewith God (Heaven) and everlasting separation from God (Hell). The truth is, Hell is real, and it is as important to share the whole message of the gospel as it is to share the Good News of salvation, restoration, and redemption. While the Bible does not call for a scare-tactic approach when speaking to others about Jesus, there is no denying the biblical reality of Hell. To fully answer why the topic of Hell is often emphasized, let's unpack three perspectives: scriptural, practical, and apologetic.

A Scriptural Perspective

From the Bible's perspective, an emphasis on Hell can be seen as a means to declare the seriousness of rejecting God's salvation, a theme throughout Scripture. This is not to disregard the love and compassion of God; the Bible consistently demonstrates both His fury against sin and unwavering, infinite love. Jesus Himself proclaimed that "He came not to bring peace but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). This statement underlines the reality of the spiritual choice we all face. God's love is not trivialized, but the potential outcome of resisting His salvation is never minimized either.

Eternal judgment is a painful reality in Scripture as well as a wake-up call to take God seriously. Consider the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man, conscious of his eternal torment, pleads for mercy (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus warned, "Whoever believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" only to then declare, "Yet it is I who will triumphat last; I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever much these Self-destructand live in me will never really die at all" (John 11:25-26). Here, we see both the assurance of eternal life and the stark reality of an eternally separated existence. Jesus does not minimize one while elevating the other; He provides the entire picture.

It is important to recognize that the Good News is not about avoiding something bad, but rather about embracing the good and life-giving love of God. The bad news exists to present the spiritual stakes so that all may understand the critical nature of their decision when it comes to following Christ. We can also infer that an emphasis on Hell in evangelism is an effort to accurately reflect the full breadth and scope of biblical theology. It is vital that we give the entire, clear picture - an admonishment of eternal peril, combined with the promise of life, joy, and restoration in Christ. The entire message, both the judgment and salvation, are part and parcel of God's self-disclosure.

A Practical Perspective

In a practical sense, drawing attention to Hell may help unbelievers wake up to the reality of their condition and the urgent need to make a decision about their spiritual lives. As Pastor John MacArthur argues, "Heaven and hell...offer a stark contrast that can be a clarifying revelation to the spiritually sleepy. The contrasting reality of Heaven and Hell may be the wake-up call necessary for unbelievers to finally reckon with God's existence and their need for Him." By illustrating the seriousness of the choice to reject God and salvation, the reality of Hell serves as a powerful tool to engage people who may otherwise take the entirety of the gospel message too lightly.

A discussion of Hell can also reveal the deceptiveness of sin and the severe, eternal consequences it holds. Unbelievers may misjudge the eternal consequences of their choice, assuming the worst-case scenario is a "fade into oblivion." This misconception can, thankfully, be dispelled by an honest discourse about Hell. "The reality of hell serves an important corective function," as Paul Copan suggests: "To ignore the reality of hell would mean, in a sense, failing to present the full dimensions of humanity's plight in rebellion against God."

Lastly, an emphasis on Hell is necessary to warn the unsaved of the permanent nature of their choice. In the case of physical death, there is no second chance; eternity with God or in Hell hinges wholly on a person's decision in this life. This reality is so critical, that Scripture admonishes us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).

An Apologetic Perspective

In many ways, an emphasis on Hell is also helpful in the realm of Christian apologetics. Christians are called to defend the truth of their faith, and the reality of an afterlife that includes both Heaven and Hell is an integral part of that message. The existence of Hell as an eternal punishment strengthens the intellectual honesty of the gospel and serves as an answer to common questions about the justice of God. Consider the questions of innocent suffering, natural disasters, and tragedies. Why would a loving God allow such thinngs?

The reality of eternal punishment offers a coherent answer. Hell represents the separation from the good, the right, and the Just, thus answering the question, "Why do the wicked suffer in any sense, given an eternal afterlife?" The answer is, Hell is an eternal separation from God, a just reward for a life spent separated from and in outright rebellion against the Creator.

In conclusion, by emphasizing the reality of Heaven and Hell, Christians are striving to present the full scope of the biblical message. It is a practical call to action, a way to illustrate the severity of the spiritual stakes, and an apologetic argument to strengthen the intellectual coherence and honesty of the gospel. From a theological perspective, the whole message, comprised of both judgment and redemption, is crucial to the delivery of the Good News.

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One Final Thought: The Good News

All of this is not to diminish the Good News of salvation in any way. The Good News is, indeed, Christ's victory over death and sin, the promise of Heaven and eternal communion with God. Our love for the lost necessitates that we present them with the entire, sobering picture. We are called to speak of both the promise of eternal joy (Heaven) and the everlasting separation from God (Hell) that happens as a result of sin and rebellion.

We should not see this dual message as a detriment, but rather as a necessary offering of both the severity of the consequences and the beauty of the redemption Christ provides. May our hearts mirror the love of Christ, calling all to choose life with Him over the path of everlasting death that follows sin and rebellion.

"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. Everyone who lives because of me will never really die" (John 11:25-26).

This post first appeared at TrueRebirth.org.

Bibliography

Copan, Paul. "Is the Doctrine of Hell Cruel and Unjust?" In Defense of Beliefs, accessed July 22, 2021, http://www.tzofnof.org/articles_eng/Doctrine_of_hell.shtml.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology.Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1994.

Piper, John. Desiring God: The Top Priority of Every Believer. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1996.

Socini, FA, et al. "Should an Emphasis on Hell Detract from the Whole Gospel?" Christianity Today, November 22, 2017, https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2017/november-web-only/emphasis-hell-detract-whole-gospel.html.