Hell no we wont go…

A reflection on the inconsistency of hell with the ethical call of discipleship

The talk of hell and eternal damnation finds common place in all expressions of the Christian faith. It has been said that one goes to hell because God’s requirement of holiness is something that would never be realized by sinful humanity, hence the need for someone to come in our place to save us from the wrath of God’s consuming holiness.

I have no disagreement with such explanation.

Experience, scripture and the study of human history testifies to that. In fact, it is my study of history that I find significance in the redeeming work of Christ that I believe humanity finds salvation from its present predicament, ultimately reconciling us from our present alienation from God.

However, I find the fire and brimstone rhetoric of preachers that tries to paint a vivid picture of Jonathan Edwards’ Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, every Sunday or every available occasion to guilt us enough to have the fearful motivation to step forward for the alter call, to raise our hands amidst the closed eyes and bowed heads of the congregation or to repeat after the pastor’s rendition of the Sinner’s Prayer.

The attractive prospect of universal reconciliation

Perhaps it is fitting and proper to state first that I am not a universalist.

Being an Evangelical I hold such high esteem towards the Scriptures and its content and as far as Scriptures are concerned there is judgment that awaits all of us on the basis of God's righteousness.

I still uphold the Reformation formula of salvation in Christ alone; by grace alone through faith alone.

The reason I am writing this is because in recent days I had encounters with fellow Christians who hold such a high esteem for Calvin's doctrine of Total Depravity. For them it is an insult to talk about the possibility of everyone being reconciled with God because it diminishes the work of Christ on Calvary. Now don't get me wrong I believe that as well but what I like us all to look at is that this can be looked at on another angle, from the angle of the cosmic significance of Christ work of redemption and that possible reconciliation of all with God on the basis of God's freedom to take in account Christ's redemptive work to be valid for all.

Also under normal circumstances I would agree with them. But at the same time something troubles me –that is the way we Evangelicals act as though we are in the position to determine who is and who isn't going to hell!