Chapter 4 – The Problem
Why has the Church as a whole accepted this doctrine
of eternal torment? The answer is not an easy one for I believe there
are many reasons. At the end of this series of articles I will give
some of the reasons why I believe eternal torment is embraced by the evangelical
church today.
But for starters, one of the most obvious reasons is a lack of proper
interpretation of the Bible. On the one hand we have a host of verses,
which seem to say that salvation is for all. On the other hand we have
all the passages, which seem to speak of eternal punishment. We, as
believers, know that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. In the
original writings it contains no mistakes or contradictions. So how
do we reconcile these two?
It seems to me that we have two ways we can go. First, we can say
that we believe in eternal torment and interpret all seemingly contradictory
passages in the light of eternal torment. Or we can believe in the
salvation of all and then interpret all eternal torment verses in the light
of universal reconciliation. But as believers, we must reconcile these
two seemingly opposite views. If eternal torment exists, then universal
reconciliation cannot be true. If universal salvation is true, then
eternal torment cannot exist. They both cannot be true!
So why do we pick “eternal torment” as the truth and change the word “all”
to mean something less than all?” Why do we err on the side of eternal
torment? And then if someone believes in the salvation of all, he is
declared a heretic. Now why is this? Doesn’t the Bible say that
“love never fails”? Doesn’t the Bible say, “…abides these three: faith,
hope, and love, but the greatest is love?” Doesn’t it also say that
God’s tender compassions are above all His works--including His judgments?
(Psalm 145:9) It seems to me, if I am going to err on one side or
another, I should err on the side of love. Which is greater—God’s
love or His judgment? Does not the Bible teach from cover to cover
that God’s love is His greatest quality? Can love allow millions and
millions to be tortured forever?
I have been accused of being of “another spirit.” Is it of another
spirit to desire all men to be saved—and then to believe that God’s Word
teaches that one day all men will? I certainly am not advocating blindly
picking the side of universal salvation without Biblical evidence. There
is more than sufficient evidence showing that God will one day save all (that’s
what this booklet is all about). What I am asking is why do we so easily
take the side of eternal torment at the expense of God’s love? Does
God’s justice outweigh His love? Is the extent of God’s love limited
by the will of man?
There does, however, seem to be a contradiction in the Word of God.
One question that has always bothered me until recently is “Why does God
allow such confusion in His Word?” God could have made His Word so
easy to understand. Why didn’t Jesus say that “eating His body and drinking
His blood” was not a literal meaning, but a representative one? Could
not Jesus have cleared up the whole issue with one sentence? So why
does God allow such confusion in the Church? What about the issue of
tongues? Or baptism? What about God’s sovereignty versus the
free will of man? Isn’t God big enough to make His Word clear to all?
I believe the answer can be found in Prov. 25:2. It says, It
is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search
out a matter.
It is clear to me the longer I am a Christian and the more I read the
Word of God that God intentionally hides truth in His Word. He hides
truth so that it may be found by the seeking heart. Remember in Matt
13, Jesus spoke in parables for the main reason of hiding the truth from
the Pharisees? It says that the truth is hidden lest they be converted.
This, to me, is an amazing thing. God hides His truth and reveals it
to those who are seekers! Psalm 18:26 says, “To the pure thou wilt shew
thyself pure; and with the froward, thou wilt shew thyself froward.”
I believe the Scriptures teach two great things as revealed by the above
verses. First, God reveals truth only to the seeking heart. And
second, it is God who opens the eyes of all of us and enables us to see—in
other words, it is He who causes us to seek Him (Phil 2:13). For whatever
reason, I believe God has chosen to close the eyes of the Church to the
great truth of His universal salvation. To me it is an amazing thing
that God would allow His character to be maligned by allowing the doctrine
of eternal torment to be so prevailing in the Church today. But isn’t
that just like our God? Wasn’t Jesus as a sheep dumb before its shearers
who didn’t speak a word in His defense? The Scriptures say that Christ
“made Himself of no reputation.” He could have called down legions
of angels when He was on the cross. He chose not to do so for the purpose
of our salvation. The Old Testament says that “God humbles Himself
to behold the things of the earth” (Ps 113:6). You see, it is in the
character of God to humble Himself. Certainly God wants His truth known.
But He is not like us. When our reputation is at stake, we strike
out to protect our precious name. God is teaching His children to
humble themselves by His example!! When our names are maligned, we
must follow God’s example and not try to vindicate ourselves. One
day God will vindicate Himself. But right now, He is allowing all this
contradiction against Himself for a purpose. I do not claim to understand
all of His purposes. But one thing we do know…”God will work all things
out according to the counsel of His own will.” (Eph 1:11)
One day it will all make sense!