Is Saying the Word “Hell” a no-no?
Should the word hell pass your lips?
Quite often in the 1950-1970’s, when members of the church got together with those on the outside of the church, great debates would take place. In the many disagreements that came forth, some members of the church would come right out and tell one in a denomination that they are going to Hell. You can, in your mind, see the shock on that person’s face as those words are spoken to him. What an awful thing to say or, is it? Similar exchanges like this have been made inside the church between members. But, should we say such things? Many are appalled by the word and find it rude. Well . . . so what?
When one preaches the Gospel and there are a few who will not obey the Gospel, do we not already know that they are Hellbound? This is not to sound mean, nor is it to be said in a mean spirited way, but what else can be said about the matter? When a faithful member does not agree with such wordings, they may come and state that you cannot say that a person is going to Hell. Why not? Some say it is judging and that is to be left up to God. Others may say that you cannot say one is going to Hell because mankind does not have that right. Really? Is this true? What book, chapter and verse is this found in the Bible?
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there are many who are indeed Hellbound in this world and if one does not tell them the Truth without sugar coating it, that is where they are going because perhaps they will never know otherwise. Will we be to blame if our brother stumbles and we did not tell him that he was stumbling? Are we too satisfied with allowing them to go to Hell with a smile on their face? Are we, in the name of “tact” allowing precious souls to go to a place prepared for the Devil and his angels?
The Bible makes it very clear that many will go down the broad way which leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). Who are these people? They are the ones who are not obedient to the Lord, who will not walk in the light. Non believers and those who will not submit to the Lord will be lost (Mk. 16:15-16; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Rev. 22:14). The lost ones are those whose names are not written in the book of life (Rev. 20:11-15). And according to Matt. 7:21-23, did you know that many who profess to follow God, those we never reached to correct, those we never tried to snatch from the fires of Hell, will suffer for all eternity? Do you still think we should say nothing?
It is sin that separates one from God (Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 6:23). If one dies in his sins, he will be eternally lost (Jn. 8:24; James 5:19-20). The facts is, not all will accept Jesus as their King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There are many in the church and outside the church who will not submit to Him in humility and meekness and because of that, they are lost. I do not want to go to torment, do you? Do you want the person sitting next to you to burn for eternity and blame you for it? Have you ever heard the song, “You Never Mentioned Him to Me?” The chorus reads, “you met me day by day and knew I was astray, Yet never mentioned Him to me.”
We should never want to be in eternal punishment, eternal destruction, eternal judgment. This is not the place for us. Paul said, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Cor. 5:18-21).
Let us all strive together in faith. Let us all work together towards Heaven and for those glorious robes of white and our everlasting crowns. Let us help each other in the spirit of love and do for one another as we hope that they would do for us, especially if we are in the wrong. We do not have time to be poise. Let us not be as the priesthood under the Law of Moses which Malachi said, “But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 2:8). Let us not be the cause of stumbling, but help one another from stumbling and help them stand when they have stumbled so that no one is bound for Hell!