Hell if I know

Is there a literal hell?
If so who’s in & who’s out?
If there is a literal hell how do we avoid it?
Isn’t there enough hell on earth already?
Can a literal hell co-exist with a loving, just God?

Since the release of Rob Bell’s book Love Wins back in March people in the church and out of the church have been asking questions just like these.

Hell is one of those topics we love to talk about on one level - but at the same time we love to avoid.

Yet hell gets associated with all kinds of feelings and emotions. One day while fishing with my brother we got on the topic of hell and started listing all the different expressions associated with it.

Just to give you a few: Funny as hell. Hurts like hell. Mad as hell. Hot as hell. Cold as hell. Hell yes. Hell no. Hell if I know.

By the time we were done we had a long list of expressions. I am not sure why we associate hell with so many emotions and feelings but we do.

Growing up “hell” was the “bad” word. You better not let mom or grandma here you say it or your month might get washed out with soap. Ever have that happen? Tasted like hell didn't it? See, there is another one of those expressions.

So what is hell really like? Does hell even exist?

Over the next few weeks at our church we are going to look at some of these questions and others to see if we can gain some clarity on this topic.

I want to invite you to attend our church. I know people have some baggage when it comes to church and honestly for good reasons. But some churches have made changes-changes for the better. I have the privilege to be the lead pastor of one of those churches where we are committed to making church relevant, meaningful, fun, exciting, unpridictable and anything but boring. We don't believe God is boring or out of date and therefore the church shouldn't be either. And yet as I say all that, I know people who have given up on church and think, "yeah, whatever, it's still church." I get it, I've been there. But we're different and the only way you will know and experience it for yourself is to try it out.

After all what the "hell" do you have to lose. Sorry I couldn't resist that one.

Anyway, hope to see you Sunday at one of our campuses. You can get more info at www.atleechurch.org.

1 comment:

  1. Jeff,

    Your story about having your mouth washed out with soap is funny as hell.

    That could actually be a job in hell...moving an eternal mountain of Safeguard, one bar at a time, with your mouth. Ugh.

    Sorry, I couldn't resist.

    I know a few folks on your end of town that I'm going to encourage to come to Atlee this weekend. Would love to be there and learn from you about how to approach hell. Well, you know what I mean. :-)

    Praying for you and Atlee this weekend!