Shame and everlasting contempt
On August 1, 2009, The Mobile Press-Register published an article written by Greg Garrison of the Religion News Service entitled, “Heaven? Sure. Hell? Not so much.” Shortly thereafter, a parishioner of ours brought in a copy for me and wondered aloud, “Why don’t we talk about hell any more?” It just so happened that the answer to his question appeared in the teaser quote right at the top of the article:
“When you’re trying to market Jesus, sometimes there’s a tendency to mute traditional Christian symbols. Difficult doctrines are left by the wayside. Hell is a morally repugnant doctrine. People wonder why God would send people to eternal punishment.” - The Rev. Fred Johns, pastor of Brookview Wesleyan Church in Irondale, Ala.
I took that parishioners challenge to heart, and have kept the article tucked safely in my top left desk drawer since that day. In fact, I think of it often. This week, I’ve pulled it out to reread it as I’m faced with preaching a seriously difficult set of apocalyptic lessons for the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Here at Saint Paul’s, we’re using Track 2 of the RCL, so our lessons include:
