The newspaper columnist Dominic Lawson, who says he is not religious, recently wrote about 'How the loss of belief in Hell has had a profoundly destructive effect on civil order' (Daily Mail 17 March 2025).
Although he understands why today's preachers prefer to emphasise only the God of forgiveness, rather than of vengeance, he stated that: "... without the prospect of Hell for the wicked ... the idea of an all-forgiving God is actually more likely to make people commit crimes".
He quoted from Professor Dominic Johnson, an atheist, who has demonstrated scientifically "... that belief in supernatural reward and punishment was not merely a quirk of Judeo-Christian culture, but ubiquitous in human nature, and with 'pro-social' results" (from 'God is Watching You' – 2016).
When Christians ignore, minimise, or distract from the eternal consequences of rebellion against God - they do nobody any favours.
Cancelling Hell ... removes the need for salvation, because it removes divine wrath against sin and its eternal consequences ... therefore there is no need for the cross or the gospel, and evangelism is redefined as getting people into a church building and meeting their social needs.
Of course, it is important for the church to understand what drives the world ... with its quest for experience, authenticity and emotional engagement in the here and now. But Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world; and that we do not belong to this world either. The world's drivers must not take the church's steering wheel.
'Equipping people for eternity' almost seems archaic now, but that is the authorised purpose of the gospel, and the goal of every authentic evangelist, pastor and teacher. Eternal life starts when we believe in Jesus. The truth is that His death and resurrection saves us from God's wrath, and hell forever, when we believe in Him.
Cancelling hell without cancelling heaven is ludicrously unbiblical. So is living only for today without any understanding of tomorrow. Jesus called a rich man 'You fool' because his hedonistic lifestyle dismissed the reality of eternity.
Can Christ's church slip its moorings (the anchor is in heaven) so badly while trying to help so many people? Yes, as did many New Testament churches - the apostolic letters were written to bring them back to spiritual reality. Once our focus moves from the gospel of the risen Christ in glory, to our own efforts to make people's lives better, the mooring is no longer secure.
Loving our neighbour is a very good thing to do. However, if we do that, but fail to prepare them for eternity - we have let them down catastrophically - and have failed to truly love them.
BeaconLight partners are fully aware that time is short. Like the Apostle Paul they have a divine commission to 'be all things to all people so that by all means they may save some' (1 Corinthians 9:22). The purpose of the social interaction is eternal salvation, not as a fringe by-product, but as an intentional goal.
Thank you for standing secure on the gospel, fixing your eyes on Jesus, anchored to the hope of an eternity with God, standing on His promises, and holding out the Word of life. Thank you for praying for our partners, whose mission is to equip their people to meet Jesus and be with Him for eternity.
That is what a Happy Easter is really all about!