Not so Funny

There’s a small United Methodist Church in my neighborhood that has one of those marquees that is changed weekly, with cutsie little sayings (or at least someone there thinks they’re cute) that are, I suppose, meant to draw people from the busy street in to their building for worship, religion, fellowship, maybe even salvation? Many of them are tasteless, in that they belittle what our faith is all about, and Who it is about.

“Body piercing saved my life. Crucifixion: the ultimate body piercing.”

“Need a rest? Come in and use our John. (and Matthew, Mark & Luke)”

I try not to look at the sign, because inevitably I get irritated at the cavalier way in which our faith is so often presented to the lost world.

This week, especially, my stomach turned at the question on their marquee.

“Where will you spend eternity? Air-conditioned, or not?”

Is that what hell has been reduced to? A place without air-conditioning? Does the person who came up with this really know what the Bible says about Hell? Do they honestly think a lost person is going to read that and seriously contemplate where they are going to spend eternity?

Hell is not funny.

Hell is not something to laugh at, or to make jokes about. Are we as Christians so smug in our eternal security that we can laugh and make light of a place that the Bible says is “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”? (Mark 9:44)

Studies show that most Christians have never witnessed to anyone about their faith. Even fewer have ever led anyone to Christ. How pathetic are we who are saved, and never once consider the fate of our neighbors, our friends, our family, or even our mate? If we knew someone’s plane was going to crash and burn, and everyone in it was going to perish, wouldn’t we do everything we could to keep them from getting on that plane? Or would we make jokes about plane crashes instead?

Too many churches have quit talking about hell. It’s too offensive. It scares people. Let’s just talk about God’s love and leave the part about his holiness and righteous judgment out of it.

Why aren’t more people getting saved in this country? Because churches won’t talk about sin and won’t talk about hell.

A relative of mine whom I love dearly, and who is lost, emailed me a joke about hell. I didn’t respond by witnessing to him. I’ve done that many times in the past. But I did email him back and say, “no offense, but I don’t think the subject of hell is funny. Please don’t send me any more jokes about such a horrible place.” I hope he pondered my feelings for a little while anyway.

Christian, in case you haven’t given hell much thought lately, I’ve posted a few Scriptures for you to review. Stop and think about those in your life that you know are lost. Ask yourself if you’ve been guilty of joking around about hell. Then I challenge you to start taking it seriously – and if you haven’t already, I challenge you to share the truth about it with those loved ones and friends. Let God guide you, of course, but for their sake, don’t ever let them hear you make light of it. It might just make a difference in where they spend their eternity.

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17

“Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” Psalm 55:15-16

“Hell and destruction are never full…” Proverbs 27:20

“Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee…” Isaiah 14:9

“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:” Mark 9:43

“And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:23-24

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” II Peter 2:9

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:13-14

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Revelation 19:20

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” Revelation 20:10

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15