Eternity

The Doctrine of Hell

	Charles Colson writes in his book, "A Dangerous Grace"...

	"When the Church does not clearly teach the doctrine of hell, society loses an important anchor."

	"In a sense, hell gives meaning to our lives. It tells us that the moral choices we make day by day have eternal significance; that our behavior has consequences lasting to eternity; that God Himself takes our choices seriously. When people don't believe in a final judgement, they don't feel ultimately accountable for their actions. There is no firm least holding back sinful impulses. As the book of Judges puts it, there is "no fear of God" in their hearts, and everyone does what is right in his own eyes. The doctrine of hell is not just some dusty theological holdover from the Middle Ages. It has significant social consequences. Without a conviction of ultimate justice, people's sense of moral obligation dissolves; social bonds are broken. People who have no fear of God soon have no fear of man -- no respect for human laws and authorities." Excerpted from A Dangerous Grace Daily Readings by Charles Colson, pg. 22.