Evangelicals believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. It is not a truth, it is THE truth. Who created the universe? The Bible has the answer. Who is the one true and living God? The Bible has the answer. What is sin? The Bible has the answer. What happens to us after we die? The Bible has the answer. Is there a Heaven and a Hell? The Bible has the answer. What must a person do to be forgiven by God and delivered from sin? The Bible has the answer. As the old junior church classic goes:
The B-i-b-l-e, yes that’s the book for me
I stand alone on the Word of God
The B-i-b-l-e
BIBLE
If every person who has ever lived, past present, and future, ends up in either Heaven or Hell after death, it’s very important for us to know exactly what God’s Word has to say on the matter. Are there certain sins that will keep a person out of Heaven and guarantee them a bunk in Hell with Christopher Hitchens, Steven Hawking, Richard Dawkins, and Bruce Gerencser? (Please see Christopher Hitchens is in Hell.) It’s at this point that many Evangelicals begin to play dumb, suggesting that it is up to God to judge someone. But wait a minute, isn’t the Bible the Word of God? Aren’t its words so clear that even a child can understand them? If the most important decision people will ever make is to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, shouldn’t prospective Christians be able to go to the Bible and find out exactly what sins will keep them out of Heaven?
Well, the Evangelical says, really it’s only the sin of unbelief that sends a person to Hell. Really? Is that what the inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God says? Shouldn’t everything, especially those issues that have eternal import, be judged and determined by the Holy Bible? Surely, God is clear on this matter, yes?
Many Evangelicals genuinely want to be thought of as nice people (and some delight in being assholes). They want to be respected and thought well of. So, when confronted with those who reject Jesus and live in a way that is contrary to the teachings of the Bible, they often refuse to say, as Jesus did, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Many of the people who once called me pastor or preacher have a hard time believing and saying, Bruce Gerencser, you are headed for Hell. They cannot fathom that the man who once preached to them the unsearchable riches of Christ and pointed them to Jesus and his saving grace is now an atheist headed for Hell. Some even go so far as to say that I am still a Christian.
The Bible has several lists of sins that will keep a person out of Heaven and earn them a lifetime all-expense-paid vacation in Hell. Let’s take a look at what GOD says about the matter.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
This passage says the following people will go to Hell after they die:
- Fearful (cowardly)
- Unbelieving
- Abominable
- Murderers
- Whoremongers (sexually immoral)
- Sorcerers (magic)
- Idolaters
- Liars
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
This passage says the following people will go to Hell after they die:
- Unrighteous
- Fornicators
- Idolaters
- Adulterers
- Effeminate
- Abusers of themselves with mankind
- Thieves
- Covetous
- Drunkards
- Revilers
- Extortioners
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
This passage says the following sins will guarantee a person a bunk in Hell after they die:
- Adultery
- Fornication
- Uncleanness
- Lasciviousness (wantonness, sensuality)
- Idolatry
- Witchcraft (drug use)
- Hatred
- Variance (quarrelsome, contentious)
- Emulations (envy, jealousy)
- Wrath
- Strife
- Seditions (dissension, division)
- Heresies
- Envyings
- Murders
- Drunkenness
- Revellings (partying, rioting)
- And such like (covering anything else we later make a sin)
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
This passage says the following people will go to Hell after they die:
- Whoremonger
- Unclean person (impure, lewd, demonic)
- Covetous man who is an idolater
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
This passage deals with those whom God has given over to a reprobate mind. Most Evangelicals believe a reprobate is a person who cannot be saved, a person whom God has turned his back on. The reprobate, thanks to a hard heart, is guaranteed a place in Hell. What sins are the mark of a reprobate?
- Vile affections (homosexuality)
- Filled with unrighteousness
- Fornication
- Wickedness
- Covetousness
- Maliciousness
- Envy
- Murder
- Debate
- Deceit
They are whisperers, backbiters, and haters of God, who are:
- Despiteful
- Proud
- Boasters
- Inventors of evil things
- Disobedient to parents
- Without understanding
- Covenantbreakers
- Without natural affection
- Implacable
- Unmerciful
Reprobates not only do these things, they take pleasure in doing so. They sin with gusto!
The Bible is quite clear about who won’t be in Heaven. Evangelicals don’t need to play dumb or stammer. All they need to do is point people to these verses. God has spoken! And why they are at it, they might want to re-read these passages. If we take God at his word, it seems quite clear that there will be NO Evangelicals in Heaven, either. Think about all the Christians you know and the people you once attended church with. Think of the men who were once your pastor. Think about your Christian family. Aren’t all of them mentioned in one of these five Scripture passages?
Besides, the Bible says in 1 John 3:8,9:
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
The next time you come in contact with Evangelical zealots, ask them if they have sinned. If they say YES, then quote the Good Book, telling them that:
- Anyone who commits sins is of the Devil
- Whoever is born of God does not commit sin
If they have sinned, then that means they are of the Devil, are not a child of God, and are headed to Hell like the rest of us unwashed, uncircumcised Philistines.
Just remember, it’s in the B-i-b-l-e.
Evangelicals have all kinds of explanations and justifications for why these verses don’t mean what say. Be prepared to be taken on a wild goose chase, with discussions meant to explain away or obfuscate the clear, unadulterated meaning of the Bible.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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That passage from 1 John is pretty damning, especially when the list of sins elsewhere is so long. Fortunately there’s as much evidence for hell as there is for heaven. But just to be on the safe side, I’ll make sure I have enough money in my pocket to buy Hitch a drink.
I did hear it said that you need to take an IQ test before you can be regarded as an evangelical and that if you score more than a certain level then you fail.
Now now, Geoff… that is not fair. Very intelligent folk suffer capital D denial just the same way less smarty folk do. The Bahai religion seems to suggest that we will learn our way to the one true God (it might have been Christ at one time but then, someone else) and that as we progress the truths that are being kept from us cuz we are not ready for them, will be revealed.
Denial is denial is denial is all I have to say and if there was a better system for lifelong denial, then religion would fade away pretty fastly like….
Because of those list of sins written on it, I give the Bible a credit to control the masses in good way. For example: if the unmerciful ones would go to hell, because of fear of hell, they would change their ways to be more merciful. Although they would do it in wrong motivation, it would be beneficial to the society.
Not all written in the Bible are bad. There are some good points written in it.
What do you consider the good things in the Bible?
Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
We’re not sinners Tommy.
Sin is an imaginary crime against an imaginary victim.
It’s also rather cowardly to let someone die in your place for something you allegedly did.
actually Romans 5:8 is wrong since no one wanted JC to die except for this god. There is no love in killing someone as a scapegoat.
Bruce beautiful family and your right that describs any who’s ever been born. Like in 1st Corinthians 6:11 it names the same ugly bunch but it says “SUCH WAS SOME OF YOU. When you became a christian. You know that John 5:24 you become a new creature you are no longer in that catagory. When God looks at you he dont see you he sees his son Jesus.God sees you clothed in Jesus his son’s righteousnes not your past present or future sins.
.It is our key to HEAVEN.”TAKE THE DEAL” keep the free gift. Be serious ask God simply thank you for eternal life. Help me to believe and Thank you. Bruce you look like a smart fellow. The gift is free. Keep the deal.
*sigh*
Based on my lifelong observation of Bible-believing, born-again, sanctified Christians, none of them will go to Heaven when they die. If the Bible is true, every Christian will end up in Hell.
When Buddy Christian says, “Bruce you look like a smart fellow…” I chuckle and guffaw. If in Buddy’s eyes you coule just look a bit more un-smart, he could more comfortably let you eternally burn… Buddy, you don’t sound like a smart fella.
Buddy, what a particularly stupid comment. Ignoring your appalling grammar (which makes me suspect you were homeschooled), what’s the point of quoting bible texts on a site that thinks the bible is of no consequence? If you want to demonstrate how wonderful the bible is then you have to look to evidence elsewhere; reason dictates that one cannot ‘sell’ the authority of a text, anything in fact, by using the matter under discussion as evidence of itself. Its like Trump saying he’s a genius. The only evidence he provides is his own claim, and external evidence shows that he’s probably quite low IQ.
Do you feel better now Buddy?
So, Buddy — your god can’t look upon mortals as they are, and has to make them wear Jesus masks? Why on earth would anyone want to worship a coward like that?
I, for one, reject the not-so-free “gift” unconditionally, regardless of the alleged consequences, as I believe both the gift and the consequences to be 100% fictional.
Oh, and maybe — just maybe — you shouldn’t be looking for truth in a book with an undead rabbi and a Talking Snake™.
Comment sent to me from Buddy:
Bruce, sorry to see you dont take into consideration all the life around you. It didnt just happen. And no i was not home schooled sometime i wished i was .many famous people have been. I worked in high technology . been to many high tech schools. Worked in communication , radio transmission, optic fiber. Light travling at 186,000 mps for one light year is approx. 6trillion miles. An astronomical unit to put a yard stick on the universe is the distance from eart to sun 93 million miles. See how big GOD YAHWEH is. I am 68 year old vietnam vet. USCG. I wish no futher verbalization with you, but to tell you GOD THE FATHER GOD THE SON GOD THE HOLY GOST. JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. My friend you cant change that. No more comm’s Bruce. Thank you and God Bless You.
Dear Buddy,
Upper case letters are not necessary. We all heard you the first time.
Well Bruce, I’m not sure that any of us are changing our views about Buddy based on this response! Oh dear!!
Bible also said Jesus came for the lost. That’s why through repentance and asking for forgiveness His blood washes us clean. Its a life style of every time you sin you repent. Bible also says we are the temple of God. Are we living for ourselves or Him thats the question? True love is laying down my life for others thinking of them before myself. Most of our sins is about self thats what keeps us out of heaven. I am not my own i am bought with a piece His blood.,
Mr./Ms. Perrin, the Bible also mentions Talking Snakes™. Do you know of a good supplier? I keep asking true believers to get me one, but no one has come through yet.
(And where did you get the barmy idea that being washed in blood makes you clean, rather than a vector for all manner of nasty diseases and covered in reddish-brown stains?)
RLPerrin, Hey, you are not a fallen piece of dung that Jesus turned into a flower. You are just a human being like me. The temple of God is a dream and Christianity harms us with its talk of sin and brokeness at birth. Love is what you say it is, people helping people. Don’t be bought and sold.
Masturbatory Bible verse recitation deleted.
According to Luke 20:34-36, Jesus doesn’t want married people in his magic kingdom either. So if you’re married, you can forget about going to heaven, along with all those other damn sinners.
When I read Dante’s “Inferno”–and, many years later, had my students read it–I realized that those consigned to eternal damnation, whether in Dante’s work or in Galatians or Romans–are simply people seen as “undesirable” by those in power or anyone aligned with them. Now of course I don’t condone murder, but I think that people who are comfortable and smug find it too easy to denigrate those who’ve committed crimes for reasons neither they nor anyone else can understand. Or it may simply be a matter of hating an actual or designated criminal or sinner as a way of not dealing honestly with one’s self (e.g., all of those homo- and trans-phobes who are closet queens).
In other words, concepts of Heaven and Hell–or whatever they’re called in other traditions–are simply an expression of personal or collective prejudices and other hatreds.
It seems to me that a whole lot of evangelicals fall on these naughty lists – it’s no wonder they use the Sinner’s Prayer as a Get Out of Hell Free card. Convenient, right?
How horrible. You know you should stop–and turn back to God.
What is horrible? What should I stop?Turn back from where? Which God?
Hail Loki! 😀
Seriously, Sarah, why should anyone chase after the petty little hissy-fit god described in the Bible? And why does it need you, mortal, to petition on its behalf? Lazy bum.