The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-26
The Hell Discussion.

Tic question several weeks ago as to
why it is that the subject Of punish
msut after death is SO seldom discuss
ed in eur modern pulpit the question
has been going the rounds of the coun-
try, elioiting many thoughtful aud
earnest responses on both sides, and
though secular newspapers are seldom
given to the discussion Of grave reli-
gious subjects, there are few news
papers in the United States which
have not taken part in the discussion
OF this momentous question.
| One Of the newspapers which has
entered into tie controversy with some
spirit is The Chicago Inter Ocean,
aud on last Sunday several commuui-
cations were published from represen-
tstive members of the community
handling the subject from various
points of view. Most of them took
the position that since the doctrine Of
future punishment had not been elir, :
mated from the Bible, there was no
reason why it should be eliminated
from the pulpit, and accordingly they
aligned themselves on the side of or
thodoxy. One Of the best contribu-
tions came from one who signed him
self "Layman," and he discusses the
subject with such level headed COM
mon sense that we reproduce it in this
connection as an important contribu-
tion to the literature which has ap-
peared upon the subject. Says the
writer:
''The majority of thinking mon have
come to realize that the doctrines as
formerly taught represented God as
harsh and relentless in His dealings
with sinners, aud that this is quite in
compatible with the spirit of love,
compassion and forbearance which
Jesus manifested in His life and en-
joined upon His disciples. 1t is also
true that religious teachers, in ceas-
ing to proclaim the terrible sufferings
to be endured hereafter by sinners,
have practically ceased to teach that
there is any punishment in the future
for sin committed in this life. The
result Of this is that in the minds Of
the young and many of those of mid
die age there is SO little thought con-
cerning future punishment that it has
ceased to be an important factor in
controlling conduct and developing
character. 1 believe this is one of the
several reasons, and perhaps the most
important, why the church is not as
effective in causing men to turn from
ain unto righteousness as it was in
former years. The pulpit has laid
aside one of the weapons most effec-
tive in combating sin and has found
nothing to take it's place.
why has this been done? The
Bible surely teaches future punish
ment for sin. In explaining to His
disciples the parable Of the tares,
Matt. xiii, 4O42, Jesus said: sAs
therefore the tares are gathered and
burned in the fire, so shall it be in
the end of this world. The Son of
man shall send forth His angels and
they shall gather together out of His
kingdom all things that offend and
them which do iniquity, and shall
cast them into furnace Of fire.
Docs any enc doubt that the purpose
of burning the tares was to destroy
them because they were worthless and
that they might do no further harm7 2
Is not the teaching equally plain that
the things which offend and them
| which do iniquity shall be gathered
out of His kingdom and destroyed, be-
cause in the economy of His Kingdom
these things are worthless and harm
full? But some say, the spirit is i'm
mortal; that it cannot be destroyed.
Jesus did not thus teach. He did
many times in unmistakable language
promise everlasting life to those who
would believe and obey Him, but to
none others.
| II believe Jesus came 70 save men
by turning them from sin to right
eousness. believe, if correctly, full
ly, clearly, and forcibly proclaimed,
Jesus teachings are as efficient to-day
as they ever have been. But it need
not be taught that God is more cruel
than men. Men Of to-day will not be-
lieve it. Neither is it permissible to
forget to teach that God is just, and
that sin has terrible consequences;
that He that soweth to the flesh
shall Of the flesh reap corruption, and
he that soweth to the spirit shall of
| fha ex,;s;4 ,.oax 81, l;eo a.za-A.A: