ANNHILATION?
Will you really annul My judgment?
Job 40:8
Christian celebrity Kirk Cameron might well heed Lugosi’s Dracula, who chillingly opined: “There are far worse things awaiting man than death.” Indeed, as Judas discovered, there IS something worse than the cessation of existence (Matt.26:24)!
Recently Kirk stirred up YouTube by openly rejecting the eternal conscious torment of the lost (ECT), re-defining “Hell” as annihilation unto non-existence which is more consistent with the love of God, and thus a healthier alternative. Furthermore, he finds ECT an obstacle to evangelism; modern people are turned off by a vengeful Deity who dispenses an unjustly infinite penalty for finite transgressions.
Reflexively, progressive evangelicals sprinted to Kirk’s defense, with many confessing like-mindedness. Others launched a pre-emptive strike against the “fundies” for “divisively” labelling annihilationism heretical.
Regarding its heritage, annihilationism is overwhelmingly associated with heterodox societies (JW’s, SDA’s). Notwithstanding, Kirk attempts to bolster his case via revisionism, suggesting that annihilationism was often favored by the Fathers (FALSE). Further, he giddily informs us that even the celebrated John Stott favored this position. TRUE, Stott did lapse into annihilationism—but is he our source of authority?
Unsurprisingly, there is little Biblical exegesis attending Kirk’s proposal. There are no interpretive difficulties attending Rev.14:10-11; 20:10; 2Thess.1:9, etc. The fires of Hell are unquenchable (Matt. 3:12; 9:48; 25:41) and as eternal as the joys of Heaven (Matt.25:46)!
Kirk’s source of authority, however, is sentiment (Jer.17:9), which is unable to embrace the Transcendence of God (Isa.6:1-5) and thus seeks to nullify His justice (Job 40:8). Nor is ECT disproportional; our sin is against an infinite God!
This is SERIOUS error. Rejecting ECT impacts our principles of Biblical interpretation and distorts the Doctrines of God and the Atonement—even as it minimizes evangelistic urgency.
Pray for Kirk’s repentance and restoration.
Terry L. Reese