Are We Reluctant To Mention Hell? The Survey Says…

Believers affirm hell and salvation through Jesus—yet most are reluctant to disciple, despite knowing others face eternal separation.

We just concluded one of the most sobering and spiritually urgent research projects we’ve ever undertaken.

We surveyed you, our Sunday reader, a group which includes believers and non-believers, disciple-makers and passive Christians, and asked what you really believe about hell, salvation, and eternity. The results were shocking. Not because of what was missing, but because of what was there.

The vast majority of us believers still believe in hell. We believe it's real. Eternal. Inescapable apart from Jesus. But most of us are living like hell doesn’t exist.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

Among the believing respondents:

·       99% affirm that hell is a literal place of eternal punishment.

·       98% believe that Jesus is the only way to escape it.

·       97% agree that all have sinned and are deserving of judgment.

·       91% say they’re confident enough to explain what the Bible teaches about hell.

·       64% engage with the Bible daily.

This is not a biblically illiterate group. We know the truth. We love Scripture. We affirm core doctrine. And yet only 14% are actively discipling anyone. Let that sink in. 86% of us believe in hell and remain silent.

The Most Startling Subgroup: Bible-Engaged Non-Disciple-Makers

Then we found something even more startling. We isolated a large group of us who: Engage the Bible four or more times a week, and admit they do not disciple anyone at all.

These are mature Christ Followers. They are the Bible readers, the small group attendees, the ministry volunteers—the backbone of the local church.

This group knows that hell is for real. They believe their neighbors are at risk, but they do nothing to help others follow Jesus. Theologically strong. Biblically disciplined. Spiritually confident. And yet, they don’t reproduce themselves.

What does this say about this Bible-Engaged subgroup? Of these believers:

·       100% read Scripture regularly.

·       97.5% believe Jesus is the only way to be saved.

·       98.5% affirm hell as literal. But…

·        0% disciple someone else!

Where is the disconnect? Many of us sit there wondering why our churches aren’t multiplying. It’s not a knowledge problem. It’s not a resource problem. So is it a courage problem?

Belief Without Burden

We know people are walking toward the cliff of eternal separation. We know there’s only one rescue: Jesus.

Why do you think we are so reluctant? Stay tuned.

In it, to Kingdom win it.

-Arnie