Help us develop a creative way to discuss hell with non-believers

Most think they'll go to heaven, but few believe in hell. Yet silence on hell may be spiritual malpractice. It's time to speak the truth in love.

We didn’t make God; He made us. And all of the sky, the earth, the deep blue sea, and every living thing in it. So isn’t it logical that God—the Creator—also set the rules pertaining to life and the afterlife?

Yet according to Gallup and Pew Research, the vast majority of adults in America—whether they follow Jesus or not—believe they’ll go to heaven when they die. Almost no one believes they’re going to hell. But is that what the Bible actually teaches?

Here’s where it gets personal. As someone whose life has been radically changed by Christ, I’ve found myself completely silent on the topic of hell. Ironically, I used to talk about hell more as a non-believer—joking with my mom that all my friends would be there, or tossing it off in frustration: “Go to hell.” But now, even though I believe it’s real, I avoid the topic entirely.

I’m not alone. Most Christians I know—including ministry leaders—rarely mention hell at all. Not in sermons. Not in Gospel presentations. Not even in private conversations.

Just the other day, my wife Char and I tried to remember the last time we heard a sermon that spoke clearly about hell. It had been 28 years. Yes, 28. She recalled our former pastor Gary Inrig preaching on it—and how her friend Kathy gave her life to Christ because she realized she didn’t want to spend eternity in hell.

That moment changed Kathy’s life forever.

So why is something with eternal consequences so rarely talked about?

The truth is, most of us are reluctant to talk about hell—not out of rebellion, but out of fear. I get it. Even bringing it up feels harsh, offensive, or uncomfortable. But I’ve realized that my silence about hell could be a form of spiritual malpractice. Like a doctor who knows the diagnosis is terminal but avoids the conversation because it might upset the patient.

That’s not love. That’s avoidance.

That’s why we created a simple but powerful tool: a 20-question survey called “What Happens to You When You Die, According to the Bible?”  https://bttb.org/HeavenOrHell It’s designed not to shame or scare people, but to start honest, thoughtful conversations based on what Scripture actually says.

Here’s how you can use it:

You might say to someone you care about:

“I came across this short survey. It uses the Bible to ask some probing questions about life after death. It really made me think. Would you be open to taking it with me and talking about it?”

This isn’t about preaching. It’s about exploring truth together. It’s a conversation starter that can soften defenses and open hearts. And it’s especially effective because the questions invite self-reflection—they do the heavy lifting.

And let’s be clear: we’re not trying to frighten people into the kingdom. We’re trying to awaken them—lovingly, gently, but truthfully. As one of our readers, Dr. P, put it so well:

“Bashing believers for not bashing other believers is not the answer. Reminds me of medieval artwork depicting demons with pitchforks… Evangelization is not a game of checking boxes about how many folks we tell about hell each day.”

Exactly. This isn’t about tallying conversions. It’s about loving people enough to talk about all the truth—including the hard parts.

Ephesians 4:15 reminds us to speak the truth in love. Not to win arguments or gloat, but to gently, humbly share the reality that apart from Christ, all of us are lost. The old saying is true: people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

A real conversation might look like this:

“Do you really believe what these questions imply—that I’d go to hell?”

“I do believe the Bible’s warnings are real. But that’s exactly why I’m sharing this with you—because I care. None of us has to go there. Can I tell you what the Bible says about how to be forgiven and live forever with God?”

That’s the doorway to the Gospel—the best news in the world.

But before you send this to someone, pray. Ask God to prepare their heart and give you the courage to speak with empathy and humility. Remember, we were once on the road to hell, until someone loved us enough to speak the truth.

Take the survey for yourself first. Let it stir your heart. Then—ask God to show you one person who needs to see it. That one conversation could be the turning point in someone’s eternity.

Take the Survey Now: https://bttb.org/HeavenOrHell. Then invite someone you care about to take it with you. This may be the most important conversation you ever have. 

Let me know how it goes. Send your comments to me here.

-Arnie