Chalke Talk 91: What about the Sheep, the Goats and ‘eternal punishment?’

Hell is perhaps one of the most polarising topics within the church, and the way it’s been represented often damages our witness as Christ-followers. It’s for that reason that Steve has been dedicating weeks of Chalke Talk to explore it.

In previous weeks Steve has unpacked how a literal reading of the passages relating to Hell has led to so many misconceptions, and often spiritual abuse. The notion of “eternal punishment,” is not only misinformed, Steve argues, but it’s also not what Paul nor Jesus made of the afterlife.
 
This leads many people to the question, “What about the sheep and goats”? The infamous passage that so many believe gives us a glimpse into “the judgment day.”

Steve points out that similar to a lot of the ancient texts that make up the bible, these words aren’t exactly as they seem.

But what do you think? ‘Eternal punishment’ or ‘a time of pruning’? It makes a huge difference not only to the way we read the Bible, but also the way we see other people and the whole world!