A Most Popular Rewording: John, Billy, and the Legacy of Lausanne
Now, for the damage done.
“I think that hell essentially is separation from God forever,” Billy Graham said in 1983. “And that is the worst hell that I can think of.” Ten years later the legendary evangelist doubled down: “The only thing I could say for sure is that hell means separation from God.”
The only thing?
Graham had helped organize the historic International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1974, where around 2500 attendees signed “the Lausanne Covenant,” a compelling document intended to unite evangelicals in reaching the globe with the gospel of Christ. For many, the Covenant became both a call to mission and statement of faith.
The only thing it said for sure on the final fate of the lost was that “those who reject Christ repudiate the joy of salvation and condemn themselves to eternal separation from God.” This relatively mild wording was drafted by a presumed traditionalist but covert annihilationist. More about him later.
Most evangelical organizations - churches, schools, colleges, seminaries, missions, etc. - dutifully maintain a statement of faith, a concise summary of basic beliefs. It is peculiar that “eternal separation from God,” phraseology absent from the historic creeds, ascended to become the preeminent expression of evangelical doctrine on the punishment of unbelievers. Like their leading luminary, it seems to be the only thing many evangelicals can "say for sure."
Though “eternal” has been around, well, forever, “separation” only relatively recently distanced itself from torment, punishment, and pain. During the same span, real “fire” literally disappeared. But while many evangelicals mellowed their fiery terminology, their effort to provide a more palatable presentation of the punishment was driven by an equal determination to preserve its endlessness. Hell might not be so bad after all, but it is still eternal! Modify anything but that.
And many modified just about everything but that.
George G. Houghton, in his article “Evangelicals and the Doctrine of Eternal Punishment,” pinpoints a pivotal change of wording:
The late 1960’s and early 1970’s saw a new Statement of Faith adopted and published by Fuller Theological Seminary in which the old Statement’s language of Christ “assigning unbelievers to eternal punishment” was changed to state that “the wicked shall be separated from God’s presence.” The new Statement changed the persons involved (from “unbelievers” to “the wicked”) and the scope of their fate (from “eternal punishment” to “separated from God’s presence”), thus allowing for greatly broader views.
This modification was criticized as deviation:
Fuller Theological Seminary’s new doctrinal statement departs from its original position on eternal punishment for unbelievers, simply saying that the wicked shall be separated from God’s presence.
Similar moderation by Wycliffe Bible Translators provoked a similar reaction:
It is obvious that this statement is designed to allow the broadest level of association. Everything is vague and fuzzy… There is no statement of eternal hellfire (only “eternal separation”).
Over a half century later, Aussie Pentecostals similarly softened their explanation of the destiny of the damned:
Those who reject Jesus will be subject to “eternal separation from God” in the new statement. “Whoever is not found written in the book of life shall be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,” is the description of the fate of unbelievers in the old statement of beliefs.
An important and influential statement of faith was originally composed in 1924 by Charles Blanchard, second president of Wheaton College, an institution whose alumni are a Who’s Who of evangelicals - Carl F. H. Henry, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, Nate Saint, John Piper, A. W. Tozer, Josh McDowell, Harold Lindsell, Kenneth Taylor, John Walvoord, Philip Yancey, Bill Gothard, William Lane Craig, and, most notably, Billy Graham.
Blanchard wrote:
We believe that our first parents sinned by rebelling against God’s revealed will and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death, and that as a result all human beings are born with a sinful nature that leads them to sin in thought, word, and deed.
The wording “incurred both physical and spiritual death” found its way into hundreds of corporate confessions (as can be easily demonstrated in a Google search). At some point over the last sixty years, “separation from God” was added as the definition of “spiritual death,” thus, 250+ statements eventually read “spiritual death, which is separation from God,” and at least 54 more finally asserted “spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God.”
Blanchard’s Wheaton Statement ended with “we believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, the everlasting punishment of the lost, and the everlasting blessedness of the saved.” A curious but consistent change was often made through the years by those who borrowed the Wheaton wording - not only was the spiritual death incurred defined as separation, the final fate became the eternal version of the same.
While plenty left “everlasting punishment” in the “future” section of their statement of faith (some even inserting “conscious” for good measure), many ultimately replaced that wording with “separation from God.”
One statement of faith copied and pasted by a variety of denominations (Nazarene, Church of Christ, Lutheran, Baptist), includes the wording “eternal separation from God and all that is good” (a few say “forever cut off”), which seems to have become a worldwide creedal cliché:
Death is separation from God and all that is good, for eternity. Pawnee First Baptist Church, Pawnee, Oklahoma
The Bible reveals that Hell is everlasting in duration; it is eternal separation from God and all that is good. Church Street Church of Christ, Bayswater, Victoria, Australia
We are all sinners before God, under a sentence of eternal death and separation from God and all that is good. Trinity Presbyterian Church, Lynnwood, Pretoria
It is in the conscience that we begin to feel the misery of separation from God and all that is good. Word of Life, United Kingdom
The wages of sin are death, which means eternal separation from God and all that is good. New Generation Church, Singapore
The punishment is death – eternal separation from God and all that is good: love, peace and joy. King’s Church, St Paul’s Cray, Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom
Death does not mean ceasing to be, but it means separation from God and all that is good, and suffering eternal punishment in hell. Apostolic Faith Church, Lagos, Nigeria
This is just one small example of how "separation from God" has become so thoroughly laced in the lingo. The above list is from sermons, Bible studies, and articles, not statements of faith. As far as I can discern, none of the above are even remotely connected to each other. At least five continents and five denominations are represented, and King’s Church in Kent advertises itself on its website as “a Christian church made up of men, women, and children from over 20 nations.”
As you can tell by that last affirmation, separation from God does not necessarily exclude “suffering eternal punishment in hell.” Actually, “eternal separation from God,” though milder in tone than the previous phraseology, is a vital line of defense of apologists for ECT (Eternal Conscious Torment).
Peter Grice, an articulate champion of conditionalism, sees this “language of eternal separation” as confessionally beneficial for conditionalists:
…annihilation speaks of a death that is a permanent loss of life, and destruction of the whole person. Since God is the source and sustainer of life, this kind of demise may be considered a consequence of eternal separation or severance from God. Proponents of conditionalism are therefore able to affirm any Christian statement of faith that includes the language of eternal separation…
Thought provoking, but “able to affirm” sounds like Ephramites taking speech therapy to learn how to pronounce “Shibboleth” (Judges 12:5, 6). Evangelical conditionalists know exactly what “the language of eternal separation” means to traditionalists, so if we speak it our conscientious fingers are carefully crossed behind our backs.
Which brings us back to the Lausanne Covenant of 1974 of which “the chief architect” was none other than, you may have already guessed, evangelical stalwart John Stott. Were his fingers crossed? I believe so, but no doubt he was at least aware of the easy elasticity of the language of eternal separation some thirteen years before his ballyhooed discourse with liberal church historian David Edwards. That’s when Stott famously admitted to “tentatively” holding to “the annihilation of the wicked.”
Read his entire response to Edwards on hell and you’ll see that the tentative, if not quite convinced, was quite convincing.
It was one year after the release of the New International Version New Testament with its “shut out from the presence” interpretation-translation, that the aforementioned Lausanne Covenant, “widely regarded as one of the most significant documents in modern church history” (again, signed by around 2500 eminent evangelicals who made the sojourn to Switzerland) summarized the final fate:
…those who reject Christ repudiate the joy of salvation and condemn themselves to eternal separation from God.
It is fascinating that this Covenant, the most lasting legacy of Lausanne '74, “a great rallying call to the evangelical Church around the world” to evangelize that world, does not mention hell, fire, torment, punishment, or pain.
Many evangelical organizations thereafter simply adopted the Covenant, word for word, as their new statement of faith. I found at least 86 English ones online that did so. David Ruiz, of the WEA (World Evangelical Alliance) Mission Commision (1997-2018) reported, “I would estimate that 85% of mission organizations in Latin America use The Lausanne Covenant as their statement of faith.”
Beloved John Stott knew what Grice explained, and “separation from God” became an easier-to-pronounce Shibboleth for all.
The two leaders with whom the Lausanne Movement is most closely associated are Billy Graham and John Stott. Billy was the face and voice…John Stott… the head and heart.
And it was John the closeted annihilationist and Billy the inconclusive traditionalist that helped secure the evangelical imprimatur on the language of eternal separation. For Graham, you will remember, it became “the only thing” he could say for sure, and for the yet uncandid Stott, it was the one thing he would be “able to affirm.”
He reaffirmed it even as he was confessing his possible heresy to David Edwards:
You (Edwards) then quote paragraph three of the Lausanne Covenant… it contains the stark statement that “those who reject Christ repudiate the joy of salvation and condemn themselves to eternal separation from God.” I stand by this, as I believe would the whole Evangelical community.
Grice is right.
So, is the traditionalist language of separation a concession to or compromise with Conditionalists? No, neither. It is more convenient, of course, and comfortable for some, but that's not the intent of defenders of ongoing agony.
And it's not the either-or posed here with the rewording of the British Free Methodists:
On hell, the 1969 Book of Discipline, using biblical language, says: “The wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.” The 1999 Book of Discipline has reworded the clause to read: “But for the finally impenitent there is a hell of eternal suffering and separation from God.” The altered wording may be interpreted either as reaffirming hell as everlasting punishment in contrast to annihilation, or with its less graphic imagery, at least as a softening of the style with which hell is to be preached.
Reaffirming or softening? It is both! Soften in order to more easily and less queasily reaffirm. “Separation” to the rescue. Again, the shoulders may shrug as to how horrible hell is - if the fire is figurative, or the torment spiritual - but the knuckles are snow white clinching to its perpetuity.
The nature of hell may be a murky mystery, but not its duration. The orthodox can equivocate on what it’s like, not on how long it lasts. The language of separation softens the ghastliness while reaffirming the endlessness.
And that’s the damage done. The whole death-as-separation and hell-as-eternal-separation mantra aided by the arbitrary misuse of apo has blinded the minds of so many to the simplicity of John 3:16, making them unable if not unwilling to see the Scriptural truth of conditional immortality, that believers receive everlasting life and unbelievers don’t - they perish in a final fate that is a second death and everlasting destruction by a fire that consumes.
In examining over 1500 evangelical organization’s statements of faith that include “separation from God'' as expressive of their understanding of the divine jurisprudence, I found at least 99 unique phrasings. All similar, of course, but different enough to demonstrate that not all were simply a copy and paste. This diversity is clear evidence of how the language of “separation from God” permeated the evangelical mindset.
How did this happen? When is the answer to how. Though it’s not clear which had more influence on which, post-1940 Bible translations and statements of faith seem to have simultaneously gravitated to the vocabulary of separation. Which came first - the parrot or the egg - doesn’t change the result.
The following list demonstrates the transparent transition in translation:
1382 Wycliffe Bible - from the face
1534 Tyndale Bible - from the presence
1535 Coverdale Bible - from ye presence
1537 Matthew’s Bible - from the presence
1539 The Great Bible - from the presence
1560 Geneva Bible - from the presence
1568 Bishops Bible - from the presence
1611 King James Version - from the presence
1833 Webster’s - from the face
1862 Young’s Literal Translation - from the face
1876 Julia E. Smith Translation - from the face
1899 Douay-Rheims - from the face
1890 Darby - from the presence
1901 American Standard Version - from the face
1913 James Moffatt New Testament - from the presence
1926 Concordant Literal Version - from the face
1946 Revised Standard Version - excluded from the presence
1958 Phillips - exclusion from the radiance of the face
1963 New American Standard Bible - away from the presence
1965 Amplified Bible - banished from the presence
1970 New English Bible - cut off from the presence
1971 Living Bible - separated from the Lord
1973 New International Version (NT) - shut out from the presence
1976 Good News Bible - separated from the presence
1982 New King James - from the presence
1986 New Life Version - taken away from the Lord
1989 Easy to Read Version - not be allowed to be with… but will be kept away from
1989 New Revised Standard Version - separated from the presence
1993 Green’s Literal Translation - from the face
1995 Contemporary English Version - kept far from the presence
1995 God’s Word Translation - separated from the presence
1995 New American Standard Bible updated - away from the presence
1996 New Living Translation - separated from the presence
1998 Complete Jewish Bible - far away from the face
1998 New International Reader’s Version - shut out of heaven
1999 Holman Christian Standard Bible - from the Lord’s presence
2000 Jubilee Bible - by the presence
2000 World English Bible - from the face
2001 English Standard Version - kept away from the presence
2002 The Message - eternal exile from the presence
2005 New English Translation - away from the presence
2008 Mounce Interlinear - away from the presence
2011 Common English Bible - away from the presence
2011 Disciples’ Literal New Testament - from the presence
2011 Expanded Bible - separated from the presence
2011 International Standard Version - separated from the presence
2011 Names of God Bible - separated from the presence
2011 New Testament for Everyone - from the face
2012 Lexham English Bible - separated from the presence
2012 The Voice Bible - banished from the presence
2014 Modern English Version - isolated from the presence
2014 Tree of Life Bible - away from the presence
2016 Berean Standard Bible - separated from the presence
2016 New Matthew Bible - separated from the presence
2017 Christian Standard Bible - from the presence
2019 Evangelical Heritage Version - away from the presence
Was the “separation” infusion a deliberate collusion? No, surely not, but there were too many consequential connections of influential evangelicals for the alteration to be coincidental. The Wheaton and Wycliffe worlds were in the same orbit with Fuller, Gordon-Conwell, Dallas, Westminster, and Calvin Theological Seminaries in a solar system that included Christianity Today, the Evangelical Theological Society, and the Committee on Bible Translation of the New International Version, which was, no less, the project of the National Association of Evangelicals.
And, of course, John Stott and Billy Graham.
I contend that almost everyone enveloped in the “separation from God” transition over the last fifty years was no more than two steps removed from at least one of the above connections, and most if not all were at, or at least represented at Lausanne ‘74. The dots connect.
This is not to say the idea of separation from God had not been around. It had, but as is evidenced by the pervasive change in translations and statements of faith, it had not been the dominant dictum of the common tongue it became.
Consider the original fifteen members of the Committee on Bible Translation. Edmund Clowney earned his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Divinity from Wheaton and Bachelor of Theology from Westminster. Robert H. Mounce earned a ThM in New Testament from Fuller. Stephen W. Paine served as president of the NAE, and Marten Woudstra and Ralph Earle, Jr. as president of the ETS. Earle and Burton L. Goddard both received degrees from Gordon; Woudstra and John H. Stek from Calvin.
Eight of the 118 editors, translators, and consultants of the NIV were Wheaton alumni; seven each from Calvin and Gordon-Conwell; four each from Fuller and Dallas; three, Westminster. Considering the permeation of the 1924 Wheaton Statement in evangelical circles, the eventual addendum of “(eternal) separation from God” as the definition of “spiritual death,” and the similarities of the final “future” summaries adopted by hundreds of churches and organizations, we can trace the roots to the branches.
It would be the depth of cynicism to surmise that all crafters of statements and translators of versions of the last fifty years were deliberate manipulators, but it would also be the height of naivety to think their absorbed dogma didn't dictate their wily word choices. And thousands of parrots learned the language from dozens of foxes.
One piece of proof is this footnote on 2 Thessalonians 1:9 in the Ryrie Study Bible (KJV):
1:9 everlasting destruction. Not annihilation, but ruin by reason of separation from the presence of the Lord.
Why did Ryrie say “Not annihilation”? He wouldn’t have if he hadn’t known some would understand “everlasting destruction” as annihilation, especially in the context of the Lord coming in flaming fire to take vengeance. So, Ryrie tells readers “from the presence” means “separation,” not source. That’s Charles Caldwell Ryrie’s interpretation.
Who was he? The Google “About” sidebar on the New International Version says Ryrie was the editor of it. We know for certain this accomplished (49 books) Dallas grad and tenured prof was one of the original fifteen members of the Committee on Bible Translation of the NIV.
Could that be one reason the NIV translated apo as “shut out from”? Did Ryrie’s interpretation become the NIV’s translation? It’s a rhetorical question. As pointed out in the previous chapter, that most rare rendering of apo is an arbitrary interpretation, not an accurate translation.
Another of the fifteen, Stephen W. Paine, mentioned earlier as serving as president of the National Association of Evangelicals, and another Wheaton grad, made Houghton College his home as teacher, dean, and president for nearly forty years. Houghton, a Wesleyan institution, holds to the Wesleyan Discipline which defines “hell with its everlasting misery and separation from God” as “the final abode of those who neglect this great salvation.”
Bill Mounce, well known Greek savant, is the son of Robert Mounce, one of the fifteen. He adds “away” to “from” in his translation.
Incidental? Maybe, but maybe not considering all the evangelical intertwining. Parrots hear it first somewhere.
To summarize, before 1973 the language of separation was not the quintessential evangelical jargon on the final fate. There was a transparent transition to the language of separation in modern translations of 2 Thessalonians 1:9 and hundreds of statements of faith which seemingly simultaneously adopted it. Placing the everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord was a suspect way to disguise the arbitrary interpretation as an acceptable translation.
The ancestry of the Wheaton and Wycliffe wording and the legacy of Lausanne leading to the proliferation of the language of eternal separation in worldwide evangelical statements of faith and creedal cliches, all neatly coincided with this inaccurate rendering of apo which did not let the reader decide if “from” was source or separation.
Perhaps it’s only wishful thinking, but I can’t help but wonder if a sincere Billy Graham was further fooled by this error, and had he not been, could have had an open mind to see eternal life only in Christ as did his contemporary John Stott. And did the conscientious Stott unwittingly contribute to this error by his careful word choice in the Lausanne Covenant?
Most evangelicals learned of Stott’s stunning sunset-years confession, but many are not aware that Graham at the very end of his life returned to the more “graphic imagery” used in his early ministry.
In his latest book, evangelist Billy Graham declares that non-Christians are doomed to live in a fiery hell... "Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity and Our Life Beyond”... billed as the "final work" by the 96-year-old, offers a vivid depiction of hell that harkens back to his youthful zeal as an emerging evangelist on the national stage… "I am always grieved to have to interrupt a marvelous picture, such as eternal life in Heaven, to talk about another eternal place that Jesus calls Hell," Graham writes… "Hell is a burning inferno." Scholars who have followed Graham's ministry say his words are a significant shift from the approach he took after the first decade of his ministry…
A “burning inferno”? During his “hell is separation” era, Graham, on at least four separate occasions, offered quite the unique take on the fire of hell:
1969: Could it not be that the fire Jesus talked about is an eternal search for God that is never quenched? That indeed would be hell. To be away from God forever, separated from his presence.
1983: I’ve often thought that this fire could possibly be a burning thirst for God that is never quenched.
1984: I have often wondered if hell is a terrible burning within our hearts for God, to fellowship with God, a fire that we can never quench.
1993: When the Scripture uses fire concerning hell, that is possibly an illustration of how terrible it’s going to be, not fire but something worse, a thirst for God that cannot be quenched.
This was when he was sure hell was “essentially separation.” But his final assessment (“a fiery hell… a burning inferno”) was not in opposition to separation. Not at all.
In the new book, Billy Graham hedges his bets, but only a bit. "I can say with certainty that if there is no literal fire in Hell, then God is using symbolic language to indicate something far worse," he writes. "Just as there are no words to adequately describe the grand beauty of Heaven, we cannot begin to imagine just how horrible the place called Hell is."
Appropriately enough, the title of his chapter on the final fate is “Forever Separated, Forever United.” It’s separation from God, but not separation from the source of life that would mean a miserable end to life, but separation that guarantees an endless life of misery.
Yes, the language of separation was both a softening and reaffirming, not of Bereans intent on searching the Scriptures to see if endless torment were so, but of pet store parrots determined to defend the greatest error in the history of Christianity and gravest slander of our gracious God.
99 unique wordings in evangelical statements of faith, and approximate number of online occurrences, proving the proliferation and permeation of the language of separation:
Below is a list of the 99 unique wordings with links.
https://www.beingsons.com/statement-of-faith & https://hcmof.com/about-us/ …became separated from God… the only remedy for mankind's eternal separation from God
https://ezekielacademy.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.newlifelynden.com/about-us/what-we-believe/ & http://mpbcgordo.com/about-us/what-we-believe/ & https://calvarygateway.org/index.php/about-us & https://centennialbaptist.org/about-us/what-we-believe & https://www.kathyhoward.org/kathys-statement-of-faith/ & https://www.mononaoaks.org/what-we-believe & https://www.christianvalleycc.org/ & https://joedallas.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://viu.ves.edu/doctrinal-statement/ & https://www.riverwoodsfellowship.com/beliefs & https://www.cccsdowney.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.pentecostalcountrychurch.org/What-We-Believe.php & https://evangelistrichardmeredith.com/how-can-i-know-jesus/ + 70 …will spend eternity separated from God (sometimes with “in hell”)
https://sparrowsnest-abbey.com/statement-of-faith-1 & https://meridalecommunitychurch.org/About-Us …and of the unbeliever to eternal separation from God
https://www.storyweaversglobal.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.wycliffe.org/about/our-beliefs & https://wycliffe.org.uk/about/values & https://www.veritascollege.org/about/statement-of-faith & https://www.missionglobalfellowship.org/ & https://fireigniters.net/about/our-beliefs & https://www.jaars.org/engage/volunteer-requirements/ & https://m-wbt.giftlegacy.com/?pageID=20 & https://seedcompany.com/careers/ & https://www.wycliffe.ca/about/statement-of-faith/ & https://wtnr.org/about-us-new/ &https://dbs.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/deafbiblesociety/images/DBS-Statement-of-Faith.pdf …those who are lost to suffer eternal separation from him
https://www.howtolifemovement.com/statement-of-faith & https://lsmissional.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.star-school.org/faith/ & https://www.111project.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://irruptionministries.com/our-beliefs.html & https://www.heartprisonministries.org/about/gallery/ & https://www.scripturesolutions.com/about/doctrinal-foundation & https://cornerstonelakeside.com/about-us/what-we-believe & https://heartforgod.net/statement-of-faith/ & https://opendoormission.com/mission-statement & http://covenantchurches.com/?page_id=1158 + 16 …lost unto the resurrection of eternal separation from God
https://my.homecu.net/fi/nfcu/pdf/nccu-statement-of-faith.pdf & https://www.restorationcounseling.org/statement-of-faith & http://villagecommunitychurch.com/what-we-believe & https://kisiijesuscelebrationcentre.cfsites.org/custom.php?pageid=2217 & https://messiahlutheranelca.com/statement-of-beliefs & https://www.swnazarene.com/about-us/ & https://winchesternaz.com/beliefs & https://wsnaz.org/?subpages/Beliefs.shtml & https://calvary-church.org/beliefs & https://www.ncfirstnaz.org/what-we-believe & https://the-harvest.org/our-beliefs + 13 …(future is one of) eternal separation from God and all that is good
https://thepricelessjourney.org/statement-of-faith/ & http://www.nfbcoc.org/about …or we will be eternally separated from God in Hell
http://www.kingmovement.com/statement-of-faith/ …that price being eternal separation from God in hell
https://www.faithfcc.com/general-4 & https://covenantlifepca.com/our-beliefs/ & https://www.thelivingstone.life/we-believe …resurrected to judgment and separation from God for all eternity
https://www.transforminglifechurch.com/what-we-believe & https://district.church/im-new/our-beliefs/ & https://www.igotofaith.com/beliefs & http://brazillakewesleyanchurch.com/our-history-and-beliefs/ & https://theriverlife.com/about_believe.aspx & https://olctn.org/whatwebelieve & https://newvisionlife.com/about-us/beliefs/know-jesus/ & https://www.experienceoasis.org/our-beliefs & https://www.truenorth.cc/our-beliefs-vision & https://www.covenant-umc.com/about/what-we-believe/ & https://www.mosaicabq.com/beliefs & https://www.jubileecathedral.org/our-beliefs + 80 more…eternally separated from God because of sin… Eternal separation from God happens in hell
https://shutesburychurch.org/statement-of-faith/ …All people have sinned; earning eternal death (separation from God)
https://www.sevenriverscs.org/apps/pages/ & https://myfellowshipbible.church/purpose-and-beliefs/ & https://www.lifehs.org/values & https://www.gcacougars.org/index.php/about/faith & https://crosscountrychurch.tv/beliefs/ & https://libertaschristianschool.org/doctrinal-statement & http://www.mpbc-indy.org/new-here/beliefs/ & http://www.wayoflifefellowship.org/index.php/8-aboutus/19-faith & https://beta.equipdisciples.org/about/doctrine & http://www.teachingtheword.org/87878 + 18 …destined for eternal separation from God
https://lifechristianuniversity.com/statement-of-faith/ & http://www.csos.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.clydehurst.com/statement-of-faith & https://www.faithoutreachcenter.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.lbc.edu/about/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.mycbcs.com/covenant-bible-college-seminary & https://fbfep.com/statement-of-faith2 & https://covenantlifepca.com/our-beliefs/ & https://ourfamily.church/what-we-believe/ & https://ezekielacademy.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.thehomechurch.org/about-us/our-beliefs & https://www.highlandsbiblechurch.org/about/what-we-believe/ & https://ibcministries.org/beliefs/ & https://www.lowerskippackchurch.com/welcome-from-our-pastor + 40 …incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God
https://www.swordofthelord.com/aboutus …incurred not only physical death but also that spiritual death which is the eternal separation from God and an everlasting abode in Hell
https://febcambodia.org/about-us/statement-of-faith & https://www.southwestbrethren.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.charlotteag.org/beliefs & https://lwaog.com/about-us/what-we-believe/ & https://www.bmm.org/partner/beliefs & https://sharewordglobal.com/us/about/our-mission & http://www.pgcag.com/site/home-2/beliefs/what-we-believe/ & https://www.bigcanyon.org/statement-of-faith & http://www.mymorningstaracademy.org/statement-of-faith.html & https://indianspringscampmeeting.org/about-us/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.pottstownbible.org/doctrinal-statment & https://www.sfmiusa.org/about/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.waterbrooke.church/statement-of-faith/ + 250 …incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God
https://rccsalem.com/statement-of-faith & http://www.nthcc.com/about & https://www.bryanfcc.org/about/ …will be eternally separated from God in condemnation
https://www.pinebaptistyouth.com/statementoffaith …are committed to eternal separation from God
https://www.houseofprayermontpelier.org/mission-vision & https://lighthousebiblesimi.com/about/what-we-believe & https://wp.fairhavenbiblechapel.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://monadnockcongregational.com/about & https://www.yfc.org.au/statement_of_faith & https://www.worshipprime.com/about & https://www.treeoflifeisrael.org/tw/about-us & https://www.ambassadorsofyeshua.com/statement-of-faith/ + 21 …the lost to eternal separation from God (a few add “in hell” or “and a state of everlasting punishment”)
https://www.sanmarcoscamp.com/statement-of-faith & https://www.fbcparadise.com/statement-of-faith & https://actschristianleaders.wordpress.com/statement-of-faith/ & http://kingdomstrategistuniversity.com/sof.php & http://lou-piccirillo.squarespace.com/about-one-page & https://www.fbcfairbury.com/about/our-beliefs/ & https://lakehills.cc/what-we-believe/ & https://parksidechurch.cc/beliefs & https://christinemalkemes.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.northlake-church.org/what-we-do + 5 more …unbelievers will experience eternal separation from God (about half say “in hell”)
https://advanceministrytraining.org/statement-of-faith & https://kissimmeechristianchurch.org/what-we-believe & https://www.fcclewistown.org/ & https://stonypointchristian.org/ …The saved will be assigned eternal life; the unsaved, eternal separation from God
https://www.ovcs.net/statement-of-faith …the lost raised to eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire
https://fgc.life/statement-of-faith.html & https://frcpella.org/what-we-believe/ & https://www.visitthearkchurch.com/what-we-believe & http://www.salemcu.org/what-we-believe/ & https://firstmonroe.com/what-we-believe & https://www.ogdenlfdc.org/doctrine & https://www.samstorms.org/statement-of-faith & https://hopechurchwigston.co.uk/our-beliefs + 23 …punished with eternal separation from the presence of God
https://www.allchurch.com/believe …To be eternally separated from God and given over to Satan for eternity is Hell… unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God in hell
https://gocorps.org/about/statement-of-faith & https://www.omhk.org/about-om-en/ & http://www.globalethnicconnections.com/what-do-we-believe.html & https://insideoutrecovery.org/what-we-believe-2/ & https://www.hope-builders.org/about-us/statement-of-truth/ & https://newlifeempowerment.org/about/ & https://mcleodhillassembly.com/doctrine/ & https://missionguide.global/org/operation_mobilization & https://www.calvarydisasterrelief.com/about + 10 more …brought the whole race under the condemnation of eternal separation from God
https://tomorrowsforefathers.com/statement-of-faith/ …deserve to spend eternity in hell in separation from God
https://www.ecmbritain.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.sim.org/mission-purpose-and-vision https://www.simusa.org/about/statement-of-faith/ https://www.sim.org.au/About/Statement-of-faith & https://www.shurdingtonchapel.com/what-we-believe & https://beulah.edu/about/soul-of-beulah/ & https://www.gracesustainsafrica.org/what-we-believe …will suffer eternal punishment in separation from God
https://www.quietpastures.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.leadershipvistas.org/ministry-statements.html …unregenerate persons will be raised to an existence of eternal separation from God and punishment
https://www.logosministries.org/statement-of-faith/ …the unjust to everlasting damnation or eternal separation from God
https://eternityclub.org/faith-statement/ & https://www.foursquare.org.ph/aboutus_belief.html & https://www.voiceofhope.com/whatwebelieve.html & https://www.resonatechrist.com/the-afterlife & https://www.therefuge4.com/about/foursquare/ & http://www.roldenver.com/about-us_18085/doctrine.html?d=2 & https://www.rockofcape.com/values.html & http://ignitechurches.org/whatwebelieve/ & https://winston4square.org/new-here/beliefs + 70 more …hell… will become the place of eternal separation from God (popular among Foursquare churches)
https://www.oasisnj.net/beliefs & https://www.livinghopemarysville.com/what-we-believe & https://vmchurch.com/statement-of-faith & http://fepau.org/declaration-of-faith.html & http://riverofpraisechurch.org/about/our-values & https://www.lifehousechurchohio.com/statementoffaith & https://www.primerabaptist.org/what-we-believe + 20 more …exist eternally separated from God… Eternal separation from God is Hell
https://www.hcseagles.com/About-HCS/Statement-of-Faith & https://www.mpbchurch.com/page/what-we-believe & https://www.hcseagles.com/About-HCS/Statement-of-Faith & https://www.uccsbc.org/about/statement-of-faith/ & http://www.tbcofroseville.org/statement.htm & https://www.bereanbch.org/beliefs & https://www.paragonbbc.com/about-us …that spiritual death which is not annihilation but eternal separation from God
https://www.sanctuarybiblechurch.com/statement-of-faith/ & http://www.myndbc.com/about-us/beliefs …Man is, therefore, lost and facing eternal separation from God in hell
https://missioncenters.org/statement-of-faith/ …those who are lost will suffer eternal separation from God
https://www.houseontherockchurch.com/statement-of-faith …there will be a judgment which leads to eternal separation from God
https://kingdomworkers.com/about-us/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.stjacobi.org/page/180021649/180113819/We-Believe-Teach-and-Confess & https://www.paloslutheran.org/about-us/what-we-believe/ & http://www.we-r-lutheran.com/page/140003337/140033344/What-We-Believe & https://mappsrc.com/d-i.html?utm_content=prince-of-peace-lutheran-church-i1775771 …The wages of sin is death and damnation in hell, an eternal agonizing separation from the holy and righteous God (Evangelical Lutheran)
https://www.impactchurchla.org/faq & https://crossthelinechurch.com/pages/statement-of-faith & https://www.genesisprep.org/about/mission.cfm & https://www.radicallifeministries.com/our-beliefs …The wages of sin is death and eternal separation from God
https://pgbcmoulton.com/statement-of-faith & https://faithhousenc.com/our-beliefs/ & https://bmtuhc.faithlifesites.com/doctrinal-statement …reject salvation will be eternally separated from God in a literal place called hell
https://www.4tca.org/about/statement_faith.cfm & https://www.myjccs.org/ …the liability of spiritual death and eternal separation from God
https://www.hofgarland.org/statement-of-faith/ …fallen short of the glory of God, and is subject to eternal separation from God
https://compassgv.com/statement-of-faith/ …will suffer separation from God and eternal, conscious punishment in hell
https://cartersjapan.org/family/statement-of-faith/ & https://wvgvradio.com/about/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.thehomechurch.net/our-beliefs & https://www.immanueljax.org/about/our-beliefs/ & https://www.mbcwheeling.com/beliefs-1 & https://www.lbcwtx.org/what-we-believe/ & https://bca.edu/our-beliefs/ & https://ignitetheworldyouthoutreach.com/statement-of-faith & https://bereanarmedforcesministries.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://texasbaptistseminary.com/What-We-Believe.php + 165 more…cast into the Lake of Fire, separated from God forever (mostly Independent Baptist)
https://unitedmarriage.com/ …to suffer eternal separation from God
http://www.familylifecommunity.net/statement-of-faith.html & https://www.providenceclassical.org/statement-of-faith & https://miracleexplosionministries.org/what-we-believe/ & https://www.traininghearts4jesus.org/about & https://growingfamilies.life/za-about-south-africa-ministry & http://graceconstruction.org/about_us.php …the penalty for sin is eternal separation from the Father
https://www.calvarybibleyork.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.verticalboise.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.broadwaychristian.org/about-us/what-we-believe & http://www.churchillbaptist.org/beliefs & https://catalysthayesville.org/pages/our-beliefs & http://liverpoolprayerfellowship.org/our-faith/ + 9 …It (hell) is a place of eternal separation from God
https://www.goodshepherdbaptistchurch.org/statement-of-faith …sin and its consequences—namely, death and eternal separation from God in hell
https://www.ccfskagit.com/ccf-beliefs & https://missionministriesphilippines.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.acts29.com/the-lausanne-covenant-statement-of-faith/ & https://acsto.org/about/statement-of-faith & https://www.gracetrinity.org/about/our-beliefs & https://restorenewengland.org/statementoffaith & https://actincanada.ca/mission-vision/our-missional-covenant/ & https://ywam.org/about-us/lausanne-covenant & https://harvest-atlanta.org/about/ + 77 more …condemn themselves to eternal separation from God (is from the Lausanne Covenant written by John Stott in 1974) “I would estimate that 85% of mission organizations in Latin America use The Lausanne Covenant as their statement of faith.” – David Ruiz, WEA Mission Commission (1997-2018)
https://campfirecurriculums.com/faith-statement/ & https://joychurchaz.com/ & https://www.mcbc.church/core-beliefs & …The punishment for sin is death and eternal separation from God in hell
https://comegowithus.org/statement-of-faith/ …an eternal condition of punishment and death – separated from God without defense or excuse
https://bedfordpca.org/statement-of-faith/ …unbelievers are raised to eternal separation from God–the Bible calls this hell
https://www.haiticheri.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.heritagelife.org/what-we-believe & http://www.redemptionbygraceministries.org/statement-of-faith.html & http://www.previsionpartnership.org/doctrine/ & https://cumberlandchurch.org/our-beliefs/ & https://www.cedarrun.net/about/what-we-believe/ …eternal life for those who have received Christ as Savior and Lord and to eternal separation from God for those who have not
https://outpostministries.org/about-us/beliefs/ & https://www.westbridgedanville.com/im-new/our-beliefs/ …unbelievers (raised) to eternal separation from God in hell
https://fbcounselors.com/statement-of-faith/ …deserving of death, hell, and eternal separation from God
http://gracechurchwestseattle.org/what-we-believe …the lost unto eternal separation from God in hell
https://www.fbcchoctaw.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.southpoint4u.com/beliefs …If you reject Him, you'll spend it eternally separated from God in Hell
https://www.makariosinternational.org/statement-of-faith …the result of this sin is death and eternal separation from God
https://ogfmc.com/doctrinal-statement & https://qfmc.org/what-we-believe & https://www.edgemerefmc.org/about/ & https://www.rockwallfmc.org/Beliefs.html & https://www.christianityfortoday.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://fmcusa.org/webelieve & https://fmcsb.org/beliefs & …for the finally impenitent there is a hell of eternal suffering and of separation from God (from the 1999 Book of Discipline of the Free Methodists)
https://okcbiblemethodist.org/about/what-we-believe …separated from God eternally in a lake of fire called Hell
https://imchurches.org.uk/sof/ …those who have refused his salvation will be separated eternally from God
https://www.bible.ca/cr-wesleyan.htm#judgement & http://kenwoodbiblemethodist.com/information/what-we-believe & https://www.shepherdsglobal.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.wesleyan.org/about/articles-of-religion & https://www.cpwesleyan.com/core-values & https://www.smyrnawesleyan.org/wesleyan-beliefs & https://patriotchurch.us/what-we-believe & https://www.biblemethodist.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2018-Bible-Methodist-Discipline-rev.-2.pdf = 7 more…(the lake of fire or) hell with its everlasting misery and separation from God is the final abode (Wesleyan and Bible Church Discipline)
https://www.centralwesleyans.org/traditional …will spend eternity in hell, experiencing everlasting misery and separation from God
https://www.altoreformedchurch.org/uploads/8/4/0/1/84016222/alto_statement_of_faith_2020_update.pdf & http://neag.church/our-church/what-we-believe & https://www.fellowshipnorwalk.org/our-beliefs & https://graceandmercyministries.wordpress.com/what-we-believe/ & https://www.crazysimpletruth.com/beliefs & https://www.themastersmission.net/index.html + 40 more…eternally separated from God by sin… The place of eternal separation from God is called Hell
https://www.eastwest.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.twelve21global.org/about-us/what-we-believe/ & https://www.blessingafrica.org/ministry/ & https://library.cityvision.edu/orgs/livada-orphan-care …unbelievers will be resurrected to suffer eternal judgment and separation from God
https://zmchurch.org/statement-of-faith …sin’s everlasting punishment and separation from God
https://bellflowerbrethren.org/statement-of-faith & https://brgrace.com/what-we-believe/ & https://www.hoperoanoke.com/faq & https://pataskalagrace.org/what-we-believe/ & https://www.encompassworldpartners.org/about/ & https://richgrace.church/core-values + 4 more …Unbelievers, already under condemnation, will be sentenced to suffer eternal separation from God
http://tabor.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2014-USMB-Confession-of-Faith.pdf & https://www.fairviewmb.com/about-us/ & https://fbcelgin.com/beliefs & https://usmb.org/confession-of-faith-4/ & https://usmb.org/confession-of-faith-4/ & https://www.geocities.ws/hmbcencourager/18.html …condemned to eternal punishment in hell, forever separated from the presence of God
https://www.mabts.edu/about/articles-of-belief/ & https://www.kingstongrace.com/about-our-beliefs & https://www.exploregod.com/more/what-we-believe & https://www.newlifeberkshires.com/beliefs/ & https://www.pinkhammemorial.com/what-we-teach.html & https://theinternationalfellowship.com/who-we-are/what-we-believe/ + 5 …the end of sin is eternal separation from God
https://www.seminary.edu/about-2/statement-of-faith/ & https://kenwoodbaptist.org/about/ …the unredeemed will be punished through eternal separation from God
https://www.fuller.edu/about/mission-and-values/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.egcenter.org/faith-statement & https://ccclithonia.org/what-we-believe/ & https://www.gschristian.org/vision & http://www.ipusukilo.org/believe.html & https://www.therockonline.org/about/beliefs & http://www.forest.church/statement-of-faith & https://www.firstprescovina.org/beliefs/ & https://www.fathershouseministries.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.calvincrest.com/about-us/who-we-are/ & https://emptytomb.org/affirmation/ & https://bethelsac.org/statement-of-faith/ & http://www.ethiocross.com/About-us.htm & https://kebroninternationalchurch.org/about-us/ + 15 …The wicked shall be separated from God's presence (usually with some variation of “but the righteous shall live with him forever”).
https://www.ipaok.org/statement-of-faith & https://www.fpcnlr.com/beliefs & https://www.sharonoklahoma.org/our-beliefs/ & https://www.fpcandme.com/our-beliefs/ & https://www.reachchurch.us/what-we-believe & https://pcchicago.org/about-us/what-we-believe & https://onfireyouthministry.org/whatwedo & http://newlifeindianchurch.org/believe/ + 6 …hell is a literal place of eternal separation from God
https://nacministers.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://txlcms.org/not-on-mission-alone/ & http://www.voiceinthewilderness.us/statement-of-faith.html & https://www.biblicaltherapeutics.com/statement-of-faith & https://www.missionchurch.love/about/our-beliefs & https://newagechurch.org/ …spend eternity separated from the Father
http://www.sjtosa.org/site/cpage.asp?sec_id=180017633&cpage_id=180117063 …those who do not possess saving faith will be condemned to eternal separation from God in hell
https://sharewordglobal.com/us/about/our-mission …the unsaved suffer eternal separation from God.
http://www.cogh.net/about/statement-of-faith & http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/bible/Doctrines/Church/HolinessChurches/Church%20of%20God%20(Holiness).htm …the unsaved will formally suffer eternal separation from God
https://www.trinity.or.ke/statement-of-faith/ & https://sites.google.com/site/bethesdabaptistnairobi/church-constitution & https://www.sgbc.ng/what-we-teach/ & https://gracebaptisteldoret.org/our-beliefs.html …all men are conceived in a state of guilt, corruption, separation from God and condemnation to eternal death
https://rockbiblecollege.com/prospective-students/statement-of-faith & https://www.wowwintl.com/about-us & https://kwjwd.org/statement-of-faith/ …eternal conscious judgment and separation from God
https://urm.org/about/mission__trashed/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.theoilfields.org/about-us & https://www.vbbibleministry.com/ …raised from the dead for eternal suffering and separation from God
https://missionsfestseattle.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.missiondispatch.org/statement-of-faith …resurrection of unbelievers to eternal separation from God
https://cairn.edu/documents/2022/05/employee-statement-of-faith.pdf/ & https://pillar.edu/graduate_statement-of-faith_4/ & https://anchoru.com/about/what-we-believe/ & http://rickcampanaministries.org/statement-of-faith + 3…unbelievers to conscious eternal punishment and separation from Him
https://winebrenner.edu/statement-of-faith/ …final judgment of all people to eternal life or separation from God
http://fpcjax.org/about/beliefs & https://www.isaiah55.org/whatwebelieve & https://ipministry.org/who-we-are/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.aomh.org/statement-of-faith/ & https://www.godeeperstill.org/about-us/statement-of-faith.html & https://www.connectnicaragua.org/what-we-believe & https://generousinfluencers.org/statement-of-faith & http://www.ccfmemphis.com/core-beliefs/ & https://eagleranch.org/about-us/core-values/ & https://younglife.org.au/statement-of-faith/ & https://mthopebiblecamp.org/about + 20 …shall be eternally separated from God's presence (Young Life)
https://airdrierpcs.org/our-beliefs/ & https://www.rpcscotland.org/what-we-believe/ …the punishment of death, which means eternal separation from God in Hell
https://www.ireland.anglican.org/our-faith/apck-leaflets/death-eternal-life & https://cupcork.ie/beliefs/ & https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship/our-beliefs/ …The converse of this state of blessedness is hell, or separation from God
http://www.crosspointdundonald.org/beliefs.php & https://www.sunmanchurch.org/what-we-beieve & https://www.ukchurch.org/street-harvest-church.php …the eternal separation from God of the unrepentant
https://thevoiceofmybeloved.com/statement-of-faith/ & https://messengersofshiloh.com/statement-of-faith/ …hell is literal and eternal and that it is the place of separation and torment of the damned… the eternal place of separation from Him, which is hell
https://world-map.com/how-we-live/ …Without receiving Christ’s salvation, man’s final destiny is eternal separation from God
https://www.aidanfield.school.nz/statement-of-faith/ …bringing everlasting separation and punishment to those who reject Him
https://www.icr.org/article/4895 …Such eternal separation from God is the very essence of hell
https://www.doolittles4brazil.com/what-we-believe …Due to the fallen state of all mankind, each person is a sinner condemned to hell, to an eternal separation from God
https://sharewordglobal.com/us/about/our-mission …the eternal blessedness of the saved while the unsaved suffer eternal separation from God
https://christianityworks.org/about-christianityworks/statement-of-faith/? …The unbeliever will experience the punishment of eternal separation in hell from the presence of God
https://www.worldrenewal.org/our-beliefs.html …to bring eternal life for the righteous and eternal separation for the unbelievers
https://capaust.org/take-action/my-church/statement-of-faith …This unchecked rebellion leads to eternal separation from God
https://www.acc.org.au/about-us/doctrinal-basis/ & https://centrepoint.church/vision-and-beliefs/ & https://lifeuc.com.au/beliefs/ & https://encouragechurch.com.au/what-we-believe …All who believe in Jesus Christ will have everlasting life in the presence of God; those who reject him will have eternal separation from God
https://www.faccmn.org/statement-of-faith & https://sbcconverge.com/doctrinal-statement & https://btccgst.org/?page_id=98 …condemned to eternal separation from God in Hell together with Satan and his angels
https://ollison.org/Statement-of-Faith.htm & https://valorcc.com/our-beliefs/ …eternal separation from God, which is called spiritual death
https://www.brightfm.com/about/what-we-believe/ & https://www.bethanygospelchapel.ca/About/belief.html & https://www.cryyout.org/what-we-believe & https://veritadigrazia.weebly.com/our-values.html & https://www.rivervalleyranch.com/about/faith-and-values/ & https://evangelisttedalexander.com/about/doctrinal-statement/ + 4 …condemned to eternal punishment and separation from God
https://joyfm.org/debt-free-for-keeps/ all sin carries the same cost – death and eternal, permanent separation from God
https://truthforkids.com/doctrinal-beliefs …those who have rejected the offer of Salvation, eternal separation from God
https://reachingafricasunreached.org/about/ & https://wocc.life/i-am-new/what-we-believe/foundations/jesus-return.html & https://www.tallmadgealliance.org/Statement-of-Faith.php https://northwaychurch.com/page/1049 & https://www.encountercolumbus.com/missions-beliefs-values & https://www.theprisonershope.life/statement-of-faith & https://trinitycambridge.com/beliefs/ & https://www.redeemerchurch.org.nz/about/whatwebelieve + 200 …All those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment
https://www.corpuschristiphx.org/blog …The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God (CCC 1035)
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