The issue is that of perishing versus eternal life.

To save souls from Hell is not the Great Commission. The Great Commission is to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey the Lord's commandments. Obedience to the Lord's commandments results in eternal life.

The urgency for missions is not based on the fact that souls are going to Hell. The urgency for mission comes when the Holy Spirit moves on the heart of someone, such as the Apostle Paul, and tells him what to do.

The reason we have departed from the Scriptures is that we are not hearing from God. We are trying to build the Kingdom of God in our own wisdom and strength. Such efforts always result in "Babylon," in man-directed Christianity.

There certainly is a Hell and the wicked will go there whether or not they believe in Christ. The emphasis on saving souls from Hell is misdirected. Let us proceed to explain, for no Christian teaching is worth anything unless it conforms to the Scriptures.

Let us say there was a father who was also warden of a prison. The prison was a frightful place of torment and there was no escape.

The father had a son who was stubborn and disobedient. The son left home and lived in sin. He was a liar, a thief, a drunkard, and a fornicator.

The father knew that if his son continued in this way of life he eventually would be sent to the prison from which there was no escape.

The father's heart yearned after his son. He wanted him to cease his wickedness and come home to his father's house so his father might bless him and make him heir of the family estate.

He was lost to his father's presence and wealth.

Let us say also there was a friend of the son. He cared nothing for the father or the father's desire that his son be reconciled to him. But he was concerned that the boy not be sent to the prison in which there is continual torment and no escape.

The father sent a letter to his son saying if he would stop his drunkenness, lying, thievery, and fornication and return home all would be forgiven. He would be received by his father and welcomed back into the family. Otherwise he would be in danger of being confined in a place of torment from which there is no escape.

The father sent the letter by the hand of the friend of the son.

The friend read the letter and thought, "I must save this boy from the place of torment. No matter what else may happen, the boy must not go into that prison.

"I don't know whether or not the young man will change his way of living but the main thing is to keep him out of prison.

"I know what I will do. I will change the letter and ask the boy to accept the father's love and forgiveness so he will not be sent to the place of torment. I will remove the part stating it is necessary he refrain from his drunkenness, lying, thievery, and fornication."

To be continued.