They say: “You Will Go To Hell”

Author: ettie.v

Author Location: Germiston, South Africa

“You Are Going to Hell!”

These words have been hurled at me more times than I can count. Managing All R Called’s social media profiles, I hear this on a daily basis.
The sad thing is, I have heard this not just from strangers on the street, but by fellow Christians. People I’ve worshipped alongside. People who claim to follow Jesus — the One who welcomed the marginalized, ate with sinners, and extended grace to those the world deemed unworthy.
These words don’t just bruise. They cut deep. And many times, they left me quietly wondering: ‘Am I?’

Can I Be Gay and Christian? (Read More…)

This question haunted me through my youth and into adulthood. I tried for years to “fix” myself—dating women, praying for healing, fasting, staying celibate, begging God to take the “gay” away. I did everything I could think of to be the kind of Christian others said I needed to be. But I was living a lie. Not just to the world, but to myself.
I thought my faith and salvation would be in jeopardy if I would admit I am gay.
But as I began studying scripture — not through the lens of fear, but of longing for truth — I found something surprising: the Bible isn’t nearly as clear about homosexuality as we’ve been told. In fact, many of the so-called “clobber verses” have been mistranslated, misunderstood, and misapplied.
The deeper I dove, the clearer it became: My salvation does not depend on my sexuality. My salvation depends on Jesus.

What Does the Bible Actually Say?

Let’s take a moment to remember Matthew 7:1-2, where Jesus says:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
The irony? Many who are quickest to condemn others haven’t even taken a minute to study the scriptures they use to condemn others. If they had studied them, they would know that these scriptures are not as clear about homosexuality as they often declare. They cling to a handful of verses, often pulled out of context, translated poorly, and read through the lens of modern assumptions rather than ancient truths.
You can read more about this in another blog: What does the Bible really say about homosexuality?

From Rules to Relationship

Maybe instead of seeing the Bible as a rulebook to control behavior, we need to see it as a love letter drawing us into relationship with Jesus. When we make this shift, everything changes.
Legalism has harmed more than it has helped. How many lives have been destroyed, how many young queer Christians have walked away from faith, believing the church’s rejection was God’s rejection.
But God never rejected us as a queer community.
It was a long journey to reconcile my faith and sexuality and I did a lot of stydying and read a lot of books. Ultimately I realized that my salvation does not depend on my actions, but I can find certainty of salvation in my relationship with Jesus – full stop.
I can be gay and Christian. I can be gay and loved. I can be gay and certain of my salvation.

The Danger of Playing Judge

If we take Jesus seriously, we must take His warning seriously too. “Do not judge…”
When someone tells another person, “You are going to hell,” they are doing more than voicing an opinion. They are placing themselves in the seat of God. And in doing so, they endanger their own soul.
Let that sink in: If you condemn others to hell, are you not placing yourself in danger of the very fires you invoke?

What If We Trusted Jesus More Than Our Opinions?

What if, instead of deciding someone’s eternal fate based on their identity or who they love, we encouraged them into a relationship with Jesus? What if we trusted that the Holy Spirit could lead them into all truth, even if that truth looks different than our own assumptions?
What if we remembered that salvation isn’t about sexual orientation, but about grace? About Jesus’ death and resurrection? About the new life He offers, freely, to all who believe?

A Call to Reflect

Too often we, the LGBTQ community remain silent and just take on the damnation hurled at us.
But today, I want to challenge the Church to reflect and change, and instead of judging people based on their actions and sexual identity, rather encourage people into a relationship with Jesus and allow Him to change them from the inside out, whether that leads them to live a lifestyle that you agree with or not.
The next time you feel tempted to pronounce someone’s damnation, I challenge you to pause and ask: What does this say about my heart? Because your words might say more about the state of your relationship with Christ than they do about theirs.
Instead of judging, let’s make it our mission to point people to Jesus. Let’s trust Him to do the work only He can do — transforming hearts, renewing minds, and building a Kingdom of grace. Let’s stop tearing it down with our pride.

Think twice before telling someone they’re going to hell. Those words carry weight. Eternal weight. Let us be known not for who we exclude, but for how we love. Let’s invite people into the Kingdom — not by fear, but by grace. Let’s be builders of bridges, not walls. Because at the end of the day, it’s not our judgment that saves anyone — it’s Jesus.

Are You scared You are Going to Hell?

To every LGBTQ Christian who lies awake at night fearing they’re headed for hell — PLEASE HEAR THIS: you are deeply loved by God, and nothing about your identity separates you from His grace. Your salvation isn’t fragile or hanging by a thread; it is secured not by your ability to conform to others’ expectations, but by the unshakable love and finished work of Jesus. So, put your faith in Him!
If you’ve been told that your orientation makes you unworthy of God’s presence, know that those voices do not speak for Him. He doesn’t abandon His children — He draws near to the brokenhearted, the misunderstood, and the weary. You are not a mistake. You are not condemned. You are beloved, chosen, and held by a Savior who sees you fully and loves you entirely.

Scripture says:

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9–10 – If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Acts 16:31 – They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.

John 6:40 – For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 5:24 – Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Romans 8:1 – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.