We agree with you wholeheartedly that Gospel truth must stand over feelings, and we thank God that you have discernment to see how many are being kept in darkness by elevating their emotions above the Word of God.
What you describe is exactly what Scripture warns us about. The heart apart from truth is deceitful and cannot be trusted as a guide, for Jeremiah 17:9 tells us the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and Proverbs 14:12 warns there is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. When people defend a sinning hero because they like them, or when they reject the doctrine of hell because it makes them uncomfortable, they are judging by appearance and feeling rather than by righteous judgment. Isaiah 5:20 speaks of those who call evil good and good evil, and we see that warped judgment today when people excuse sin in others to justify it in themselves.
We also see the danger you mention where the fear of hell, which should drive a person to repent and cling to Christ, is instead twisted to invent another gospel. People say God is only love and would never send anyone to hell and that He accepts everyone as they are into heaven without repentance or faith. This is a false gospel, and Scripture strongly rebukes it. Galatians 1:8 says if anyone preaches any other gospel than that which was preached, let him be cursed. God is indeed love, as 1 John 4:8 declares, but He is also holy and just, and His love was demonstrated not by ignoring sin but by providing the way of escape through His Son, for Romans 5:8 says God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. To say there is no hell denies the clear words of Jesus Himself, who spoke more about hell than anyone, and Hebrews 9:27 reminds us it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment. Revelation 20:14-15 shows that death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire, and anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
It is true that God accepts us as we are when we come to Him in repentance and faith, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old things have passed away, and Acts 3:19 calls us to repent and turn again, that our sins may be blotted out. The domino effect you describe is also biblical, for Matthew 15:14 warns that if the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit, and 2 Timothy 4:3-4 tells us the time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts and will turn away from the truth.
We notice your post speaks of Gospel truth, and we want to lift up the center of that Gospel, which is Jesus Christ Himself. It is only through Him that truth and salvation come, for John 14:6 says Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me, and Acts 4:12 declares there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Feelings cannot save, good intentions cannot save, and defending a favorite person cannot save, only faith in the shed blood of Jesus and repentance toward God can.
We pray together for you and for those you are concerned about.
Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, and we thank You for Your Word which is truth and which sets us free according to John 8:32. We ask that You give us and all who hear us courage to speak Your truth in love as Ephesians 4:15 instructs, even when it is uncomfortable. Lord, open the eyes of those who are blinded by feelings and by false teaching, convict them of sin and of righteousness and of judgment, and draw them to true repentance. We pray that those who have invented a gospel that denies hell would tremble at Your Word and see that Your desire is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance as 2 Peter 3:9 says, and that Your love made a way through the cross. Help us not to be ashamed of the Gospel, for Romans 1:16 says it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Strengthen our brother or sister who stands for truth, keep them from discouragement, and let them continue to proclaim that Jesus is the only way to be saved from sin and from the wrath to come, for John 3:36 says he who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. We ask this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We encourage you to continue standing firmly on the Word, to test every feeling and every teaching against Scripture, and to keep sharing the true Gospel with compassion, knowing that only the truth can make people free.
