A strange thing happened sometime in the 1980s — every child got a trophy. Today, those trophies may be causing many of those now grown-ups to lose their faith.

Sometime shortly after I left the ranks of Dixie Youth Baseball, knowing full well that I had zero chance of ever deserving any baseball trophies, America began changing.

Our society began working hard to convince ourselves that everybody was a winner — regardless of whether it was true or not.

Once upon a time, only champions earned trophies. Eventually, in an effort to build up everyone’s ego and prove that, in effect, there were no negative consequences in the world, everyone got a trophy.

Apparently, that has begun leading to many examples of our modern society’s rationalizing away what was once considered immoral behavior.

Consider the number of Hollywood stars and high-profile athletes who have publicly acted horribly, yet society seems to look the other way.

That same level of self-absorbed gluttony led to other problems, too.

We can blame the financial meltdown on large banks, but the banks were only a part of the greater problem — it didn’t matter if you couldn’t actually afford a new house. If you wanted one, you deserve one, right?

This pinnacle of this ridiculous behavior now threatens the moral soul of our country.

Last week’s Time magazine featured a cover story titled: “What if there’s no hell?”

The article features the Rev. Rob Bell, the mega church minister whose best-selling book contends that, perhaps, hell doesn’t actually exist and simply: Love wins. That’s the title of the book.

The magazine article quotes Bell as saying, “I have long wondered if there is a massive shift coming in what it means to be a Christian. Something new is in the air.”

Reading that the week before Easter — the time when Christians celebrate the most selfless act ever — disturbs me.

Perhaps more troubling than Bell or his beliefs, is just how popular his message is.

The only problem is that while popular — the spiritual version of “everybody gets a trophy” — the idea that hell doesn’t exist, also begins to call into question every other aspect of Christian understanding, too.

Critical non-believers will point to “inconsistencies” within the books of the Bible as reason enough to question everything about it.

Logically, if scripture regarding the existence of hell is called into question and believed to be false, what about other scriptures?

If that’s the case, who is to decide which parts are to be skipped and which ones need to be taken to heart?

In one way, Bell is partly correct.

It is possible for every single soul on the planet to avoid hell right now.

It’s easy, but doesn’t require going to a mega church and hearing a rationalizing message.

Everyone can earn a trophy, a trophy of everlasting life. But the one true master, Jesus Christ, is the only one who gives them out.

And only those who accept Him as Lord and savior can earn the trophies.

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.