Delve Into Jesus : Questions : Hell

Comments

Thanks very much for your question. I've written an article about this subject called "How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?", which you can find from the articles menu. You may get some answers there, but I think you may find this article a little too short and superficial. I wrote it very quickly a few months ago because I thought we needed to have at least something, but I think the time has come to revisit this article and give it some more substance. If you will bear with me, I will spend some time reworking that article in the next few days in an attempt to really give substantial answers to all your questions. I'll post here again when it's ready.

arsindelve- 8/4/2007 6:59:28 PM

Hi: While I have not read the book you refer to, I do agree that Hell involves eternal separation from God. I do have a difficult time thinking that someone would go to Hell and be brought back from Hell but if the author's message is how awful Hell is, that's a message enough that should be alarming to those who have not turned their life over to God. You are correct in saying that heaven is a place for those who choose God and believe His message. It is the same about Hell--people actually choose Hell. By not choosing heaven and by rejecting God or rejecting the need to have God in control of their life, they are actually choosing Hell. Our loving God gave everyone free will to decide how they want to live out their eternity. God wants everyone to go to heaven and to choose Him but He leaves it up to everyone to decide. As Christians, we need to get the message out to those who don't believe in God that by either blatantly refusing the message or even by being complacent about it and not doing anything about it, that they are determining their eternal destiny. If God allowed everyone into heaven or even just those who were "pretty good" then by what standard would the "pretty good" be? Would that include those who have sinned very little? It would be hard to draw that defining line. By saying that we must believe in Him in doing so receive the forgiveness of our sins, this makes the line of who is going to heaven or not very clear to everyone. One other thing too that comes to mind--the devil was once the highest archangel who decided that he knew better than God and rebelled. Other angels (turned demons) followed the devil into Hell. They had experienced God's wonders--and rejected Him, choosing instead to set up camp in Hell. Sadly, humans choose the same fate. Your question is a great question--it is something that we all think about and grapple with because sometimes our human nature would be to "go soft" on people or let them suffer for only a specific duration of time but let them rehabilitate themselves. Our only rehabilitation can take place on earth--when we accept Jesus as our savior :)

Anonymous User- 8/5/2007 7:53:17 PM

I apologize for not yet completing the article on Hell, however I was reading a new book this week called "Letters From A Skeptic" and I will definitely want to incorporate some of his ideas into my article. The author, Greg Boyd, talks about how hell is "locked from the inside" (an idea from C.S Lewis and manifest in the Great Divorce) and that our decisions give us momentum in the direction we are going until we become the sum of our decisions and it becomes our nature. This is what Lewis is trying to demonstrate in The Great Divorce by showing us how each of the people have become, as a result of the sum of their choices, someone who can no longer choose heaven or God for unselfish reasons. Boyd also believes that the imagery of fire and flame are symbolic, not literal, and I agree. Hell is a horrible place, but any torture or pain are self-inflicted. Anyway, all of this will be incorporated into the article, which should be ready in another day or two. Thanks for your patience.

arsindelve- 8/12/2007 9:12:09 PM

I made some changes to the article and expanded it in several areas to better address your questions. I hope you find it helpful. Thanks again for your excellent questions.

arsindelve- 8/14/2007 8:05:25 PM

Thanks very much for explaining about this place called hell , I believe you. Thanks for the comments but be prepared for Hell or Heaven.

Anonymous User- 8/24/2007 3:20:02 AM

If you will study the Bible you will see that the Lake of Fire was not created for mankind, but for Satan and his demons. However, it has been widened to receive all who side with them. As a father I understand how I would feel if I had sent my son to a country to help them and instead of accepting his help they killed him. This is the position of sinful man that refuses to accept the mercy of God. For God the Father sent God the Son in the form of sinful man specifically to be able to pay the death sentence of sin against mankind. I do not think it unjust that those who chose to go there actually will. For God made a way for all to receive life with Him. If they chose death, that is something they have chosen. I grow weary of telling people that it isn't God who sends people to Hell, but people who work their way there. As Scripture says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) David Brollier http://david-pttc.blogspot.com

Anonymous User- 8/31/2007 4:20:08 AM

If you have an answer or some information to contribute, or you would simply like to say something to the author of this question, please feel free to leave a comment below. Don't forget that our forum is also open if you want to join or start a discussion.