IS THERE A HELL?

Hell is a very touchy subject for lots of people. Some people cannot believe in a God who would send people to hell. To a sensitive person, hell is unthinkable. Who among us would send our loved ones there, even though they do commit wrongs against us – we still love them. One objection often raised is this: How can God punish for eternity, crimes that may not deserve such severity? Infinite punishment for finite crimes does not seem to fit the mold of true justice.

To answer the original question - I am convinced there is a hell. My basic reason for thinking so is that Jesus claimed it to be so. He is the primary source for the idea of hell. As a teacher from God, He ought to know and he mentioned hell numerous times. Of course to believe in what Jesus has said, I must believe that those quoting him are accurate in their reports of his words. And I do, for reasons that are convincing to me, but that is another subject.

I also believe in hell because I believe in the moral God who is described in the Bible. If God did not justly deal with wrongdoing, He would not be a God of justice and, therefore, not a God worth worshiping and serving. Who among us believes that crimes should go unpunished and evil people should be free to roam and prey on the “innocent”. Yes, there is hell, but I would not wish it on anyone, and neither does God. He is very plain in His prophetic message from Ezekiel 33:11, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

I think many have not thought through this concept of hell. They argue against it based on misunderstandings often presented by the church and Christians. I don’t pretend to have the ultimate answers to such a subject. Only God knows fully what He intends to do, but I trust His goodness and that He will do right. Following are thoughts about hell that make sense to me.

Many believe that Christ Jesus, by His death on the cross, has paid for the sins of the world. Therefore, hell is not a place of punishment for the sins of people if they have been paid for by Christ. Nevertheless, everyone will be judged for their deeds, both the righteous and the wicked, and receive what is due. But this is not the basis for sending someone to hell. It may be the basis for rewards, or loss of rewards, in the kingdom of God; or for degrees of life in hell.

My understanding of hell is that it is reserved for those who have chosen to walk away from God and to finally have nothing to do with Him. Jesus said, according to Matthew 12:25 and 30, “Any kingdom…city or house divided against itself shall not stand…He who is not with me is against me…” He makes it plain that there are those for, or against Him. How is it that those against Him would make good citizens in a Kingdom of righteousness that He rules? Would it not make sense to have an alternative place for people to live who do not have a heart to follow Christ’s government?

Don’t we do the same thing in our world by having a prison system? We tolerate prisons. We lock people away for crimes they commit, some even for life. And some, we say, deserve the death penalty. Why not let people run free and do what they want? Isn’t that the most loving thing to do? No. We say that the loving thing is to provide a safe society for people.
Most people will likely agree that life would be wonderful if we didn’t have to have prisons. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we didn’t have to lock our homes for fear of robbers, killers, child abusers, or rapists? Christ died for all persons, but that doesn’t mean they choose to walk Christ’s way. So what do you do with people who do not follow the rules that make for a safe society? Allow them to make it unsafe?  We might say that the answer is to try and reform them, but that is exactly what God is trying to do for all persons.  What if they refuse to be reformed?

Is it possible that a person would be against Christ and choose to never repent of their wayward life so as to come to terms with Him? If a person in prison shows reform and no longer poses a threat to society, we allow for parole. But some people are kept locked up because it is believed they would continue to be a threat to the well-being of society. Does God know that some will always be a threat to society and so must have an alternative place provided for them?

What if a person never chooses to be with you, but always against you? What will you ask of such a person? We experience this to some degree in divorce situations. One person no longer wants to live with another. Do we insist on forcing them to stay against their will? Two people who do not want to walk together are allowed to separate.

Consider the familiar story of the “prodigal son”. (Luke 15) This happens in many people’s experiences. A child does not want to stay with the parent, but wants to go away and live as she or he pleases. The parent may be too restrictive for them. In the story, the son discovers that life is difficult and destructive away from the father. In his case he chooses to return to the father. The father never stops loving the son, but he does not go out and force his return. The son must come to himself and realize where life is to be found – with his father. But what can the father do if the son refuses to return to his loving presence? Respect his right to choose, though with grief.

Hell is letting the person choose his or her own destination. Hell is God loving people and respecting their choices enough to allow them to be separate. Even if He knows it is not good, nor in their best interest, they will have it no other way.

What more can God do than what he has done. He keeps on loving persons and offers an invitation to welcome them back. He has sent His son, Christ Jesus, to pave the way home. But persons will not, and God seemingly will not violate their choice to remain separate.

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