Is there a real hell?
Rick Warren Answers Your Questions
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Is there a real hell and why would a loving God send anyone there?
~ Well, first I believe in hell because Jesus talked about it. In fact, Jesus talked more about hell then He did heaven. He said it is a real place and it is a place of eternal torment. And I believe Jesus knows more about it than either you or I.
But second, I believe in hell because logic and fairness demand it. Think of all the atrocities and evil that have been done throughout history by evildoers in this world. For God to allow those crimes to go unpunished would mean that God is not worthy of our worship and love.
Now why would a loving God send anyone to hell? Well in a nutshell, God doesn’t. God doesn't send anybody to hell. We choose to go there when we reject the love of God. If I were to say to my right is a door heading to heaven, and to my left is a door heading to hell, if you walk out the door heading to hell, you don't have anybody to blame but yourself.
In fact, the bible tells us that God does almost everything - well everything possible to keep us out of hell. He cared so much to keep us out of hell that he sent Jesus Christ to come to earth, to die on the cross, to pay for our sins so that we don't have to pay for them. He wants to set us free. He wants to give us forgiveness. God made us in his image and He gave us the ultimate power to say yes or no.
Now if we chose to reject God here on earth, then we, at the same time, are choosing to spend eternity separated from Him. You see, there are only two people in the world - two kinds of people. Those who say, "Thy will be done here to God on earth" and those to whom God says, "Your will be done," when we say, "I want to do it my way." And if we say, "God I don't want you in my life while I'm here on earth," then God says, "I don't want you in my heaven for eternity."
You don't have to go to hell. In fact, Jesus Christ has made it possible for you to go to heaven. Open your heart to Him and say, "Jesus Christ, I need you, I want you, I trust you and I ask you to forgive me." And He'll come in and save you.
Well LA dee DA! Let's hope he puts that in the next revision of his books.