Posted on 01/09/2014 9:09:07 AM PST by SeekAndFind
"I could never believe in a God who sends people to hell." This common objection, while sincere, is nevertheless untrue and illogical. How can you say it is "untrue" Dan if someone really means it? This is how. Just walk through the reasoning with me if you will.
First of all, think about what the person is saying. He is saying that if the biblical teaching about heaven and hell is correct, then he would never believe in a God who allows people to spend eternity in a place of suffering. This rationale is both illogical and irrational. His objection is based on a premise that the biblical teaching about hell is correct, which is a premise he already rejects.
It's like saying, "I could never believe in a God who sends people to a place which I am convinced doesn't exist." Huh? How do you know you could never believe such a thing when you do not yet even believe in hell, yet alone believe in Christ?
An unbeliever is someone who does not believe in Jesus as Savior. And I have yet to meet an unbeliever who is convinced that hell as described in the Bible is real. So an unbeliever's lack of faith has to do with a lack of faith in Jesus, rather than a lack of faith in hell. He is first an unbeliever in Jesus, and only later an unbeliever in hell.
We can all agree that the following statement is true: "The biblical description regarding hell and those who go there is either true or false." So the objection is that the person would never believe in God if the biblical description is true. I disagree, and I think you will too in a couple minutes. Here is why.
The biblical teaching, as well as the personal experience of Christians, is that a believer is given a new heart and begins to love God because of what Christ has done to save his soul. Millions of Christians believe in God while also believing the difficult doctrine that God sends people to hell. It is not only possible to hold these two positions, but many Christians accept both of them simultaneously.
So it is possible. It does happen. I, for one, believe in Christ as my Savior, and also in the reality of hell as described in the Bible.
It is irrational to say, "I could never believe in a God who sends people to hell." It's like saying, "Even if millions of others claim to believe in both Christ and hell, I could never believe such a thing myself." That is untrue. You could believe it.
Let's say you were convinced that both heaven and hell are real places where people spend eternity. If you were convinced of that fact, it would be absurd for you to say, "I would rather go to hell than believe in God." No you wouldn't. You don't really mean it. Five minutes in hell would convince you otherwise. If you truly believed you were going to spend eternity in the same place of misery and agony where you spent the previous five minutes, you wouldn't stick to your unbelief and your rejection of Christ. You would know at that point that hell is real, and you would want any way out.
There is no way you would choose to stay in hell "just to prove a point." It wouldn't happen. You would become a believer very quickly. And you would see that you can indeed believe in a God who sends people to hell. There is no one who despises his soul so much that he would choose eternal punishment in hell over eternal pleasure with God in heaven.
And there is no one, except Satan, who hates God so much that he would spend five minutes in hell only to say, "I still don't want that new heart, and that new life, and that peace in paradise." It simply isn't logical or rational to say that a person would stick to this flawed position "just to make a point." In that situation, you would swallow your pride, bow your knee to your Creator, and accept Christ as your Savior and your only path to paradise.
If you are going to reject God's love for you as demonstrated in the death of His Son on the cross, it is because you are choosing to reject Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. But it is not because of what the Bible teaches about hell. People only think that is one reason they don't believe in God, but it isn't. It is not a logical position to claim such a thing. It is completely unreasonable. Man loves his personal comfort way too much to stick to that position "just to make a point." It wouldn't happen. If he could get it, man would definitely ask God for a lifeline after just five minutes in hell.
But of course the Bible does not offer a shred of hope that such a lifeline will be available to people after they are sent to hell. Once a person enters hell, reality quickly sinks in. People then see that their perception while on earth was terribly wrong. They see that they could indeed have previously believed in a God who sends people to hell, even though at the time they may have sincerely said they "could never believe in such a God."
Do you know why Jesus spoke at least as much about hell as He did about heaven? Because heaven and hell are actual places where people do exist forever. The biblical teaching about hell is probably the second toughest thing in Scripture to grasp. So what's the first? Here it is: God loved you enough to send His only Son to die in your place on the cross. Seriously, who does that? God did.
The Lord wants you in heaven forever and not in hell. If you repent of your sins and receive Christ as your Savior, you will be saved and safe forever, period. (see Mark 1:15, John 3:16, John 1:12, 1 Timothy 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9, & 1 John 5:13)
At the same time, if you continue to reject Christ, that's on you. But either way, it is nonsensical for someone to make the illogical statement, "I could never believe in a God who sends people to hell." And I suspect you now see why that premise, albeit sincere, is false and illogical.
Everything just makes more sense when you are trusting Jesus to forgive your sins.
-- Dan Delzell is the pastor of Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Neb. He is a regular contributor to The Christian Post.
Again, God can take my life any time He wants - it is His to take. But to send someone to destroy me? That wrongs the one sent.
What it means is that he does not believe in God.
It is a binary. Interpretation does not affect reality.
The Biblical description is pretty clear. Whether this is meant literally or metaphorically is up for debate. The way it is described is not, insofar as I can see.
Aren’t you ignoring words such as “eternal” and “everlasting?” :-)
The Holy Spirit didn’t mention those outside the Ark, other than to say they died. You also seem to be comparing physical death with eternal life.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The above indicates to me that men cast into the lake of fire will have varying punishments according to their works. If they’re all snuffed immediately, what’s the point?
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Just as the first death wasn’t the end, neither will the second death, unfortunately for them, be the end.
I know hell is a hard doctrine. Foundationally, the problem is that people can’t square the evangelical mantra that “God is love” with eternal hell. The general belief is that God is passive, pleading and powerless in the face of the “almighty” sinner, that He’s some sort of kindly indulgent grandfather. That’s the diametric opposite of the truth. God is love AND wrath. When evangelicals only speak of love, they’re leaving half the story untold.
Our forefathers used to preach hellfire and brimstone, and more’s the pity that the modern feminized visible church couldn’t learn that lesson again. People no longer have the fear of God before their eyes, and that’s why we’re in the sad shape we’re in. That fear of God kept men from being as bad as they could be for fear of how horrendous He would make their eternal torture. Not so anymore.
It may be a "brick-wall" for many non-believers. So might the Bible's teaching on sexual immorality. It's irrelevant. Those that choose to follow Christ will be saved; no one else. Whatever their reason is.
That being said, too many people remember only that God is a God of Love and not that He is also a God of justice.
As for it being "goofy", how so more than life after death itself? Besides, look at the people around you. How many, even intelligent, educated ones, believe much goofier ideas? Progressivism (an invention of Satan himself, IMO) for instance.
Even Obama can still be saved through God’s power. Hitler could have been, at the last moment. the smart money does not bet that way, however.
Exactly. Here the bible uses the analogy of the lake of fire and then clearly explains what it means: It is the second *death*. That which is not the earthly flesh is killed. Gone. And for all eternity.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
This one is interesting. Not only does it repeat the analogy and explain it as the second death as in the previous scripture, but the "fearful" are included in the number of those that experience it. This should be a months worth of bible studies on its own.
Our forefathers used to preach hellfire and brimstone, and more’s the pity that the modern feminized visible church couldn’t learn that lesson again. People no longer have the fear of God before their eyes, and that’s why we’re in the sad shape we’re in. That fear of God kept men from being as bad as they could be for fear of how horrendous He would make their eternal torture. Not so anymore.
I understand your position, but you’re essentially saying that God resurrects everybody just to turn around and immediately annihilate them:
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
I disagree, for the reasons previously stated. Can you provide Biblical evidence there’s no life outside the gates? I haven’t seen such evidence. On the contrary, the clear inference is that laundry list of the damned will be there.
Our forefathers used to preach hellfire and brimstone, and more’s the pity that the modern feminized visible church couldn’t learn that lesson again. People no longer have the fear of God before their eyes, and that’s why we’re in the sad shape we’re in. That fear of God kept men from being as bad as they could be for fear of how horrendous He would make their eternal torture. Not so anymore.
Even Obama can still be saved through God’s power. Hitler could have been, at the last moment. the smart money does not bet that way, however.
I totally concur. Well said.
What it means is that he does not believe in God.
That being said, too many people remember only that God is a God of Love and not that He is also a God of justice.
And yes, this is mans reasoning. And that is exactly what the bible works so hard to speak to, to turn it to God’s reasoning.
The Devil is the only one who will be tormented forever and ever (Revelation 20:10)
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The others also go to the same place the devil does which is the lake of fire.
As for it being “goofy”, how so more than life after death itself?
Suppose for a moment that a wonderful man—Mr. Right, if you will—offers a marriage proposal to the woman he loves. “Marry me,” he says, “and I will give you a life like you’ve never dreamed of before. You will be loved with the greatest commitment and passion that any woman has ever known. I will give you the finest house with all of the wonderful things you’ve ever wanted, and you will be happy for the rest of your days!”
Now suppose the woman is very flattered by the proposal, but is uncertain about whether or not she is ready for such a commitment. Asking for a few more days to think it over, Mr. Right answers, “You are welcome to take more time, but it’s only fair that I warn you what will happen if you decline my generous offer. Your only option, other than spending paradise with me, is to be thrown into my underground dungeon, have your eyes gouged from their sockets, and be subjected to unimaginable pain every hour, on the hour, for the rest of your long, miserable life.”
What do you suppose would be going through the young woman’s mind at a time like this? I imagine that would change the way she feels about the man considerably. She might have previously accepted Mr. Right’s proposal because of her love for him, but is there much chance of that now? Surely not. If she takes him seriously, she’ll undoubtedly marry him, but not as much for love as out of genuine terror at the alternative.
Is this God’s way of doing things? Does God want His people to turn to Him out of fear that they will be tortured otherwise? Where is the love in that? If everyone really believed in this doctrine, wouldn’t that properly tarnish their concept of the Savior? I would imagine some might even have a hard time calling Him “Savior” at all. How merciful can it be to create a never-ending torture pit for everyone and then save only a few from it?
The Devil is the only one who will be tormented forever and ever (Revelation 20:10)
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The others also go to the same place the devil does which is the lake of fire.
Not arguing the point you make because i don,t know, just pointing it out.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.
If the those outside the Gates are still living (even if in eternal torment) how can the bible say that even their memory is forgotten? Can God just turn Himself off to knowing the wicked still exist in some fashion?
How can death and hell be thrown in the Lake of Fire and as Revelation 21 tells us 'no more grief, distress, or cry' for the former things are passed away' if there are those outside the gates who are in eternal grief, distress and tears??
Knock knock.
Who is it?
Jesus. You need to let me in.
Why should I let you in?
So I can save you.
Save me from what?
From what I’m going to do to you if you don’t let me in.
Does that about sum it up?
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