I believe hell tends to be played down too much. Some think of it as a separation from God, God turning their back on sinners, etc. I actually believe we are sugarcoating these to excuse our condition. If the flames of hell are real and it is a place where the worms will eat us throughout eternity; knowing that God is a just and merciful God should make us think what vile creatures we actually are to receive such a sentence. We should also stop and think what a wonderful and loving God we have, that He is willing to endure us in our condition simply to save and prepare some of us for heaven. While most don't like to think of ourselves in this way, I think Jonathan Edwards explains it best in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
WHEW! :) Thanks for Edwards' sermon. I believe I will be leaving that one off the list of bedtime stories for when I (hopefully) eventually have grandchildren. :) It is very sobering though. I believe I will put Edwards in the John the Baptist camp. I liked the implicit (or explicit) theme that even the reprobate have every reason to thank God (though they won't) for not being sent to hell at this single moment. It is only by His hand that they are not there immediately. Boy, I thought my pastor was tough. Edwards makes him look like a piker. :)
And of course both Edwards and you are right that hell is played down too much. It is very tough to truly grasp how evil we actually are to, IN FACT, deserve damnation forever. Trying to conceive of eternity in hell is sort of like trying to conceive of how much a trillion dollars is. Very difficult. But I'd say Edwards did a pretty good job. :) Thanks again for posting.