The topic and concept of Hell is one that fills volumes and that has been discussed since mankind first left the garden. With that said, I think the modern church has done a in service to the topic. We, the western Christian church, seems to have largely reached a point where we focus so much on Heaven, God’s love, and redemption (all of which are VITALLY important so do not misunderstand me) that we leave out the consciences of rejecting God. That would be eternity in Hell for those that are unsure.
We, the western church again, do not help God by acting as if Heaven is the destiny for the saved and that the rest just rot in the ground for not following God. There is a eternal destiny for all of us. Those that reject God, those that mock God, those that have no interest in their eternal life reap a destiny in Hell. It may not be popular, but it is what the Bible tells us to be true.
I know the mere mention of Hell brings up visions of hellfire and damnation preachers of the past. Yes, many have literately had “the Hell scared out of them” and that is how the base and how they maintain / focus their faith. That too is a mistake. As God does love, He does redeem, and He does desire a relationship with people which is real, not just one that is based on fear.
That said, to leave a real and true conversation about Hell out simply because we, as the Western church, fear being associated with extreme hellfire preachers is to ignore the truths presented in the Bible. The Bible clearly describes and defines the following facts:
#1 – Hell is a real place
#2 – Hell is never ending
#3 – Hell is lonely
#4 – Hell is comprised of suffering
#5 – Hell is the destination for those that reject God.
I could had more items too the list above, but I think those five (5) sum up a overview of Hell nicely that Christians of all stripes and faiths could agree on.
Of course the great news is that God, via the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, wants to redeem ALL people. God wants to save. God wants to be in relationship with all of His creation. God is patient and each day we live is an opportunity for the lost to come to God and for the redeem to be restored and used in God’s work. God loves everyone, and part of that love is expressed in the freedom He gives His creation. A large part of that freedom is that even though God desires all of us to go to Heaven, but He will allow us to choose Hell.
So, as you contemplate Heaven don’t forget to contemplate Hell as well. To share only part, either part, of God’s eternal plan is to short the listener or the seeker of the full story. Of course we must share God’s love, but we must also share the consciences of rejecting that love.
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