What About Hell?

One of the greatest challenges to the Bible today is hell. In a culture that values tolerance and mercy more than righteousness and justice, hell is very unpopular. Can we trust what the Bible says about hell? Here are answers to some common questions:

1. Isn't it mean to talk about hell?

It depends on your motive. Jesus is the most loving person to ever live, and Jesus talked about hell quite a lot. "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell," (Mat. 10:28). Jesus acknowledges that talking about hell should cause fear. That may sound unloving, and indeed, talking about everlasting torment will make everyone feel uncomfortable at the very least. However, sometimes fear is a good thing. I want my children to fear talking to strangers or playing in the street. If your motive is to warn people about a very real and terrible place so that they will avoid going there, then talking about hell is loving. In fact, it would be unloving and selfish to keep such an important truth to yourself just because you didn't want to bring up an unpopular subject.

2. Would God really punish people forever when they have sinned a limited number of times?

The Bible says that people suffer forever in hell. The Bible also says God is just. This is difficult for us to understand, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First, the Bible does say there are different levels of punishment in hell (see Mat. 12:41-42 and Lk. 12:47-48). Those who have greater sin will suffer more.

Second, don't assume that no one will sin in hell. In fact, it is pretty safe to say that those in hell will continue with a rebellious attitude toward God and will continue to sin. Those in hell do not have a limited number of sins.

Third, we naturally underestimate how bad our sin really is because we are all sinners. We do not have the proper moral compass to evaluate ourselves. The subject of hell should not lead us to ask, "Why is God so cruel?" But instead, "How bad must my sin be for someone as loving as God to need to send me to hell for it?" The truth is, we have all willfully rebelled against an infinitely holy, righteous, and loving God. Of course we deserve an infinite punishment.

3. Is hell really a lake of fire?

The Bible describes hell as the "lake of fire" only in Revelation 19 and 20. The Bible also frequently describes hell as a place of fire. However, other passages describe hell as a place of darkness (Mat. 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). Many Bible verses emphasize separation from God and do not mention fire. "They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power," (2 Thess. 1:9). Or, "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Mat. 7:23). There is some mystery as to what hell will actually look like and be like. The very phrase, "lake of fire" is mysterious. What does it mean for fire to form a "lake?"

What is clear from many descriptions is that people will live consciously with physical bodies in hell. "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt," (Daniel 12:2). Note that the "everlasting" state of hell is directly compared to life everlasting in heaven (in many other verses as well). In other words, if hell is not eternal, then neither is heaven. Not only will people live forever, but they will suffer mental and physical pain, "where their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all," (Is. 66:24), and, "there is no rest, day or night," (Rev. 14:11). Absolutely no one will "party with their friends" in heaven.

4. Does God really send people to hell because they don't believe in Jesus?

To some, hell makes God sound like he is self-centered with an out of control ego. "Worship me, or I'll send you to hell," he seems to be saying. Or, "Believe in Jesus or else!"

Well, actually, God is self-centered, and that is a good thing! All of us should be God-centered, including God himself. There is nothing else worthy of our worship and attention. God alone is perfectly holy and good, and we should enjoy him when we think about who he is and worship him. God loves us by calling on us to pay attention to him. As for ego, we sometimes say when someone seems full of himself, "Who do you think you are, God?" Of course, God is God, so he has an incredibly high, but perfectly appropriate ego.

God does not send people to hell because they don't believe in Jesus. God sends people to hell as judgment for their rebellion against his good and just commands. God does not want anyone to go to hell. In fact, God created hell for "the devil and his angels," (Mat. 25:41). But those in sin cannot go to heaven to be in the presence of God, so they also go to hell. God has provided a way of escaping hell. Jesus paid the price for our sin. If we believe in him, we receive the gift of salvation, which includes forgiveness of sin and therefore no need for us to go to hell.

5. Isn't it wrong to believe in Jesus just because you are scared of hell?

Yes and no. Saving faith in Jesus is trust in the person of Jesus and his death and resurrection. Fear of hell alone cannot generate that kind of faith. However, fear of hell certainly can and should motivate a person to take seriously the offer of the free gift of salvation. In Luke 16, Jesus describes a rich man who was in "agony" and "torment" in hell. The man hopes that his brothers will avoid the same fate if only Abraham will send a resurrected man, Lazarus, to warn them. Jesus uses this story to emphasize that the Bible is sufficient for anyone to believe. If they reject the Bible, "The will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead," (Luke 16:31). The story demonstrates that Jesus calls on us to trust the Bible. It also shows that thinking about hell should lead everyone to at least consider and take seriously the claims of the Bible and the free gift it speaks of. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Rom. 6:23).
 
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