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| Question of the Week: Would a loving God send people to Hell? |
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Perhaps no greater Christian doctrine has challenged the politically correct mindset of the last twenty years than the doctrine of hell. In this brief response, we'll simply explore two primary claims that lead many Christians to abandon this doctrine in favor of a more "sensitive" perspective of the divine (we'll assume that the biblical record stands firm in proffering belief in hell, so our concentration will be on responding to the critics who perceive this doctrine to be an affront to God's benevolence). (i) If God is all-powerful, then He can save all persons from Hell. On the surface, it appears that to deny this claim is to minimize God's omnipotence. However, such is not the case for omnipotence does not include those things that are self-contradictory (i.e., God cannot make logical contradictions like "square-circles" or "married bachelors"). Since salvation is the result of each person's individual choice and there are some people who will freely reject salvation, then in a world where God desires that all persons freely receive salvation He cannot guarantee that all persons will in fact do so. Therefore, it is possible that we live in such a world where those that find salvation are many but it may not be the case that all persons can be freely saved. (ii) If God is all-good, then He wants no persons to go to Hell. Again, a surface read suggests that this is not controversial. After all, God has expressed that He desires that all persons be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). But the objector means something else - he means to say that if God is all-good then He would prefer making a world where no person actually goes to Hell. First of all, the problems of our response to (i) cannot be surmounted and, hence, there are some people who freely reject God's grace. Secondly, I don't see why (ii) is necessarily true. After all, if God is perfectly Just just as He is perfectly loving then I think God, out of moral necessity, demands that that justice be satisfied ("an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth"). And God cannot compromise His nature by turning a blind eye to sin for that justice must be satisfied. So perhaps the objector prefers to say (ii*) If God is all-good, then He will find an alternative means of punishment (lesser duration and/or intensity) over Hell. But I see no reason to think (ii*) is necessarily true either. Sin separates one from God forever and so the gravity of each sin is profound - demanding a corresponding punishment (one of infinite duration). And the Bible suggests that Hell's intensity is contingent on the infraction(s) committed: 11:22 But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. Therefore, given no good reasons to affirm (i), (ii), and (ii*) I find no good reason to abandon the Christian doctrine of Hell.  
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| To add a comment to "Question of the Week: Would a loving God send people to Hell?" |
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| January 08, 2008 |
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The sentimentalization of Christianity has led to the false belief that God cannot have created a hell for unbelievers. But the Bible speaks very clearly of the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Rev 21.8
Some of the categories of persons described in that verse can well fit some of us who flock the Christian websites on the Internet: eg. the cowardly, the unbelieving, idolaters and all liars....
Wonder how God could have clubbed these four categories with the other far more worse categories like abominable, murderers, immoral persons, sorcerors...
The Bible is far deeper than we think. May God open our eyes. And may we stop being shallow and sentimental Christians. |
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| January 08, 2008 |
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Yes, because people freely reject the call of the Spirit then they in effect send themselves to hell. This is an important point. Jesus himself emphasizes that hell was never created intentionally for human beings: 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: And with respect to being lumped in with extremely sinful individuals, the net effect of each sin is that we are separated from God forever - each being an aggregious act to be sure - so that ... whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one `point', he is become guilty of all. |
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| January 08, 2008 |
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| Excellent blog. This topic is highly debated by some. I wrote a blog on it a while back which you can find here...No Hell???? Of course, some of the people that used to be on MyChurch and debated with me about whether there is or isn't a hell, are no longer on this site, and so their comments have been removed. If it were my choice, I would leave all the comments there, but once someone leaves the site, all their comments go with them. Anyway, I enjoyed reading what you had to say. |
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| January 08, 2008 |
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Thank you for the kind words, and I appreciate the link to some discussion about whether Hell actually exists - a question I didn't deal with. My immediate interest here was to convey to readers how, hypothetically speaking, could a loving God permit Hell. Our final analysis may answer that other question; that not only would God permit Hell but His justice entails it! I was particularly interested in that final entry of your blog by someone who defended universalism. But such imperatives as "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2) and the entire enterprise of missiology lose their purpose if all persons are saved at the end of the day. |
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| October 01, 2008 |
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If Hell were not a Real Place....I would not be writing this comment.....
My Testimony is very much like the transformation of Saul to Paul...& what did happen to Him on His way
to kill Christians....God MADE HIM....Repent ...by Blinding Him...Then Restored Him, Drastically Changed Him
into a Entirely Different Person.... & His Mission also Becomes Drastically Opposite.....
Men Dream up These Politically Correct & Jacuzzi Milk Toast Messages...That GOD..a Loving God...would
NEVER ??....He said YOU SHALL Surely DIE........Death is Hell enough even if You were Sleeping.....
He said Fear not who can destroy Your Body ..but rather FEAR Him You can Destroy Your Soul...
My Experience was not Sleeping, Dreaming, Not a Near Death... I went to a Real Place of Torment...
Just Like Saul was Blind....& Healed By Christians..to then Become Paul called of God For His Mission. |
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| October 01, 2008 |
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| Thank you for the spirited insertions you've offered in this blog and others! |
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| October 08, 2008 |
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Groups of People Make Up There own Religion ....Make Grand Claims the False Religion Teaches the Lie of HELL.
They say The Bible Will Drive You Insane......So The Bible is OUT.
Yet... They Cling [use] The Name Jesus to make Those that might follow their Teaching sound Official &
Authoritative.
You Shall Surely Die ? God's Word in The Garden....This is The Spiritual DEATH [separation] from God & Warning from God.
& Not From Men.
Jesus said Fear not those who can Destroy the Body But Fear Those that could Destroy The Soul.
Spiritual Death & Separation from God ...Surely Dead !!
Jesus said.....Not all That say Lord Lord.....Jesus, Jesus....will Be Saved.......I will say Depart from Me I never
knew You....
So with God Speaking in the Garden & Jesus Speaking How can the Use The Name God? or Jesus?
..So Also If They denounce the Bible to be valued Like any cheap Magazine or just any old book.
Claim that it will drive You Insane.......That Name Jesus....must Drive You Insane as well ??
So They Claim The Name Jesus to Cheaply use His Name Merely to have a Following.
They talk a lot of MUMBO JUMBO like a Politician or a Car Salesman.
& do not make a lick of sense .....either the Bible IS....or Is Not The Word of God. |
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| October 08, 2008 |
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Hear is a small Line of someone commenting & suggesting that God Will Save Everyone.
God May Desire to Save Everone....but Will He? When in the Word it is Clear that [HE] states otherwise.
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Only to stand in confusion that nothing can stop the " WILL OF THE LORD THAT ALL MEN WILL BE SAVED"
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In this comment above the writer is suggesting all that would speak of a Hell are Confusing the listeners
& misleading them.
I AM sorry but I do not see Bible support or Jesus stating anywhere All of Mankind will be saved.
Were You Reading.... House & Garden?
Writer where to You have or find the support for the Position? |
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| October 08, 2008 |
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| Hell is |
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| October 08, 2008 |
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Kingdomwithin says:
Jesus stated very clearly that He himself did not have a free will. He only could say and do what he seen the Father do. Jesus also said that we ourselves could do nothing expect he first allowed it. There is no way for the Father to be in control except that this control be Control. It was the contrasted point of view that stated a illusive free will. I believe at your level you would say the Devil is this (contrast point of view) Pride to keep a lie in effect is the root of all religious dogma positions. Hell was defeated and it's doors are wide open. Those who remain there are told that they must remain there because they did not believe. Belief is not a choice as stated in scripture, but rather is given by God. The sin Lie of this world has been paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
There is no debt owed by any human being whatsoever. Religion is a angel of light in appearance to secretly accuse and hold in bondage it's captive. Anyone who holds to it's present belief systems of possible separation will be grind ed to a frustrated mental collapsed eventually. All will eventually proceed to the throne and accept the will of God to reign over all and In all. Every enemy of this oneness of God's Love will be laid at the foot of the Father by Jesus Christ himself. Jesus needs no help from anyone of us to accomplish this victory.
Peace my friend.......
Kw
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kingdomwithin says:
Hell is only a word created by translators. Any half serious study of this word Hell will prove these facts. But Words never the less have an impact on the human mind. The so called Devil is fully aware of how words can manipulate regardless of there factual base in truth. Tell a child there is a Santa Claus or tooth fairy and like magic the fable becomes a belief system for the weak minded.
The Word of God is accurate. The Bible is not. The Word of God is a living being. The Bible is not. The Word of God does not change ever. The bible will probably change into another updated translation before you go to bed tonight. The Word of God is only spoken to the divine Spirit within you. The bible is always spoken to the brain or carnal thinking systems of a human being. This is why they keep making it easier and easier to understand. They translate to the carnal side of a man, not the Spiritual side.
Belief systems do make any who follow them insane. But the insanely decieved do not know they are decieved, so the term of insanity is irrelevant. Do you think any of those Muslims walking around that asteroid actually understand that this is rather an insane practice? Nope. They are secured by their neighbors insanity that walk with them.
If there is a Devil, keep in mind he will not appear to you as a devil that can be seen. But rather in a belief system that is acceptable to your understanding.
There is a freedom found in Jesus Christ the True living Word. But to find this place first we must walk through the wilderness and resist the temptations of a very clever belief system. Oops I mean Devil. Then and only then will any of us be invited above this realm of vanity. There is no real freedom until you do not have to choose anything to be True. God is Love without manipulation or fear.
Peace.
Kw ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael says:
The Word of God is accurate. ???
The Bible is not. ???
The Word of God is a living being. ???
The Bible is not. ???
The Word of God does not change ever. ???
The bible will probably change. ???
Only to stand in confusion that nothing can stop the .......
" WILL OF THE LORD THAT ALL MEN WILL BE SAVED"
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This above here is what You Write
Your Personal Opinion is That Most Christians are Deceived, & Confused ....well Not that Confused..
as far as the off the Wall Fairy Tail Made Up Religion You Came Up With.......Tell All of These confused
People How & Where do You come up with this Stuff ?????
As Far as You Go .....All I have to do is cut & Paste....I will only cut & Paste ...You Give Plenty Goofy
Lines that You can not Explain.
You attempt to Mix into a Good sounding Christian Lingo that You Probably Learned from Reading the
Bible before You Discarded it ...Some Words That Rhyme with Discarded = Disgorged, Discorded, Disregarded,
Disagreed, Discouraged.
Now You Take Credit for Your Own Message ....Not Gods Message....The Gospel.
The Word Became Flesh....But God Never had it Recorded?
What do You call Your Gospel??
This Like Saying The Beatles are a The Greatest Band of All Time ....The Best Music of All Time...
Best Lyrics, Melodies etc.
But Their Records.....Their Sheet Music is Awful.
The Sheet Music Proves The Music is Great, & The Recorded Music is that one can Hear in their EARS.
God Gives You [ Ears ]....To Hear Him. They that Hear with there ears can reject what they hear.
How blessed are the feet of those that bring good news ...is this a keeper of a verse??
What are if any of the Bible verse that is Worth Keeping ?? What verses do you try to Build this Faith or Religion of Yours ?
All Matter Vibrates at Different Frequency so that Nothing Solid is Solid a Skin over Nothing ...How do You do That?
You slip in The Most Stupid Stuff ..Yet You Try to Sound or want to sound like a Christian ???
A lot of some really Good sounding... MUMBO JUMBO....WOW. |
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| October 09, 2008 |
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| This "kingdomwithin" fellow isn't even on the radar screen of New Testament scholarship. |
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| October 02, 2009 |
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Here's a quote by the Puritan used extensively by God in the first great awakening, Jonathan Edwards "...If the obligation to love, honor, and obey God be infinite, then sin which is the violation of this obligation, is a violation of infinite obligation, and so an infinite evil... [Hence], sin being an infinite evil, deserves an infinite punishment. An infinite punishment is no more than it deserves."
I highly recommend the entire sermon: http://www.jonathan-edwards.org/Eternity.html |
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| October 03, 2009 |
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 [star!] |
Excellent use of logic in this blog! |
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