There's
been a lot of talk lately, even by those self-identifying as
Christians, regarding the horrors of hell. Most people in the West
know that a traditional or Biblical understanding of Hell is almost
beyond description in how awful it is, so the trend of late has been
to change what the Bible says.
The
line of thinking goes something like this. 'People, especially
atheists, don't like God. They don't like God because spending
eternity in the total absence of Love is such an awful experience.
And God has said that those who reject His offer of rescue from hell
will – well – spend eternity in the total absence of Love.
To those who celebrate sin and evil, banishment to Hell just does not seem Just.
To those who celebrate sin and evil, banishment to Hell just does not seem Just.
Richard
Dawkins even calls God a monster and, according to these “progressive
Christians,” it's a terrible thing that Richard Dawkins doesn't like his
Creator.'
So,
the plan goes something like this:
.
If we could make the total absence of Love sound less awful (and
thereby get people to like God more) that would be a good thing.
.
We can make the total absence of Love sound less awful if we tell
people that rather than spending eternity in hell, God is just going
to annihilate those who reject His offer of salvation.
Long
story shorter, Let's tell people that rather than spending eternity in the total absence of
Love, those who reject Jesus' offer of salvation will just cease to
exist.
So
my question is, Would you take a deal like that? Would you say to
yourself, “Ya, if the worst that can happen to me is that I cease
to exist (as atheists already believe), I'd rather do things my way
for 80 years on earth than experience eternity in the presence of
unmitigated Love, Peace and Justice.
I'm
betting that most secular people would go for a deal like that. If,
as things stand now, they're willing to risk “existing” in hell
for eternity, just to get their 80 years of doing life their
way now, I'm certain most people would be willing to go for this
deal, no questions asked.
That's
how dull of mind and slow of thought we are.
We
never cease to be intellectual children.
That's
how short sighted humans are.
Sin
makes us stupid!
Tragic.
The idea of Hell is certainly an unpleasant one. I can see why so many people don't even want to entertain the thought that it might truly exist.
ReplyDeleteBut just because it is unpleasant doesn't mean it isn't true. And I believe that God is also justice, righteousness, and power. God is the only one that can wield true power without it corrupting Him.
Many people want to see only the parts of God's character that fit into their little square box of what they think He should be. That is the sinful, natural way we humans tend to think of everyone and everything.
And the reason God points to Hell is not because He finds pleasure in "punishing" human beings. He is trying to warn us of danger. He is trying to tell us that He can save us. If that's not love then what is?