Questions about Hell

In our last bible study, we talked about hell and its use as an objection against the Christian belief of a good, loving God. The tendency in our modern day is to avoid the topic of hell altogether, or if we do address it, we prefer to soften the concept by either 1) seeing hell only has a natural consequence of bad choices or 2) denying the eternal torment of hell.

In the first case, some people prefer to see hell as simply a result of a cause-effect scenario. If you chose to reject God in this life (cause), then the natural consequence is hell (effect). On one hand this is true. But on the other hand, it is not some impersonal force that oversees this cause-effect situation (ie. karma). According to the scriptures, it is a personal God who holds sinners accountable for their rejection of Him and who personally condemns them to hell. That is the picture we find in Rev 20:11-15 and in many of Jesus' parables where someone is cast out into utter darkness. People don't just naturally find themselves in the darkness. They are sent there by God. Now you may wonder why it is so important to stress the punishment aspect of hell (along with the consequence aspect). The reason is because if you neglect the punishment aspect of hell then you neglect the true nature of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. He did not die simply to inspire us to live lives of selfless love and sacrifice. His death had an objective effect on our relationship with God. God's holy wrath was removed from sinners and absorbed by the body of Christ in death. Therefore, those who trust in Christ have a reconciled relationship with God where there is no more condemnation or threat of punishment. That aspect of the gospel is gone if we fail to see that hell is a punishment from God.

In the second case, some people think the concept of eternal punishment is too harsh and unfitting in the character of a good, loving God. But if we understood the true nature of sin then the true nature of hell is understandable. If sin is simply an immoral act or a crime against society or another person, then an eternal punishment may not "fit the crime". But if sin is ultimately an insult, a rebellion, and slap-in-the-face to God's worth, sufficiency, goodness, holiness, glory, etc...then an eternal punishment fits. The greatness of the person you sin against determines the greatness of the punishment. No one argues that to slap a king deserves a greater punishment than to slap your sibling. So if we truly see and savor the infinite value and worth of God our King, then the concept of an infinite punishment in hell seems only fitting. This does not mean we cannot still struggle emotionally with the thought of eternal punishment for loved ones, but it does mean we cannot claim eternal punishment as illogical or unjust.