Is the concept of Hell worth of a loving God?

Question

If "God is love," why would he want anyone to burn forever? I've had many people tell me I'm going to hell because I don't believe exactly the same way they do. Is that the unadulterated manifestation of Christian love?

WORTHY --- that was supposed to say ''WORTHY"

Oh. OK. So I'm "CHOOSING" to be sent to Hell. Except... it's because I disagree with God or with YOU?

Now, isn't Hitler just always so convenient! That's called a straw man argument.

Hitler's dead. Isn't being dead enough punishment? If we all end up as only dead, does it diminish you that that's all he got?

Answer 1

People screaming at you you're going to hell is not a loving thing to do. We Christians often want to speak into someone's life and give our opinions when we are not asked and really haven't earned the privledge of doing so. Personally, as a Christian I would like to ask you forgiveness for that. Not all Christians are the same.
As far as hell not being a loving place or God not being loving for sending people there, well first all remember you asked so I'll tell you.
God did not create hell for people and does not send them there as punishment, or send them there at all.
God created hell for Satan, death and his minions. It was not created for us, but we choose to go there. To be more exact we choose not to go to heaven and be with God because we refuse to participate in His rescue plan. He desires to save us from going to hell with Satan and offers us a way out. We refuse it because we see it as a sacrifice of our desires. Which in truth it is. But in scripture hell may be shown to be a terrible place, but as terrible as it is it is still the most loving option left to God because we refused to be cleansed and be made to appear perfect in His eyes.
If you were ever to read the book of Isaiah you will read of Isaiah appearing before God with all his imperfections. Isaiah standing before the true perfection of God screams he is coming apart. He is coming aprart atom by atom before his creator and is in agony beyond what he can endure. If he isn't cleansed at that moment (which he was) he would do better to be in hell apart from God than to be in his Lord's presence.
When we are imperfect and tinged with it in our souls it would be much better for us to be seperated completely from God than to go and be in His presence. Hell, though terrible, is the loving alternative to heaven when we choose to not accept his rescue plan.
Hell, by its most complete christian definition is simply a place with a full seperation from God. We choose it and God lets us go where we choose.

Answer 2

Question. Does Hitler deserve to be forgiven for what he did and not eternally punished? If so, then you make a good point. If not, then there is a logical problem with your assessment. Either everyone is deserving of eternal salvation, or none of us, or some of us. Personally, although I don't actually believe in hell, which I see as merely being the symbol of the consequences of evil, I do not want to live in a cosmos where people like Hitler and Stalin can get away with the torture and death of millions. So I would say that eternal damnation is a fair concept, even for a just and merciful God. Then it is just a matter of debate on who is eligible and who is not, which is probably the essence at what you are driving at.

If you disagree with that, then so be it. We disagree, and that is fine. We can agree on this: you are right that people should not tell you that you are going to hell if you don't believe what they do. That is wrong. I am a Christian, and I for one would never do that. In fact, it says right in the Bible that it is wrong to curse people, and that is what someone does when they say you are going to hell. Besides, I am not God, I am just a man. How do I know who is going to hell or not anyway?

From my point of view, I look at it like this: I believe in God. I believe in a rational, just, and good God. If God is good and just and rational, and you are being the best person you can be with what God has given you, then you probably have little to fear. So my point is this: there are many different kinds of Christians who believe in many different things. The problem is not God. The problem is not Christianity, in general. The problem is people. Some people are good. Some people are bad. Most people are in the middle somewhere. Take away Christianity and the concept of hell, and there would still be people who disagreed with you on things and who would heap curses on your head. It is a sad part of life, I guess, but there you have it.

Hope that helps a little. It is just one point of view among many, I am sure! Have a good one!

Answer 3

To be perfectly honest, Suzanne, i am not sure about the accurate explanation for this doctrine as of yet...It is my last on my list of things to research, because it is the hardest for me to comprehend.

All those scriptures about "Gods ways not being Mans ways" and such...

I was pondering this one day when I believe I got part of the answer from The Holy Spirit, in the form of a question back to me.." Why would you believe that Heaven is something that you are entitled to and not accept that Hell is the equal opposite".

There is a part of me that believes that I am in essence "GOOD"..(but that is a lie according to the scriptures.) and why Shouldn't i go to heaven?

The Piont of my Revelation was...It is all in gods hands, and we don't come even close to understanding his Grace or his wrath....If Hell is a fiery place that we all deserve, so be it,,,If it is only a separation from God, then so be it...I have learned to put my faith and trust in him and Keep studying his word, and he will reveal to me what he wants me to know "in HIS due Time" not mine.

Suzanne..God only, knows your heart, and True Christians would not venture to condem you for your searching...God bless you. K

Answer 4

God doesn't want anyone to burn in hell forever, that's just stupid, God is a loving God.No human knows your heart, only God does and It is not right for anyone to tell you your fate when you pass, It has nothing to do with a Christan's love it has to do with speaking what the bible says. But it should be told with love not in a judge mental way, only God can judge.I am sorry you had to experience this, but remember we Christians are not perfect.

Answer 5

This concept of hell is dream ed up in the minds of little people who have an overactive imagination when it comes to bible study .We all have a karmic purpose to work out and that being good or bad,thus we create our own heaven or hell while here on earth and use the law of reincarnation to balance the scales from life to life.

Answer 6

There is no scripture to support the idea of anyone burning forever. There is no scripture to support going to hell because you don't believe as others do. The wages of SIN is death. Aside from Jesus Christ, there is no provision for your past sins. This is what condemns you. God loves you to the extent of sending His son, as a ransom. He paid the penalty for your past sins, which allows you to be converted into God's church. You can choose to accept this and repent, or you can choose not to accept it and be yet in your sins. Again, it's not that you don't believe that's the problem. It is your sinful past. That's the problem.

Answer 7

Well, I don't tell people that. However, if you don't believe,
just walk away from them. I myself do not think people
will actually "burn." I think hell would be repeating the
same mistakes you did over and over again in life.
That would be terrible, at least for me.
Now some believers may not agree with what I say but
I look at it like I believe and if you don't, that's up to you.
People at work when we got into talking about this,
they asked me what I believed and I told them and
they said, well I'm such and such or I don't believe
at all. Let's not talk about it and we will get along
fine. I said okay. I do not keep preaching at them.

Answer 8

The concept of God dying on the cross to save you from Hell is worthy of a loving God.

Answer 9

1> Not all Christianity believes in hell as being literal. 2> Not all Christians use a fear-based ministry (Jesus said teach Good News (of salvation) not threaten damnation) 3> God is love. He gave free will and he respects free will. 4> Nobody is innocent (or righteous for that matter) - This comes through God's grace alone.

Answer 10

You can make a new religion if you like. Unfortunately we have to take the christian revelation as-is: when we believe we receive confirmation from God of its truth through forgiveness, the gift of the Holy Spirit and other results of faith.

The problem with creating your own religion is that its all make-believe. It can make a person feel comfortable most of the time as its all highly pleasing to what she/he wants, but in tough spots the person is not really going to feel good unless he's sure its really true.