Why do some Christians, of ALL people, deny an eternal Hell?

Question

Why do some Christians deny an eternal Hell when the eternal nature of hell is stressed in the New Testament? For example, in Mark 9:47–48 Jesus warns us, "It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." And in Revelation 14:11, we read: "And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."

Hell is not just a theoretical possibility. Jesus warns us that real people go there. He says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matt. 7:13–14).

Any guess?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "The teaching of the Church affirms the existence of hell and its eternity. Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, ‘eternal fire.’ The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs" (CCC 1035).

http://www.catholic.com/library/Hell_There_Is.asp

To "Sunset": I have always found it distasteful when some makes themselves judge of who "real" Christians are. Its a typical Fundie insult to me

Answer 1

You are correct

Answer 2

Shall we bow down to the words of the Catechism? The catechism is NOT inspired by any means! Much can be said about this issue. I have discussed this issue with many people. The evidence points to a very different direction. I will list a few and then tell me, how these scriptures fit into your theology.

Job 21:30 ”That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.”(wicked reserved...)

2 Peter 2:9 ”The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”(reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished)

2 Peter 3:7 ”But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”(reserved UNTIL Judgment)

Romans 6:23 ”For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”(wages of sin is death or eternal life in torment?)

There is MUCH more I can say on this topic.

GOD bless

Answer 3

Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Jer 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

perish
G622
ἀπόλλυμι
apollumi
ap-ol'-loo-mee
From G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

Psa.37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

The second death is non-existence.
If you want to think of burning then,
POOF up in smoke.

Answer 4

As far as I know, no one has yet come back from the other side to write a travelogue. The doctrines of heaven and hell attempt to put into symbolic terms concepts that can never be concretized into finite reality.

We should be wary of anyone who claims to know the furniture of heaven or the temperature of hell; to paraphrase Niebuhr. In other words, no one knows what happens when we die. Anyone that claims to, is claiming knowledge they cannot by definition possess.

Peace to you.

Answer 5

When you burn something, what happens to it? It turns to ash.
When something is destroyed, does that mean it still remains? Give it some more thought. It's okay that you believe in eternal hellfire. I don't think God holds us accountable for certain misinterpretations of His word, but there is scripture that would point you in a different direction if you would just take God out of the packaging that mainstream theology has put Him in.

Answer 6

Jesus spoke many many more times about Hell than he did about Heaven. I believe he spoke about hell over 110 times
while he was here on this earth.

It is real,some may not believe it now but one day they will.

People are making the biggest gamble of their lives. If I am wrong then no harm done,but what if i am right?

HELL IS REAL!

Answer 7

As shocking as it sounds, you're right. MANY people claiming to be Christians deny the existence of hell because it doesn't fit with the image of their god.
They've created their own version of God, despite the fact that God has defined Himself through His Word. Their versions allow them to feel good because he doesn't condemn their pursuit of flesh-based desires. You can usually tell that someone has indulged in this when you hear the phrase "my God would/would never..." fill in the blank. They are being truthful when they say that too. THEIR God is exactly who they've created him to be. However, this does not make it the same God of the Bible, the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God help us all. Blessings.

Answer 8

Real Christians believe the word of God.

Answer 9

oh there's a hell alright. its going to be very interesting to see the faces of people who don't believe in hell. sad very sad. people just don't want to think about hell because they are afraid, and they should be, i'm trying very hard to live a christian way, because i mostly definitely do not want to be in the hell bound group, its just going to be to crowded

Answer 10

Because in the literal sense it does not exist. They do not believe in the silly stories of brimstone. They way use aanother term and a nother understanding. People these days have more education than those when the book you refer to was written.

Answer 11

ECC 9:5 says the dead know nothing...some of us think that like Jesus we sleep before resurrecting to Eternal life...
hell is the grave biblically but satan gets the bottomless pit..