Doctrine of Hell

[dog8food]

When speaking to my friends about Christianity, my thoughts slow down when explaining the Bible's concept and reasons of Hell. For example, a friend asks me why God would consciously and eternally harm people in a place reserved by the devil and his angels, rather than obliterate them, or at least obliterate the people who were never "forcibly" against God, but still didn't necessarily accept Jesus. Along the same lines I've been asked how a just God deals with those who have never been confronted with the Gospel. These are questions I have a harder time with, because if I direct people towards the more obvious verses such a Romans 3:10-12, John 14:6, Romans 10:14, they seem to conclude their deceased kin has gone to hell. They'd rather not come to terms with this (since they're currently closer to their family than God) and hope the Bible is not true.

Have you encountered similar situations? How did you deal with it?

 

[Need 4 Creed]

Yes,

"I've been asked how a just God deals with those who have never been confronted with the Gospel"

While not all may have heard the full gospel, all have been confronted by the truth of God by means of creation, conscience and reason.

The arguments you list,which are common, are all emotionally fuelled and avoid the issue of personal sin. These arguments come from people who reject the authority of scripture.

I would take it back a level and speak about God's authority as creator, and the reasonableness of the existence of God. I would also turn to the attributes of God and the law of God in order to help the person see themselves in light of God's character. Once they grasp the character of God and the sinfulness of sin (and therefore their own sin), perhaps they will be better able to understand judgment and justice.

I would also remind them that no one actually knows the fate of any person who has died, for all they know God dealt with them in the moments before they passed away. I would mention that but then return the conversation back to their own situation.

 

[Skyler]

For example, a friend asks me why God would consciously and eternally harm people in a place reserved by the devil and his angels, rather than obliterate them, or at least obliterate the people who were never "forcibly" against God, but still didn't necessarily accept Jesus. Along the same lines I've been asked how a just God deals with those who have never been confronted with the Gospel.

Because a) They deserve it, and b) He wants to. Anyone who knows what God requires and does the opposite unrepentantly is "forcibly" against God. And the Bible teaches that all men know what God requires, because it's visible in His creation and written in their hearts.

As a relevant aside, Jesus teaches in Mark 9 (responding to someone else casting out demons in His name) that anyone who is not against us is for us. But the logical corollary of that is that anyone who is not for us is against us.

 

[dog8food]

For example, a friend asks me why God would consciously and eternally harm people in a place reserved by the devil and his angels, rather than obliterate them, or at least obliterate the people who were never "forcibly" against God, but still didn't necessarily accept Jesus. Along the same lines I've been asked how a just God deals with those who have never been confronted with the Gospel.

Because a) They deserve it, and b) He wants to. Anyone who knows what God requires and does the opposite unrepentantly is "forcibly" against God. And the Bible teaches that all men know what God requires, because it's visible in His creation and written in their hearts.

As a relevant aside, Jesus teaches in Mark 9 (responding to someone else casting out demons in His name) that anyone who is not against us is for us. But the logical corollary of that is that anyone who is not for us is against us.

But presenting it in this way to someone who has little understanding of the Bible may have the opposite of a winsome effect. Can this be explained lovingly without making the other feel immediately antagonized?

 

[A5pointer]

For example, a friend asks me why God would consciously and eternally harm people in a place reserved by the devil and his angels, rather than obliterate them, or at least obliterate the people who were never "forcibly" against God, but still didn't necessarily accept Jesus. Along the same lines I've been asked how a just God deals with those who have never been confronted with the Gospel.

Because a) They deserve it, and b) He wants to. Anyone who knows what God requires and does the opposite unrepentantly is "forcibly" against God. And the Bible teaches that all men know what God requires, because it's visible in His creation and written in their hearts.

As a relevant aside, Jesus teaches in Mark 9 (responding to someone else casting out demons in His name) that anyone who is not against us is for us. But the logical corollary of that is that anyone who is not for us is against us.

But presenting it in this way to someone who has little understanding of the Bible may have the opposite of a winsome effect. Can this be explained lovingly without making the other feel immediately antagonized?

You need a new paradigm. You are speaking to people under God's wrath. Tell them what you believe and why.

 

[Skyler]

But presenting it in this way to someone who has little understanding of the Bible may have the opposite of a winsome effect. Can this be explained lovingly without making the other feel immediately antagonized?

In one sense no... telling someone they're a sinner and are going to hell unless they repent is automatically going to antagonize sinners unless they're being prepared by the Holy Spirit. It's the stumbling-block of the Cross.

But in another sense yes, and it's contextual. Your goal is to communicate the reality of their situation clearly - in such a way that it cuts past their emotions, presuppositions, and cultural conditioning. How you do that is going to be different depending on the situation. But keep two things in mind: First, you're telling them all this because you love them and want them to experience the joy of salvation, not because you're right; and second, you're telling them so that they know the truth, not so that they like it. Making them like it is the Spirit's job. Don't give in to the temptation to minimize hard things or compromise the truth in order to "be winsome".