Fear of Hell

[FLR]

I am afraid of hell. I am finding it paralysing. Does anyone else expereince this fear? I've been told that i may suffer from hadephobia (a condition that is the fear of hell) and that i should seek medical advice. What should I do? I worry that people i love will burn in hell. Is this normal?

 

[Stephen Kendall]

Fear of destruction doesn't sound as bad, but the idea of continuous pain and torment has no place with sanity, love, justice or the teachings of forgiveness. It is our faith in Jesus and his instructions for us that we hold on to. You are right to be concerned for others. This is lacking in the world. We ought not be like the world. I believe there is an eternalness of death towards those who get a not so favorable judgment from God. To see death on the other side with fear of no return, as in a parable of Jesus, is to see death as final and those who run to it finished. They live not and can not return to life. They are not alive. Sounds pretty dead and with more sanity than the use of the words of a forever tormenting Hell.

As a critical thinker, I can not speak things as though I believe in them unless I do and have been convinced by thoroughly checking them out. I see death as death and final. I don't see an imagination of torment and insane judgment operating from the same God that told us to forgive and love our enemies. I can not tell people or preach of Christ's Gospel with such confusing evil proclamations. I warn them that the worm dies not, therefore your death isn't reversed. I am enlightened by Jesus' Gospel and in no way pulling along these unusual and illogical counterproductive statements of forever torments. There is just the forever worm and uncross-able huge chasm. There is just judgment and death. Forever life for true Christians and forever (no coming back) death for those who are evil. The two will not share consciousness together again.

We live in peace and hope. We don't drag around a theology of hatred and un-forgiveness with torment and pain. We warn of a death that can not be overcomed without Jesus Christ.

 

[Everlasting33]

Your symptoms are but one of the many symptoms of the destructiveness that can accompany religion. I would examine your motivations of the faith and consider what is best for your mental health.

Best of luck to you. I know how troubling such a decision can be.

 

[Timothew]

I am afraid of hell. I am finding it paralysing. Does anyone else expereince this fear? I've been told that i may suffer from hadephobia (a condition that is the fear of hell) and that i should seek medical advice. What should I do? I worry that people i love will burn in hell. Is this normal?

If you believe that there really is a fiery place where people are burned alive forever without end, then it would be normal and natural to be paralyzed by fear of it.

Thankfully, there is no such place. The bible specifically states that the wages of sin is death, not eternal torture in hell. (Romans 6:23)

I think it is a shame that people try to scare you with fairytales of eternal torment.

 

[Stephen Kendall]

Your symptoms are but one of the many symptoms of the destructiveness that can accompany religion. I would examine your motivations of the faith and consider what is best for your mental health.

Best of luck to you. I know how troubling such a decision can be.

Yes, believing in religion isn't very healthy, but having a relationship with the creator and our Father in Heaven is real and no religion at all. Relationships do not become religions, but religions are in hope of something better, like a relationship. A person who tries to be spiritual by obeying Christ has a relationship with the Father who is spiritual. This exercise in love, hope, humility and kindness through obeying Christ brings a soul out of the worries, shame and hopelessness of the world. A Christian that obeys Christ no longer is under the yoke and slavery of sin. Such a person is born of God and his Spirit. Their bondage is now of Christ's Gospel and not that of any religions, even Christendom's theologies added to the Gospel. Be humble, innocent and holy before God and not filled with man's idols of pride, religions or so called knowledge. Remember Jesus said no one knows the Father except for the son and whom the son shows the Father to. It is through Jesus that we escape all religions and find our Father in Heaven, our creator. Have a wonderful day.

 

[BakoGuy]

I kinda have this fear too, but probably not to the level of worry you're going through. I think about it every once and awhile. Usually after watching the show 'I survived, beyond and back' on A&E. When some people talk about going to hell, kinda freaks me out lol. But who really knows if they are just making stuff up to get attention.

I have had talks with my therapist about this and He has many other patients who talk about death too.
He recommended a book to me called 'The Afterlife Unveiled: What the dead are telling us about their world'. By Stafford Betty.
I haven't read it yet, but its on my reading list.
Might be something good for you to read to help ease your mind.

All rivers lead to an ocean, and we must accept it as part of life. Kinda "corny" but its the truth.

 

[Chococat]

BakoGuy please do not read that book that your therapist recommended as contacting the dead is forbidden in the Bible and these "communications" are either fake or come from demon spirits. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but these sort of things can open you up to things in your life you do not want as well as shipwrecking your faith. Like I said I am not attacking you so please do not see it that way. God bless you

 

[BakoGuy]

BakoGuy please do not read that book that your therapist recommended as contacting the dead is forbidden in the Bible and these "communications" are either fake or come from demon spirits. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but these sort of things can open you up to things in your life you do not want as well as shipwrecking your faith. Like I said I am not attacking you so please do not see it that way. God bless you

Well, I thank you for being concerned. My therapist was a Minister for a number of years, If He's OK with it....than I'm sure it's totally fine to read.

I know that this is not a fictional book, and some things or everything in it could be inaccurate. The book basically implies this in the front.

Thanks once again and God Bless you too!

 

[tango9jeff]

A healthy fear of hell is fine. I struggled with moments of fear and terror regarding thoughts about it and etc.

Remember that fear and terror DO NOT come from Jesus Christ. Fears and terrors in that form come from the devil him self. He loves to make people doubt their salvation and their Trust in Jesus to protect and keep them safe.

Conviction from God almighty will come in a form of heart break and Godly sorrow or a heart realization that you are not in a right relationship with him.

Don't ever just trust some therapist. Only God almighty knows each persons heart. Find your answers in scripture and pray. Remember Christ seeks a relationship with US. Pray to him and give him all your requests. PRAY often for those you worry for! Seek the Lord and bring truth of love to them. Share with them the love of Jesus! Don't give up on them.

Also be honest with the Lord. Tell him your fears and cry to him to teach you how to believe and trust in him more. That by HIS POWER you will no longer have to fear it because of the work of God in your heart. Turn always to the LORD. He wants your LOVE not your terror. When the Lord declares for us to "Fear him" from my understanding he means more in the relation to Respect and awe for his great power and wonder.

Isaiah 41:10 - Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

I will pray for you right now! =)

Seek him brother! =)

 

[mrm]

I'm having the same problem and have realized it's the natural outcome of two other problems I am trying to deal with. I'm hoping my posting this reply someone will be able to truly help us both.
1/Anxiety disorder. I have realized I suffer from generalized anxiety being consumed with worry that takes many forms not just this particular worry, though this one seems to be the most looming and wearisome. I am taking steps to address this issue. The number one culprit here seems to be an overactive brain combined with chronic life stressers that led me to believe if anything bad can happen it will.
2/Fear that God has rejected me. After being a devoted Christian for many years, many things happened in my life that made me feel God was angry with me and had rejected me. I had a difficult time finding a place in a church where I felt I belonged; being rejected by others in church made me start believing I had been rejected by God.
Now I realize that fear is not of God and that we are to live by faith. I comfort myself with Job and Jeremiah only to be bombarded with images of Saul falling on his sword after his bitter rejection and wondering if I'm like Saul and Esau. A war rages within my soul. I have loved Jesus and still love and adore His precious name. If anyone can please help me find the way of peace back to comfort in the Lord I'll be eternally grateful.

 

[edwardfsmith]

Thanks to all that posted.

I am interested about learning more about if it is forbidden to contact the dead?
This does not seem right to me since people pray to saints all the time.
And the Virgin Mary.
And I must admit I talk to my dad often!

I think all I am finding is some passages about mediums

I want to think that the Father Son and Holy Sprit is the truth in this world and the next. I am not sure how to word what I am thinking… but it seems that there is a path in this way to have the truth pass in prayer to loved ones in the next life.

I do not fear death because Jesus is my savior. But I understand what you are saying that you fear for the people you love.
In the end the relationship with Christ is personal. But I try to encourage others in the right direction.

Sorry you have those problems mrm
I know anxiety it is unfortunately a big part of my life in a negative way.

I think others have said that being rejected by others in a certain church is not the same as being rejected by God.

As for the story of Saul, he maybe did not have an open mind to what God was saying to him around that time.

 

[john59]

I really feel for previous readers . From a teenager to recently mine was similar . Thankfully counselling thru local mental health services has alleviated things . I was brought up in UK assemblies of god in the 60s and 70s and little does that movement know how its approaches scarred me for decades . Pentecostal set ups can be destructive and certainly for people who are prone to anxiety and depression . John from witney nr oxford

 

[gregr1189]

2/Fear that God has rejected me. After being a devoted Christian for many years, many things happened in my life that made me feel God was angry with me and had rejected me. I had a difficult time finding a place in a church where I felt I belonged; being rejected by others in church made me start believing I had been rejected by God.
Now I realize that fear is not of God and that we are to live by faith. I comfort myself with Job and Jeremiah only to be bombarded with images of Saul falling on his sword after his bitter rejection and wondering if I'm like Saul and Esau. A war rages within my soul. I have loved Jesus and still love and adore His precious name. If anyone can please help me find the way of peace back to comfort in the Lord I'll be eternally grateful.[/QUOTE]
I too feel like you! Similar thing happens to me, I began very excited about Christ and excited about his salvation. After about a year I made poor choices and returned to some very tragic sins. I too felt rejected by the church, and as if I did not fit in, and had same fears about Saul and Esau. As a result of some choices I experienced severe hearing loss which left me completely isolated from others for some time. I feared I had a demon. I did not completely give up hope, and I know God won't reject anyone who repents (did he once in the Bible?) Things have been improving with time, I have gotten married over the years and am close with Bible Study. Could it be that God included David's sin with Beethseba and killing of Uriah to show the incredible fact that even the most wicked deeds can be forgiven (with exception of ultimate rejection of the Son). These feelings inside can be relieved by no person only God himself, and he will in due time as he heals the Broken hearted. We all walk through things alone, and face the greatest tests to deny Christ (be it burning on a stake, or tormenting anxious thoughts). Praying for you, you are not alone.

 

[AnthonyMichaelPraisesGod]

i have this fear too and i also am continually reminded of saul falling onto his sword and thinking that i am like esau also.... i fear that i have made God suffer my very existence...

 

[AnthonyMichaelPraisesGod]

i was attending a pentecostal church. they are very into legalism... my question after this experience is, isnt satan a legalist??

 

[orangeness365]

I worry about going to hell too.

 

[AnthonyMichaelPraisesGod]

when i first got saved, this scripture helped me look past hell and look to life

the furnace is for silver, and the refining fire for gold, and so too is every believer after God

hope that helps <3

 

[bronwync]

I worry about this as well. I am terrified that I will go to Heaven and that my fiancee will go to hell or vice versa. Even typing this out makes me paralyzed with fear and I want to cry.

 

[AnthonyMichaelPraisesGod]

...ya know, it just absolutely breaks my heart to think that God would separate any believers from Him... i mean.... i know we have scripture and i know that we do some pretty silly things, maybe even things He doesn't like, but we love Him.... maybe we are not perfect in love and maybe we don't seek Him as hard as we should, but we try.... we believe... maybe only in part.... but everyone that He healed got healed by faith... maybe they didn't stay healed because they kept sinning... i know that i am weak. we practice things that our Lord finds abominable, and maybe that isn't the way to treat someone you love, but i love people... i love people despite what they do... everyone seems to have their own opinion and scripture seems to make salvation really incredibly difficult to find, but personally, i hope we all get saved, no matter what we do or who we are..... that is probably even blasphemous to say, but we are only dust, afterall..... idk... i have been in a really bad way lately and i just don't even know what to do... even the most wicked human being deserves mercy. in my opinion, anyway.... because really, who are WE?? we all screw up and we ALL do terrible things. in the world. in our hearts. in our heads.... idk, i'm just really emotional.... everything seems so condemning and i'm sorry for such a long post but i appreciate being able to write this... it just seems like with all of the different people in the world with all of the different cultures and personalities.... idk... i don't want to lead anyone astray.... nevermind....
*zips lips* hell just means we failed God... and while i fear eternal torment... idk.... it just seems hopeless.....
forget i wrote this because if you had a problem, you'd wanna know right?.... wouldn't we?......

 

[AnthonyMichaelPraisesGod]

please, disregard what i said and don't take it personally.
i'm not right... please forgive me.......