How do Christians deal with Hell?

[kingburger]

I've honestly been wondering about this one for a long time, but have usually found it too awkward to bring up with my Christian friends. Christians: how do you reconcile yourself to the view that all unsaved people end up in hell to suffer eternal torment?
Here are my current speculations about the possible positions one can take on this:

1. Denies Hell

a. There is no hell, or hell is just temporary and all will eventually be reconciled with God. b. Hell is only for the really really bad people like Adolf Hitler, and they deserve it.

2. Accept Hell but Not Troubled

a. All non-Christians will go to hell, but since everyone I know is Christian, I'm not too worried about it. From personal experience, this seems to be prevalent in insular communities.
b. All non-Christians will go to hell, but they chose that path and it is just.

3. Accept Hell and Troubled

a. All non-Christians will go to hell, and while I'm not sure whether that's fair or not, I'm just glad my own ass is safe. As a former Christian, I confess that this was my view.
b. All non-Christians will go to hell, but I'm only concerned about the eternal damnation of a few people. I once knew someone who cried every night because she thought I was going to end up in the eternal oven. Amazingly enough she wasn't troubled at the death of her non-Christian grandmother. I must say I was flattered.
c. All non-Christians will go to hell, and it troubles me very much that most people currently alive and throughout history will be/are suffering for eternity. I cannot eat or sleep due to this realization, and have pulled out most of my hair already.


It seems to me that the only rational and moral response would be 3c, but personally I have not observed any Christians who are troubled like this. This confounds me. For, if one truly believes in hell, and truly loves others, how can one not be constantly tormented by the thought that most of humanity, and probably some of ones own acquaintances, are heading for eternal pain and suffering?


In fact, for a true Christian who both believes in hell and have any shred of empathy, how can anything else in life remotely approach the significance of this dreadful fact?


This is what I do not understand. I respectfully await enlightenment.

 

[BobW188]

I would have to add Option# 3d: Jesus knows who does and does not love Him better than we do ourselves and, through the Holy Spirit, is working in many who either have not heard of him; have not been told of him in a way that would persuade someone in the desert to take a glass of water; or, having seen the average Christian, have heard but have no reason to believe.
Yes, I believe there is a Hell and that many will go there; but our common view of salvation seems to be of a passive, immobile Jesus who simply sits, waits, then judges; and, in judging, puts people in convenient little pigeonholes. I don't buy it. We'll be judged on who we are, not what we profess and, when the time comes, there are going to be some very surprised tax collectors and some very disappointed Pharisees.

 

[Lukaris]

Not all non Christians will go to hell. Read Ezekiel 18, Ezekiel 33:10-20, Romans 2:11-16, the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, the good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46 (sheep & goats), Mark 3:28-30, Proverb 10:12. Surely this is not the way of evangelism in the Gospel but is part of God's righteous judgement (see Psalm 7:9, Luke 12:48). However you can Read Romans 10:9-10 & 13 and follow by committing to love God & neighbor (as best you can per Matthew 22:37-40) & find salvation. (typo orginally on my 1st sentence).

 

[Toclafane]

All non Christians will not go to hell. Read Ezekiel 18, Ezekiel 33:10-20, Romans 2:11-16, the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, the good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46 (sheep & goats), Mark 3:28-30, Proverb 10:12. Surely this is not the way of evangelism in the Gospel but is part of God's righteous judgement (see Psalm 7:9, Luke 12:48). However you can Read Romans 10:9-10 & 13 and follow by committing to love God & neighbor (as best you can per Matthew 22:37-40) & find salvation.

Tell me, Do 100% of all people on earth hear about Jesus & have the opportunity to become Christian ?

 

[jellybean99]

Born-again Christians are the only ones who do not have to deal with hell in the afterlife or on a philosophical level--besides babies and the mentally challenged. Life on this earth is the only "hell" Christians will ever know.

Soon we will all get a taste of hell on Earth.

 

[ebia]

I've honestly been wondering about this one for a long time, but have usually found it too awkward to bring up with my Christian friends. Christians: how do you reconcile yourself to the view that all unsaved people end up in hell to suffer eternal torment?
Here are my current speculations about the possible positions one can take on this:

1. Denies Hell

a. There is no hell, or hell is just temporary and all will eventually be reconciled with God. b. Hell is only for the really really bad people like Adolf Hitler, and they deserve it.

2. Accept Hell but Not Troubled

a. All non-Christians will go to hell, but since everyone I know is Christian, I'm not too worried about it. From personal experience, this seems to be prevalent in insular communities.
b. All non-Christians will go to hell, but they chose that path and it is just.

3. Accept Hell and Troubled

a. All non-Christians will go to hell, and while I'm not sure whether that's fair or not, I'm just glad my own ass is safe. As a former Christian, I confess that this was my view.
b. All non-Christians will go to hell, but I'm only concerned about the eternal damnation of a few people. I once knew someone who cried every night because she thought I was going to end up in the eternal oven. Amazingly enough she wasn't troubled at the death of her non-Christian grandmother. I must say I was flattered.
c. All non-Christians will go to hell, and it troubles me very much that most people currently alive and throughout history will be/are suffering for eternity. I cannot eat or sleep due to this realization, and have pulled out most of my hair already.


It seems to me that the only rational and moral response would be 3c, but personally I have not observed any Christians who are troubled like this. This confounds me. For, if one truly believes in hell, and truly loves others, how can one not be constantly tormented by the thought that most of humanity, and probably some of ones own acquaintances, are heading for eternal pain and suffering?


In fact, for a true Christian who both believes in hell and have any shred of empathy, how can anything else in life remotely approach the significance of this dreadful fact?


This is what I do not understand. I respectfully await enlightenment.

If God is putting the world to rights and some people choose not to be part of that then there exists somehow an alternative. Call it hell if you want. The difficulty comes when you try to say much about that alternative. Everything scripture has to say about it is couched in symbolism and metaphor - chaff thrown on a winnnowing fire, prunings thrown on a bonfire, rubbish thrown on Jerusalem's perpetually smoldering rubbish heap (Gehenna). It's notworthy that while some of those metaphors include an everlasting fire, the stuff thrown on that fire is gone in a finite time. Chaff on a winnowing fire is gone is a whosh of flame.

One useful idea that I've come across is that since we become like that which we worship those who choose not to be part of God's worshipping Kingdom will come to reflect more and more whatever it is they worship instead until there is nothing left of the image of God in them. I.e. they are no longer human at all; there is nothing left of their humanity.

It's worth reading CS Lewis' The Great Divorce , which is still probably the best exploration of the subject out there.

 

[kingburger]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

I think I may not have made my original question sufficiently clear.

I am not questioning the fairness or justness of God in sending people to hell. I am not questioning who is and who is not going to hell. My question is predicated on the assumption that just or not, some significant part of humanity, whether Christian or not, are going to hell, for eternity.

My question is, if you admit all of the above, how do you as an individual respond to and deal with the fact that many are going to be suffering for eternity. First, whether having a large part of humanity suffer for eternity bothers you any, if so, how much, and then how do you deal with this fact.

Some responses seem to follow the "hell is a metaphor" thread of argument. If that is your view, then that would answer my question sufficiently. "Separation from God" is much more palatable than "Fire and Brimstone", and I can see how one might not lose too much sleep if one follows the former interpretation.

But for those of you who interpret hell as literally a place or a state of being of eternal torment, how do you deal with the fact that much of humanity will come to this fate? Note I'm not asking whether this is just or not, or to whom this fate might befall. I'm just interested in whether/how much this bothers you, and what you do about it.

 

[kingburger]

One more thing. I will ask my follow up question.




Since both heaven and hell are eternal and therefore infinite in their consequence compared to whatever concerns we might have in this life, do you do anything with your life that does not directly or indirectly serve the purpose of moving as many people out of hell and into heaven as possible, starting probably with your family and your loved ones? And if you were to have loved ones who are not saved, how much effort do you put into trying to move them out of the eternal oven?
Thanks.

 

[kingburger]

One more question in anticipation of responses.

For those who belong to the "yes, people are going to hell, but I do what I can and the rest is out of my control so might as well not worry too much about it" school of thought.

My question to you, then, is if you can accept and live with the fact that a very significant number of people will suffer eternal torment, then whatever evils we might have in this transient life must be of miniscule importance, right? You know, murder, rape, disability, disease - they ain't nothin compared to hell!


So would you say you are more or less bothered about the prospect of earthly misfortune (disease, disability, etc) befalling a loved one, or in fact any other human being, than you are of the fact that they are heading to hell?

Thanks!

 

[ittarter]

One more question in anticipation of responses.

For those who belong to the "yes, people are going to hell, but I do what I can and the rest is out of my control so might as well not worry too much about it" school of thought.

My question to you, then, is if you can accept and live with the fact that a very significant number of people will suffer eternal torment, then whatever evils we might have in this transient life must be of miniscule importance, right? You know, murder, rape, disability, disease - they ain't nothin compared to hell!


So would you say you are more or less bothered about the prospect of earthly misfortune (disease, disability, etc) befalling a loved one, or in fact any other human being, than you are of the fact that they are heading to hell?

Thanks!

As far as I can tell, some Christians try and work themselves up to try and care as much as they should, which is, of course, impossible.

To grow up with the belief that 97% of humankind will be burned alive for all eternity is inherently desensitizing. Its sheer mindnumbing incomprehensibility makes it ironically palatable.

I forget who said it, but there is a famous quote that runs, "Five people killed is a tragedy; a million is a statistic."

Hell is a statistic. The human psyche was not built to understand such things.

In anticipation of a possible response...

It's even impossible to understand ONE person going to hell, by virtue of the fact that hell is qualified as ETERNAL. Yet another category (this one temporal) that defies human comprehension.

My own interest is, WHY do human beings use words to describe things in such a way that they cannot understand them? But I think that's off-topic.

 

[Celticflower]

I do believe there is a hell, but what form it will take I do not know, nor do I care to find out. And I don't make it my business to decide who will go, tho it grieves me to know that some people I have loved on this earth may well be there. So rather than dwell on the future loss, I try to live my life as an example of God's love, in hopes that I might turn someone toward the light. But in the end, it will be between them and God.

 

[kingburger]

As far as I can tell, some Christians try and work themselves up to try and care as much as they should, which is, of course, impossible.

To grow up with the belief that 97% of humankind will be burned alive for all eternity is inherently desensitizing. Its sheer mindnumbing incomprehensibility makes it ironically palatable.

I forget who said it, but there is a famous quote that runs, "Five people killed is a tragedy; a million is a statistic."

Hell is a statistic. The human psyche was not built to understand such things.

In anticipation of a possible response...

It's even impossible to understand ONE person going to hell, by virtue of the fact that hell is qualified as ETERNAL. Yet another category (this one temporal) that defies human comprehension.

My own interest is, WHY do human beings use words to describe things in such a way that they cannot understand them? But I think that's off-topic.

Thanks ittarter for your thoughtful response. I think I understand you - when the issue is of such a magnitude it defies human comprehension, kind of like the Holocaust.

I also understand that the eternal suffering of even one person is impossible to entirely grasp. However, my question to you is, do you have any family/loved ones/close friends who are not Christian? It seems to me that you believe that hell will involve the everlasting sensation of excruciating physical pain. Does it bother you then that these people who are close to you, and therefore not a statistic, are going to suffer eternal pain, to whatever limits your human comprehension can grasp? Is the fact that they're going to hell not constantly a huge elephant in the room during your relationship? I mean, how can you talk about doing this or that together, or in any way have a normal interaction, when you know that he/she is going to hell for eternity?

Also, do you have/plan on having any children? If you do, then they run the risk of becoming non-Christian. As a parent, how can you accept the risk of your children burning for eternity? Would it not be better to not have children at all than run that risk? How do you respond to this thought?

Thanks for your frank and well thought out replies. I really do appreciate them.

 

[BobW188]

As to your #7, I believe the separation from God is the eternal torment. The Catholic Church with its doctrine of Purgatory, and many thinkers of other denominations, have posited a place (perhaps using that word loosely) where we will be purged of our remaining faults and shortcomings; and at least some portrayals of this realm feature torture or torturous labor. These, however, are borne willingly and even eagerly because will end with us in the eternal presence of God.

Poor analogy: Some kids are sent to correctional boot camps. When they emerge, they're called "known offenders." Others go to boot camps at Parris Island or Camp Lejuene. When they emerge, they're called "Marines."

 

[BobW188]

#8: I'm really not that certain there's all that much I can do to move people from hell to heaven. First and foremost, I don't know who's going where and, given the command that I judge not, lest I be judged, I'm certainly discouraged from guessing.
Second, if I am indeed "saved," (as I certainly hope I am), I have to remember that it is not because of any personal merit. I can try to live a Christian lifestyle that will lead others to see something in me that they lack but, quite honestly, I'm not likely to be that consistently successful. Let's face it, the average sincere Christian is, except on Sunday mornings, usually all but indistinguishable from his nonChristian neighbor. All I can really do is try to stay out of my own way and let Christ work through me. I will say there are times I have managed to do this; but those sincerely seeking Heaven are a great deal better advised to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, not BobW.

 

[BobW188]

#9. Bear in mind that I do not know who is going to Hell, am commanded not to guess (at least to the extent that my guess is really a wish to pass sentence on someone), and that I have faith that whatever the judgement of any person is, it will be "true and righteous altogether." Jesus speaks of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the prisoner. Though these are indeed lesser sufferings than eternal damnation, He makes it clear that it is with them, and all the other ills of humanity, that we are to minister, even if they are our enemy.

 

[kotwebck]

My take on this:

Jesus himself warns that there is things that would keep you out of the New Jerusalem, and yes there is a hell, prepared for satan and his followers ... be it angel or human. your choice is one of black and white ... accept Jesus and follow his commands (the whole bible instruction) or fall away forever ... it's that simple.

The stuff people used to use to scare little kids in going to sunday school ... well guess what, it is real ... God said so, I believe Him and that settles the matter for me.

Jesus is the only door to everlasting life ... there is no other way. Do not be fooled by satans attempts to hide himself, and what he's got comming, from you ... cause he wants you to join him.

By not believing in hell, satan and eternal damnation amounts to saying God lies ... and that half of the Bible (Word of God) is fiction. The Jews explained everyting away and missed the most important happening in human history ... the next happeing is the biggest and final ... please don't miss this one!

 

[FutureAndAHope]

I don't think people are going to go to hell if we do not get out there and witness to them 24 hours a day. This guy Ian McCormack - Heaven Hell and the Box Jellyfish was born agian as he was dying by God talking to him directly.

Hell is of course a real place as the bible and people with negative NDE's (Near Death Experiences) will testify. I know of a man who died in a hospital breifly, he went down into a place where there were hot rocks (he did not quite make it to hell), and he saw an angel with a sword. I know of others who have been taken down into or near a pit of fire and returned to tell the tale. It scares the hell out of me just thinking about it.

 

[kotwebck]

You are right, we are only helpers - Jesus does the work - witnessing for the Lord is praising and gloryfiling his name, it would be vanity to asume that by witnessing we are the ones converting people.

And you are right it scares me too. Even worse for me is that there is people out there (and on the forum) that has been blinded ... imagine the fear they are going to experience when our King comes.

We must pray for them, and plead for their salvation.

 

[Lukaris]

Tell me, Do 100% of all people on earth hear about Jesus & have the opportunity to become Christian ?

No.

 

[Lukaris]

One more thing. I will ask my follow up question.




Since both heaven and hell are eternal and therefore infinite in their consequence compared to whatever concerns we might have in this life, do you do anything with your life that does not directly or indirectly serve the purpose of moving as many people out of hell and into heaven as possible, starting probably with your family and your loved ones? And if you were to have loved ones who are not saved, how much effort do you put into trying to move them out of the eternal oven?
Thanks.

Persuasion where possible, trying to live a Christian example, prayer, never assuming I am saved but others are not, & and carefully pray for God's mercy even to the departed (who still live, Matthew 23:32 but can do nothing, Psalm 6:5). As far as people heading for some oven, the Lord mentions some situations but also tells Pilate that he has lesser sin (?John 19:11).