Hell: What's the Reality?

[John81]

I happened across a Christian magazine geared towards high schoolers primarily. In the magazine I read this regarding hell:

"Now let's look at what the word hell means. It simply means "separation from God." It's a place for people who want nothing to do with God."

In the next paragraph, after mentioning that heaven is for those who believe in God, they end with: "Hell is the God-free alternative."

What do you think of this explanation of hell?

[trc123]

I think that while it contains truth; it does not give the entire truth and there is a great deal lacking in the definition. What they've chosen to leave out is the portion that is terrifying and really should be included to give the proper warning about the soul's destination that has not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.

[elijahruth]

I happened across a Christian magazine geared towards high schoolers primarily. In the magazine I read this regarding hell:

"Now let's look at what the word hell means. It simply means "separation from God." It's a place for people who want nothing to do with God."

In the next paragraph, after mentioning that heaven is for those who believe in God, they end with: "Hell is the God-free alternative."

What do you think of this explanation of hell?

Extremely deceptive. Someone in this day and age will look at hell as a place they can go with no rules and continue in their sin with no condemnation, no judge, no guilt.

[Crushmaster]

That is simply un-Biblical. Hell, and then the Lake of Fire are places of torment and solid pain, where the people in them weep and gnash their teeth. It is more than just "separation from God."

Maybe this is the new politically correct way to define Hell.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[holster]

I happened across a Christian magazine geared towards high schoolers primarily. In the magazine I read this regarding hell:

"Now let's look at what the word hell means. It simply means "separation from God." It's a place for people who want nothing to do with God."

In the next paragraph, after mentioning that heaven is for those who believe in God, they end with: "Hell is the God-free alternative."

What do you think of this explanation of hell?

Well of course, it's not Biblical at all. But I'm not surprised. In all the best selling books the reality of Hell is scoffed at. In the very widely read and accepted best seller "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel Hell is presented this way: "Make no mistake: Hell is punishment-but it's not a punishing. It's not torture. The punishment of hell is separation from God, bringing shame, anguish, and regret... People in hell will deeply grieve all they've lost."

Deeply grieve? How about Pain and Anguish?

It goes on to say: "We know that the reference to flames is figurative because if you try to take it leterally, it makes no sense. For example, hell is described as a place of utter drkness and yet there are flames, too. How can that be? Flames would light things up."

This drivel was read and accepted and recommended by Christian leaders and lay people alike. Sadly, this is the common thought about hell today.

Pastors and leaders.... Please tell your people to be CAREFUL of WHAT and WHO they read! Sadly, we are not warning people anymore as it's deemed as "not loving."
.
.

[John81]

It seems we are in agreement here. What was stated is a very watered down, deceptive definition of hell.

I know of Strobel but I've never read any of his books. I know his books are often and highly recommended and I know some who have read his books and raved about them. It's little wonder those I know who raved about his books are either not born again or they are very immature Christians.

Before I was saved, my vision of hell was something like a huge bar with pool tables (hey, I was a kid/youth at the time). Prior to being saved, my mom was going to be baptized and she wanted the rest of the family to be baptized too. I was the only one who turned down the offer. I didn't understand salvation, baptism or hell at the time.

The reason I didn't want to be baptized at that time (this was when I was 17, about a year before I was born again), is because I thought if I was baptised that would mean I would go to heaven and I didn't want to leave my friends. I thought my friends would all be going to hell and they would need me with them to help protect them from the really bad people.

Many today hold similar views of hell. They glibly brag about "see you in hell" and "my friends and I will be partying in hell".

To me, the description of hell from that magazine article is weak enough to make the idea of "hanging out in hell with my friends" sound possible.

It's little wonder folks don't fear hell and look for the Way to stay out of hell.

Preaching hell as "separation from God", and nothing more seems to be very popular these days. Even the few who add in that folks in hell will "feel bad" because of rejecting God, certainly don't make hell really seem all that bad.

Preaching what the Bible teaches about hell just isn't PC.

[HappyChristian]

"The God-free alternative..." Wow!!! It sounds like the person who wrote the article is actually promoting Hell for all those who don't want anything to do with God!!! Wow. That statement just gets to me!

[John81]

"The God-free alternative..." Wow!!! It sounds like the person who wrote the article is actually promoting Hell for all those who don't want anything to do with God!!! Wow. That statement just gets to me!

Exactly! To me, that sounds just like what you say. If you don't want to be "all holy" and you want to spend eternity "enjoying sin", just go to the "God-free alternative"!

Sounds like some sort of restort!

Really now, who would be fearful of such an explanation of hell and think it's really something to be avoided?