Take a moment or two to really think about hell.
As you see those pictures of hell in your mind, consider these questions. Where did those images come from? Were they formed and shaped simply by the Scripture in it's original languages? Or is it possible that those images were greatly influenced by pagan belief and ideas which infiltrated the church about five hundred years after the time of Christ? Is it even remotely possible that the popular orthodox view of hell has been formed primarily by Dante's Inferno rather than the Scriptures?
In your opinion, what purpose does hell actually serve? Is it a torture chamber where people will be forced to endure merciless and unending agony as an expression of God's justice? If that is the case, how could a never ending torturous penalty for a limited amount of sin be considered true justice?
God repeatedly commands humanity to love one another, including our enemies. Not only are people commanded to love our enemies, but we are also told to forgive and keep on forgiving over and over. Along with that we are told to be merciful toward those who have hurt us. Think about that. If the traditional view of hell is correct, does that mean that God holds humanity to a much higher standard than He holds Himself to? How could that be possible? Doesn't it seem that since God is love, His mercy, grace, and compassion should be much greater than that of any human being.
The penalty the sin of Adam was death. How did death turn into the idea of eternally living in torturous agony in hell? If eternal conscious torment is the penalty for sin, why didn't God say so at the beginning in the book of Genesis? Why would Paul teach that "the wages of sin is death" rather than living forever and ever in a torture chamber?
In the Old Testament Scriptures, the word translated as hell in some places is simply translated as grave in other places. How can that be? How can the same word mean two very different things? After all, there is a very big difference between a grave and a fiery eternal chamber of horrors.
Did you know that in the New Testament when we find the word hell in red letters, the word Christ used (Gehenna) was actually the name of a physical, geographic location just outside the city of Jerusalem? Did you know that if you take a trip to the "holy land" you can visit that location today?
If as many people teach, hell is separation from God, how could the Psalmist say in Psalm 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." Please read those words carefully once more. How could hell be separation from God and being with God at the same time?
Is the problem the Scripture in the original language? Or is the problem with some of our English translations and many of our traditions? If hell is a condition that is unending for any who enter into it, how could David say, "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell" (Acts 2:27). If as many teach the wages of sin is eternal conscious torment in hell and they also teach that Jesus suffered in hell for the sins of humanity, how could he have paid the full penalty without continuing to this day and through all eternity to be in hell?
As you take time to prayerfully and thoughtfully consider these questions, you may very well find yourself in the position of having to re-think some of your beliefs. If fact, if you take the approach of the Bereans and you begin to search for the answers yourself in the Bible, you might find that the redeeming work of Christ is far greater than you ever thought possible and that the ultimate plans of our heavenly Father are far more beautiful than orthodox teaching and creeds have ever given Him credit for.
In upcoming articles the focus will be on the four words that have been translated as hell in some of our English translations of the Scripture.
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Blogger and guitarist James Flanders has produced many audio teachings on the topic of hell and the redeeming work of Christ Jesus. You can listen to them on his main website and YouTube. After years of extensive study he has come to believe that the wonderful redeeming work of Christ is far greater than most of us have ever imagined.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/james-flanders/id392064778
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jtflanders
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