For many persons, the most difficult doctrine of the Bible is the doctrine of hell. Jesus gave considerable time to references about hell. The issue was not hidden in a corner, or evaded in the ministry of Jesus. Modern human beings have difficulty managing any idea of hell, even if it were temporary, much less eternal. Jesus’ references to hell come close to matching in number his references to heaven. If Jesus had not given his affirmation of hell it is not likely that more than a few would believe in such a place. The unbelieving tends to hold to the idea that one falls asleep in death, and never awakens, commonly called eradication or nihilism, or soul sleep. Such a view rejects belief that God gives conscious life to the all human creation – and that life persists throughout eternity in some context. There are exotic beliefs like reincarnation, but there is no compelling argument for them. Admittedly, the existence of hell is difficult to accept in the light of the forgiving and loving God in whom Christians rest their faith. The thought of stern judgment after death troubles us. However, we ought to be checked in our views by the holy and just nature of God. Whatever occurs will be right and just, simply because God is God. We do not have enough information. To not believe in God because of revulsion is poor choosing in that transition from life is guided by a negative concept rather than a positive, of what one can’t be rather than what one can.
In 2011, a new book by a Pastor, Rob Bell, was published relating to life after death. He met the topic rather straight on. For example, he raised the question, Is Gandhi in hell? He appears not to have hesitated in saying that he is. It is my opinion that no human being knows authoritatively where Gandhi is or is not. We do know that Gandhi had a very high opinion of Jesus Christ, that he learned some of his own tactics for passive resistance from the words and conduct of Jesus. Gandhi felt the feelings of Christ for the people, the masses. That Gandhi was much less than I would accept in family life, both in western and eastern ideals, is not the main point. Women close to him were compelled to live in odd expectations. At odds in personal and general culture, Gandhi believed his favorite hymn to be Lead Kindly Light, held in forgiveness and prayer, and was somewhat eclectic in his faith. Observers of daily life must never forget that a low-down thief was given the most comforting words from Jesus: Today you shall be with me in paradise. Ghandhi’s opinion of Christ and sense of relationship may have been greater than the thief’s. We do not know how Ghandhi fared in a stew of ideas and conducts. Did he, in heart, believe in Jesus Christ, and his forgiveness? No earth person knows. God does know, and the matter is settled there.
This then leads to several observations. Persons who do good for others, no matter what the context of belief or faith, are operating from a position given of God in nature to serve mankind. God aids that motivation even in pagan life. We remember common grace here. God is Father-creator, even if that fact may be forgotten by prodigal children. The issues related to life and death assignments are God’s alone. We can say that without Christ, the conclusion for any person is a negative judgment, so distant from our understanding that we must leave such matters to God. That is relief, but my relief is partly based in my witness that there is a way to evade the prophetic and dark end. Trusting God for all is part of faith.
Theologians deal with the theme of hell, either to explain it, or to soften it, or even deny it. In my view, one ought to respond in a serious review of the subject that our trust in God is the lens through which we look at the hard sayings of Scripture. As noted above, God’s nature can be trusted by us. All will be right – whatever our limited information may suggest. Somewhere, even in eternity, God may offer a means for redeeming hell. If he preached to souls in hell (place of the dead), as Scripture affirms, is there to be an ultimate adjustment? Catholic doctrine of purgatory is a partial belief in that possibility. We must leave it with omnipotent God to unravel. Sensing that God will do more than we might ever imagine for the love he holds for the creation, one joins folly to decide against God for whatever hell there is. One does not reject a good parent because of conflict in some area, and human beings are not in a position to tell God what to do. Faith covers not only affirmations, but unknowns. That’s a relief. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020