While waiting for my doctor at a recent appointment, the latest "Time" magazine (April 25) features the cover "What If There's No Hell?" which is the feature story concerning Rob Bell's widely publicized book "Love Wins."
It's interesting to me that in many circles, this topic seems to be diminishing in it's impact, but my big concern is for the people who, as what I would call "casual readers," will find this article intriguing and in many ways simply reinforcing of what they've always "felt" about a God of love. That is why it's incumbent on us to have a solid and well reasoned response to "What do we believe about hell?" and why scripture leaves us no room to "push delete" when it comes to eternal consequences.
The singular reason that I find most compelling for this is that God allowed Jesus to suffer the most horrific death imaginable on a cross 2000 years ago. This very event is something we recognize on Good Friday, just three days from now, and if that event were unnecessary then not only is God not fair, He's not reasonable.
There is way too much to discuss on this topic in this short piece, but I would urge you to wrestle with this topic on your own and then perhaps with a group to be sure that you have an answer for those outside of the faith who will ask this question and certainly ask you "Where do you stand on the topic of eternity, hell, etc."
The joyful truth is that there is an answer and it lies in the resurrection of Jesus where He holds the keys to death and hell! (Revelation 1)
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
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