Have you ever noticed how almost casually people talk about who is and isn't "going to hell"?
Everyone has their opinions, right?
Most people'd say Hitler is in hell...
Some would say all non-Christians...
Some say it's everyone who has never said "the sinner's prayer"...
Some would say you...
Some would say me...
Some would say gays...and Democrats ;)
And, then of course, the Westboro Baptists think...well...everyone but them is going there!!
But, have ya ever thought about what you're really SAYING? I don't think many people really have...
I did a Google image search on "Hell" and you get fantasy pics like these...
Kinda' like, "Welcome to Hell! Population: Everyone you don't like!" Right? Almost cute. A little hot. Touristy. Maybe we can find a nice bar and get a Margarita and party with some wild bikers while we're here, eh?
One thing that's all wrong about all these pictures is that the people are in some sort of light...
Hell is the absence of God. And, He is light and goodness and love...so...if God is not there...there is no light. None.
There is even beauty in these images and so none of that. There'd be none of that there because God is not there...
In fact...there would be no other beings at all...because being with other beings is good...being alone is bad...
A truer picture of hell would be completely black and alone...
And, the person there...would look more like this person below...
Don't look too closely.
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(I was present in 2007 in a town in a 3rd world country when a riot took place and was there when a man was burned alive. I took pics, sorta' as evidence for the police if they wanted it later, which they did...)
We chat so casually about "who" is going to hell...as tho' we're talking about who is going to end up losing their job or end up going bald when they're old...we don't get it.
When we talk about someone going to hell, let's get it straight...
We're saying that whoever this person is...is going to face God someday...and that God will...essentially...douse them with eternal gasoline, light the eternal match and light them eternally on fire...put them in a dark room...on fire...all alone...writhing in flames...on fire...for not a minute...not 3 minutes till they finally die...not a day...a week...not a year...but for all eternity...and walk away...
And, we're saying that after God does this to...not one...not a dozen...but billions of people...that He, like a sociopath, will disconnect from that horrific reality and just...enjoy the rest of us in ceaseless bliss and joy.
And, the rest of us will know this happened and is happening to all our loved ones and most of mankind (if you're a Westboro Baptist!) and we're just gonna be OK with that. We'll just sing praises and have all this fun in heaven while there are billions of people...burning alive...forever...
Really? It kinda' makes me wanna barf. And, I'm supposed to believe God will do this? I couldn't...and I have sinned. I have been evil. I have hurt people on purpose in my life and I couldn't do this to a chicken or a cat...or even a spider. But, I'm supposed to believe God will do this?
And, it gets worse...
Some people have believed the popular Christian doctrine of "Original Sin" to the point that now, they have to "wonder" what God does with babies that die?
The Bible does say that "whoever doesn't repent will perish" so what do you do with babies if you believe they're born sinful? Being born sinful would have to mean that babies deserve to be set on fire for all eternity...right? (and, if you believe that a person could deserve that simply because they came into existence then you have no idea what sin even is!)
They don't want to admit it, and dance around it, because their common sense is screaming that this is ludicrous, but, they can't let go of their long-believed doctrine! So, I've heard it said many times that, "God must have a special place for babies." But, there's no Biblical support for that! If you believe Jesus' words that you must repent or perish and you believe babies are born sinful then since babies don't repent then you must believe that God...actually sends babies to hell. And, that somehow...He gets some sort of glory out of it.
And, I think people don't take this so seriously because they have a totally wrong picture in their minds of what hell would be...
Seriously...what gets me about the doctrine of Original Sin...is what it makes you think about God's character...
Think about it...
If a doctrine actually makes you even begin to think that God...the Person who died on the cross for you and me...would take an aborted baby...a miscarriage...a newborn...a child...and set them on fire and kill them forever in darkness...because of one choice that their great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather made...THAT should make us realize that that doctrine came from the enemy!
The only thing that deserves to be set on fire with eternal gasoline and set ablaze...is the doctrine of Original Sin and the being who created it: satan.
