What is Hell?

I have been to Cru before, and I have a lot of friends that go. I had heard about their name change (they were previously Campus Crusade for Christ), so I decided to go to their website to see what there was to see. I found an interesting Q&A, but that isn't what really caught my attention. Instead, on the main page was a guy named Francis Chan promoting his new book on Hell. Now, I haven't read the book, so I guess I can't really give an opinion one way or the other. I'm not going to buy it, but if I can get it/borrow it for free I'll read it and maybe write a review on it. Instead, it got me thinking about the whole concept of Hell.

The major differences in the worldviews of Christians regarding Hell that I've seen debate whether Hell exists and whether it is eternal if it does. I think the average Christian believes to some degree that Hell exists. To be a Christian, I think it's basically impossible to believe that everyone goes to heaven. Then, by process of elimination, either the remaining people simply vanish or they are sent to a special place prepared for them, which we call Hell.

I have never found the Bible to be particularly clear on the nature of either heaven or hell. When Jesus talks about them, He often gives the image of celebration or feasting for heaven as opposed to being a social outcast in darkness where there are wailing and gnashing of teeth. In many respects, the idea of heaven is simply given to be very good, and the idea of hell is meant to be very bad. Many of our physical concepts of heaven and hell come from Revelation, which is full to the brim with symbolic language, and it's impossible to know which parts we should take literally, if any.

Now, can we believe in Christianity while rejecting this Hell? Jesus mentions it, many of the New Testament writers mention it, the Old Testament writers mention it, and there is little evidence to suggest that it is not literally describing some place of final judgement. So Biblically, it would appear to exist.

Rationally, why is Hell necessary? I think this relates closely with the reasons that Jesus needed to die for our atonement. I don't think this is something that is fully explained to us. I think though, that often we underestimate the Holiness of God when we ask these questions. I think without something so drastic, it would not be possible to make us worthy in the eyes of God, and without this atonement we would not be able to stand the sight of God. Likewise, part of God's nature is justice. With atonement, this part of His nature is satisfied. Without it, justice has to come from somewhere. I believe this is where Hell comes in. This is where justice is fulfilled. God cannot be inconsistent with His character, and I think He sends people to Hell only when they formally reject His offer of grace. This does not preclude a loving God.

Is Hell eternal? I know many people who say it is because the Bible often describes spiritual punishment as an eternal punishment, especially in Revelation. I think we should take these verses in the spirit in which they were spoken and written. Basically all Biblical references on the matter are highly symbolic. It is not nonsense to say that maybe this is a way of understanding just how horrible a place Hell is.

On the other hand, people often reject an eternal Hell because they say a loving God would not eternally punish someone. I believe that this downplays the severity of Hell. Hell is horrible. John Edward's sermon, "At the Hands of an Angry God," is excruciatingly gruesome. Yet, we should not undermine how horrible Hell is. By saying this is beyond God's will or ability is to say God will go easy on people in Hell. Sin is a worse offense than any of us can imagine. I cannot imagine what would be necessary to atone for it. I know that all our imagery in the world probably cannot compare. We do not live in a happy world. If people do not want mercy, they will get justice, because that is the only other option.

Interestingly, I've also heard the argument that a just God would not infinitely punish someone for a necessarily finite number of sins. This seems to hold more weight, although I heard an interesting argument once that said that if people will be conscious in Hell, they will be in constant rebellion against God, and so will be continuously sinning for all eternity. I think this is a great counter argument. Honestly, I could be swayed by either camp. I haven't decided which side has the better point.

However, I ultimately do not believe in an eternal God for the reason that man is not inherently eternal in nature. Some people say that part of being made in the image of God is an eternal soul, but this is particularly consistent with either Jewish interpretation or New Testament language. God says that we will be born again only if we have faith in Jesus. The word most often used in the other case is Death. Death is instant. Death is not something that can be done forever. And most importantly, Death is ceasing to exist. I believe that those who choose Hell will be punished correspondingly with their crimes. However, God will turn His face from them and withdraw His presence from them. How then will they exist? Can any thing exist apart from God? They deserve Death, and they will get Death, and this is the last possible mercy that God can bestow on them.