Judging God
I recently heard an interview with a certain pastor/theologian who emphatically claimed that there is no hell. His explanation was that he believes a loving God would not send anyone to hell. He went on to comment that many Christians who believe in a literal hell also believe that individuals like Gandhi are condemned to hell.
The problem with such an assertion is that it completely ignores Scripture, places human intellect above God, affirms a feel good universalism and ultimately Judges God.
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." (John 3:16-18) Scripture is clear. We have all sinned and are in need of a Savior. Jesus is the "exact representation" of God and is the only non-sinner. As such, He is the only one who could take our place as the substitute under the punishment of God for us. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) And, as Jesus Himself said, we "stand(s) condemned already because (we) have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." Therefore, Scripturally - in the words of Jesus, we are all condemned to hell until we receive His salvation by believing on the name of "Jesus." Jesus also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Therefore, in order to claim there is no hell, one must ignore the basic message of the Gospel and make human intellect of higher importance than the wisdom of God. The pastor/theologian who emphatically asserts that a loving God would not send anyone to hell, does so because he has replaced Scripture with his own mind. He has reasoned that the god in his mind would not do such a thing. He mentioned Gandhi because he cannot imagine a "good man" like Gandhi to be condemned to hell. Well, it would be nice if we could all just be good enough to make it to heaven. In fact, it would be nice if even one of us (other than Jesus) could be good enough. The reality, however, is that "no one is righteous." (Acts 3:10) The point of the "Law" is to show that none of us measure up to God's standard. With regard to Gandhi, it is interesting to note that it has been reported that he once said that he would be a Christian if he ever saw one. That is a very convicting statement for those of us who call ourselves Christians. I do not judge Gandhi, therefore, it is not my place to say with certainty his or anyone's final destination. That is determined by God alone. But God has said that we all must believe in the name of His only begotten Son. Be careful that your own intellect does not become your god.
To claim there is no hell leads to a creeping universalism in the Church. It would be nice to say that because God so loved the world that he said, oh don't worry about the whole sin problem, I'll just forgive everybody irregardless of their acceptance of it. This universalism seeks to assert that there are many pathways to God and it does not really matter what path you take as long as you take one and try to seek God and be a good person. This is religion at it's best. However, God did not send us a religion. We are not saved by the Church. He sent us a Savior and His name is "Jesus." Don't fall prey to the universalism trap. There is one and only one Way. There is one and only one Truth. There is one and only one Life. What about those who have never heard about Jesus? We need to take seriously the command to go and make disciples of Jesus. Our willingness to follow our Lord's command will make the difference in the life of those we introduce to Jesus. Also, remember that we are not the judge. How will God deal with those who honestly have had no opportunity to know about Jesus? I don't know. But I do know that God is just. God's purpose for allowing sin in the first place was to give us that choice to follow Him or not follow Him. Therefore, the all knowing, all powerful and all righteous God will judge correctly and He will be true to His Word. He can do no other.
Finally, to claim there is no hell shows that we sit in judgment on God. Who does the pastor/theologian think that he is to sit in judgment on God? To do so, accuses God of sin and in fact asserts one's self to god-like status above the Almighty God of the universe. There is only one God and we are not Him no matter how smart we think we are. God is your judge and we have no right to sit in judgment on Him.
Alan L. Thomas <><
The problem with such an assertion is that it completely ignores Scripture, places human intellect above God, affirms a feel good universalism and ultimately Judges God.
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." (John 3:16-18) Scripture is clear. We have all sinned and are in need of a Savior. Jesus is the "exact representation" of God and is the only non-sinner. As such, He is the only one who could take our place as the substitute under the punishment of God for us. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) And, as Jesus Himself said, we "stand(s) condemned already because (we) have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son." Therefore, Scripturally - in the words of Jesus, we are all condemned to hell until we receive His salvation by believing on the name of "Jesus." Jesus also said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Therefore, in order to claim there is no hell, one must ignore the basic message of the Gospel and make human intellect of higher importance than the wisdom of God. The pastor/theologian who emphatically asserts that a loving God would not send anyone to hell, does so because he has replaced Scripture with his own mind. He has reasoned that the god in his mind would not do such a thing. He mentioned Gandhi because he cannot imagine a "good man" like Gandhi to be condemned to hell. Well, it would be nice if we could all just be good enough to make it to heaven. In fact, it would be nice if even one of us (other than Jesus) could be good enough. The reality, however, is that "no one is righteous." (Acts 3:10) The point of the "Law" is to show that none of us measure up to God's standard. With regard to Gandhi, it is interesting to note that it has been reported that he once said that he would be a Christian if he ever saw one. That is a very convicting statement for those of us who call ourselves Christians. I do not judge Gandhi, therefore, it is not my place to say with certainty his or anyone's final destination. That is determined by God alone. But God has said that we all must believe in the name of His only begotten Son. Be careful that your own intellect does not become your god.
To claim there is no hell leads to a creeping universalism in the Church. It would be nice to say that because God so loved the world that he said, oh don't worry about the whole sin problem, I'll just forgive everybody irregardless of their acceptance of it. This universalism seeks to assert that there are many pathways to God and it does not really matter what path you take as long as you take one and try to seek God and be a good person. This is religion at it's best. However, God did not send us a religion. We are not saved by the Church. He sent us a Savior and His name is "Jesus." Don't fall prey to the universalism trap. There is one and only one Way. There is one and only one Truth. There is one and only one Life. What about those who have never heard about Jesus? We need to take seriously the command to go and make disciples of Jesus. Our willingness to follow our Lord's command will make the difference in the life of those we introduce to Jesus. Also, remember that we are not the judge. How will God deal with those who honestly have had no opportunity to know about Jesus? I don't know. But I do know that God is just. God's purpose for allowing sin in the first place was to give us that choice to follow Him or not follow Him. Therefore, the all knowing, all powerful and all righteous God will judge correctly and He will be true to His Word. He can do no other.
Finally, to claim there is no hell shows that we sit in judgment on God. Who does the pastor/theologian think that he is to sit in judgment on God? To do so, accuses God of sin and in fact asserts one's self to god-like status above the Almighty God of the universe. There is only one God and we are not Him no matter how smart we think we are. God is your judge and we have no right to sit in judgment on Him.
Alan L. Thomas <><
Good post! Thank you
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