Awhile ago, I wrote a couple of pieces on the topic of heaven. Then, recently, one entitled,  Is There a Next Chapter? In a sense, these are all what ifs? In keeping with the theme, I’m going to do a quick dive into another side of the equation, something I’ve stayed away from until now.

While I have read and thought a lot about this thing commonly referred to as hell, I struggle with finding a place to hang my hat and say, “that’s it.” There are many reasons for this but probably the most important one is that Jesus did not talk a great deal about it and neither did other New Testament writers. This is not to say it was not mentioned or considered but that it was never the main item. That distinction goes to describing a thing called the “Kingdom of God.”

I am going to stay away from technicalities here and, instead, try to stick to broad brush strokes.

While most people in our modern society have at least a vague belief in an afterlife and most of those people believe it is at least a pleasant if not glorious place, fewer believe that such an afterlife includes the traditional concept of hell. As in eternal pain and damnation, whatever we make that out to be.

Perhaps the most commonly recognized verse in all of the Bible is in the fourth gospel, the one written by the apostle John. It can be both compelling and polarizing.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. While this particular verse was penned by John, it immediately followed Jesus’ own words in verse 15: … that everyone who believes may have eternal life in (Jesus).

On a somewhat humorous note, the only real exposure I had to John 3:16 for decades was when a whacky guy wearing a multi-colored wig would wave that large sign at sporting events. Not exactly something to get me thinking much, I must say.

I bring this up because it may be one starting point to consider the major features of a hell, should one exist in reality.

I just posted a piece on narratives and I return there briefly. While non-Christian believers in an afterlife are largely dismissive of the reality of a true hell, Christians seem to be split. In a sense, there are two competitive narratives.

An increasingly popular one largely rejects a concept of eternal damnation to a horrid place, instead choosing to bet on a God who is all loving and all forgiving. Redemption from sin (or bad deeds, lack of faith … pick your poison) is not only available but inevitable. God will not let a human suffer for eternity. This is God as Love.

On the flip side is the narrative that life with God (heaven) is only available to those who surrender to him. The alternative to that surrender is life without God. This highlights God as Judge.

What are we to do about this?

Well, I begin by not trying to make God into someone I’d like him to be. I think this is a common trap, one I struggled with for a long time and still struggle with today. I have written extensively about the character of God, something that I believe can be known, if incompletely.

I am convinced that God is both fully loving and fully judging. I can’t find a way around that conviction. In no way do I believe these two innate qualities are incompatible. In fact, I believe neither can exist without the other. (As I said  above, the God as Judge is in increasing disfavor, for reasons I’d argue have little to do with the reality of God but of how modern and post-modern people want things to be: Truth is relative, etc…)

For the purpose of argument, let’s just say I’m either correct or close to being correct. Well, then, what does that have to do with hell?

I’m not going to get all mired in theology here but just toss out where I’m leaning these days. As my friend Dawn would say when we get to theological technicalities, “Let’s major on the majors.”

For starters, I actually do believe in this complex concept called Free Will. Now, I’m not going to get down into the weeds and dissect it here because it’s a bear of a concept but I do believe that it exists in some form. In other words, we have choices and choices matter. Feel free to disagree.

Next, I believe we are hardwired to make bad choices all of the time but God is hardwired to forgive us because that’s what unconditional love does. In his own way, he wants us to make good choices, the two most important of which are presented to us in neon lights: Love him with everything we have and love one another. To the degree that we do not structure our lives around those two guiding principles is the degree to which we are drawn away from God and into making bad choices.

So, God says, “Here I am. Come to me.” And, by coming to him, we benefit from being in deep relationship with the God of creation. Let’s not skip over that too fast, either. By coming to him, we benefit from being in a deep relationship with him. Which is the whole point.

Here is where I disagree with many others (some dear friends and family included) that see a “heavenly” afterlife as somehow separate from living directly with God for all of eternity. It’s God that matters.

Another issue is the nature of eternity. We can either believe we (that thing that defines us as individuals) go “poof” out of existence when we die or we somehow live on, perhaps for eternity as is often suggested. I happen to subscribe to the notion that we are all eternal beings, made in God’s image, who of course is eternal. Now, I admit I might be partially wrong about this and we’ll now get to that.

Cutting to the chase, mainstream Christian belief on this topic is that eternity with God is dependent upon accepting that Jesus is who he said he was and that his advice is accurate. Surrender to him and we are made “right” with God and afforded eternal life.

This is very relieving to such Christians and more than a little oft-putting to non-Christians.

Some professing Christians are less attached to this conceptualization and argue there are all sorts of loopholes by which we can bypass this “surrender to Jesus” admonition and still make it.

The point is, are there conditions upon which we are offered eternal life with God? And, if those conditions are not met, what is the alternative?

This is where hell comes in.

There is this somewhat but not entirely humorous saying that “It is better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.” I’m sure you’ve heard of it. Interesting and, actually, pretty insightful as to one’s priorities and choices.

If “serving” God is seen as a grand weakness instead of as a grand opportunity, than the antithesis is to be one’s own god, ruling over one’s self and, presumably others. When Christians talk of the Fall, this is what they mean. The antithesis of God is not one who does evil but one who is a narcissist.

In fact, the narcissist by definition cannot fathom the two guiding principles mentioned above. The narcissist is consumed only by the beauty seen in the mirror. This is the grand choice.

Hell, then, is the rejection of the reality of the thing Jesus called the Kingdom of God for something seen as more fulfilling in both the short and long run.

Just as we can create our own hells on earth, we can opt for the same thing after we finish life here.

Unfortunately, these hells can creep up on us almost unawares as we pursue all variety of idols, all of which will ultimately fail in the end. Have you experienced a kind of hell on earth? Do you know someone who has?

I believe in the reality of personified Evil. The Enemy, as he is often referred to although he goes by different names. I believe we are offered an alternative to life with God and it is seductive. It is also the grand lie.

What does this other choice actually look like? I really don’t know other than that it is bleak and defeating. Is it a lake of fire, with pitchfork-carrying little devils stoking the flames? I tend to doubt that. Are there little devils? Perhaps. Is it lonely? Absolutely. Sorry, there will be no eternal feasting given that choice. That’s part of the lie.

So, yes, I believe in hell. After that, things get fuzzy.

Before concluding this, I want to get back to three major issues.

The first is whether, if there is a hell, it’s permanent. In other words, is there a point of no return? God judges and that’s that. Many people are horrified by this and it’s also a big challenge that non-Christians issue to Christians who profess a God of love.

Jesus and the New Testament writers had some things to say about this as have countless theologians, both professional and lay through the centuries. I have my thoughts but will reserve them for now.

The second is, as some imagine, whether those destined for a place without God, just sort of vanish into nothingness. I’ve heard it described as kind of like getting smaller and smaller until there’s really nothing left. Kind of akin to what atheists believe but maybe at a different pace. I don’t know.

The third is, if there is judgment, based upon the choices we make in this life, when does that happen and how does that work?

A common teaching is that our choice must be made with integrity before we die. (I won’t get into the quality of this kind of integrity right now.) Some balk at this for all sorts of reasons. I respect and understand some of those reasons.

In various places in the Bible we read of some variation of the statement, Every knee shall bow.” Plainly speaking, we democratic people are not big on bowing knees. So, it’s an interesting concept to consider. In short, however, I believe the reality described by such a statement is that we are given an opportunity to surrender to God. What “surrender” actually means and who we actually believe God is are things to ponder. When, where and how such surrender needs to occur is above my pay grade.

In the end, I believe that such surrender is the most liberating and powerful choice a person can make and the sooner the better. Fortunately, I am not in charge of those details. Reluctance to bow that knee, whether we interpret that literally or figuratively, leads us in a direction without a good ending. That’s where I’ll leave it for now. God bless.