It seems to me that the angel of light known as universal reconciliation has crept into the Church via the unguarded back door and has taken root amongst the pews firmly. I have seen a lot of clergy and laity alike confess to believing in universalism. I admit I looked at the sources, I reasoned with myself and others as to why a loving God would throw anyone into hell, that it should be that love wins in the end. I also looked at the different names in the bible namely hades, sheol, the pit that are used to describe hell, but convinced myself they are in fact different locations, meaning different places we go to when we die. Universalism is a inclusivity doctrine. Its inclusive because lets face it if we throw hell out of the basket, it doesn't half make Christianity look appealing to the masses!
Why believe in the doctrine of hell at all? Well that's simple. I believe in hell and all of its thorny outplaying's because I believe in the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus Himself spoke of hell more than anyone else, and a quick search will reveal the amount of times in the bible Jesus referred to outer darkness and eternal suffering for those who reject God and continue in a life of sin. In fact Jesus stressed the seriousness of sin more than anyone else and strongly condemned all who continue in sin. No matter how unpopular it makes one, hell was a very real place for Jesus and attempts to soften the blow for those who are not God's children should be looked at with caution. God is a holy God and you cannot stand before a holy God with sin stained grubby faces. Paul speaks of a time of “wrath and anger” awaiting those who reject the truth (Rom. 2:8). He declares that those who do not obey the gospel “will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thess. 1:9).
Hell magnifies God's holiness, God's justice and God's grace. Jesus used figurative language to describe hell, Gehenna as an example. This does not mean that these places are separate they are all places that point to a stark reality. That reality means that in the end Love wins, but it doesn't mean that it will be all love and light for everyone in creation. Sometimes love not reciprocated means quarantine, and separation from God, eternal separation from God. God does not force anyone into hell, people go there of their own accord because they cannot stand in front of a holy God and accept His love and God does not break free will and force someone to love Him back as that would be abuse. Sometimes love looks like darkness for some who despite everything continue to dismiss the hand of mercy held out for them.
Love allows one to give and take, to grow and flourish. Not everyone wants that. So this is why a loving God would send someone to hell. Because they refuse to accept the outpouring of love and grace and the wages of sin is death.
How could a loving God send people to hell? But the question we should ask is this: how could a holy God allow me into His new heaven and new earth?
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