How can a loving God send people to hell?
Dear Friends,
That is the next of our occasional ‘Big Questions’ topics on Sunday 28th October. The idea behind dealing with these topics is three-fold:
• To be able to invite people to come and hear the topic explored.
• To equip ourselves better for handling such questions.
• To give us the opportunity to start conversations with those we know. For example you could say, “We’re considering this question at church at the end of the month. What do you think?” That may in turn make it natural to invite them to come.
What then of this particular ‘big question’? How can a loving God send people to hell? I’m sure you won’t expect me to give the answer here, and in such short space. But I can tell you some of the other questions it raises: Is that in fact what the Bible says? How do we know what God is like? What does it mean for God to be loving? Is ‘loving’ all that there is to be said about God?
I will say something in response to the first question: yes, it is what the Bible says. It is Jesus himself who says it: “I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” And also: “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” As for the rest… you’ll need to join us on 28th October!
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister/Vicar)