Mel: But the truth is many people don't. There have been countless of people who have never been given the opportunity to make such a choice.
ALL people have been made aware of God because He has made clear His existence, since the beginning of the world (Romans 1), but man has mostly chosen to reject even their basic understandings of Him, desiring instead to follow their own desires. Paul says this in addressing pagans and those without the Gospel. Christ is part of God/IS God. You CAN reject God - even if you only know the basics, that He exists - and in doing so, you are automatically also rejecting Christ, even if you've never heard of Him or the Gospel. Paul says people's "thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" and "as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done."
Mel: There are those that believe that such people have been deliberately placed geographically by God so as to not have the opportunity to make a choice. Not only do I believe this to have no basis in scripture I also believe it goes against the very nature of God.
This is false - God is not limited by any remote geography. ANY person ANYwhere can call upon God. If they want to know Him, He will show them. He will connect them with a missionary or whatever, even reveal Himself in dreams or visions (as He did with Cornelius). Again, you do not have to know God's requirements more fully (have an awareness of Jesus and the Gospel) to reject God. Paul in addressing this very issue doesn't even mention Jesus - which is very interesting.
Mel: So we are left with many unknowns. People who have never had a choice
ALL people have ALWAYS had a choice whether to reject or desire to know God more fully. Prior to Jesus, they could not know more than had been already revealed to them about God. God does not withhold that which he demands one do - He will do all of the rest, even help one to belief - IF this is what they desire. But the entire history of man - even in our own Western society - shows the exact opposite: a denial and lack of desire to know God.
Mel: people who have been intellectual and mental disabilities, children who die before a choice can be made and the impossible questions as to when a child crosses over from incapable of making choices to an age of accountability.
God is fair! He does not require what a person CANNOT do, but what one CAN do. A child or a mentally ill person does not have the proper ability to understand what is required of those whom do have such ability.
Mel: The doctrine of hell causes Christians a relentless amount of fear. I have seen It personally and on here. People who are so concerned about the eternity of their loved ones that they are pushed to extreme evangelizing to them which often has the opposite effect. It causes them sleepless nights and so much anguish.
And EVERYONE should fear hell! Jesus relentlessly warned of it, the horrific consequences. The Bible is saturated with such warnings. Really, the warnings are the most loving and honest, as do you not warn your children of playing in the street, of the terrible death that a car striking them will bring. Or painful lingering injuries. Yes, fear is appropriate to motivate SOME. But not for most, as their response is to deny God even exists or such a fate could ever be possible. That is how they deal with any supposed hell.
There is no fear in Christ, only peace.
An yet: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) In fact, "fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." (Proverbs 9:10)
Mel: The more I study scripture and ancient Hebrew and Greek the more ambiguous this doctrine becomes. The doctrine of hell doesn't stand alone in this.
I surely don't see the prolific words of Jesus and the Apostles all in perfect harmony in their warnings of hell to be in any way ambiguous.
Mel: I also do not believe that the vast majority of people end up in a fiery pit of endless torture and torment for eternity. When you start to get your mind around the concept of eternity, torture and torment without end, ever....questions arise as to the legitimacy of such a claim.
Questions should arise is as to what is written in Scripture by so many, especially Jesus' own words, true or not?
Mel: But to claim that those that are non Christians hate God is in my opinion quite the leap. We all know people whom we are very close too, who are non Christians who are wonderful, caring, loving people. Quite often more so than those that claim eternal bliss whilst condemning others to an eternity of hellish, fiery torture.
The fact is that people either embrace God or they reject Him. There are no other categories. To reject God is evil. We cannot see into people's hearts and minds, so on the surface, people don't seem terribly different than many Christians. But there will be NO rebels in Heaven. God will not allow those determined to resist Him and to only bow to their own desires into His presence.
Mel: I have read many accounts and spoken personally to so many Christians who are driven by such an intense fear that their loved ones are doomed to an eternity of torture that their lives are turned upside down. The anxiety and fear have led to many negative repercussions in their lives and their spiritual walk.
This is true, but is also not trusting that God knows what is best for us. And He will not DRAG people into His Kingdom, against their will.
Mel: You are not alone in finding this very difficult to get your head and heart around.
NO one likes the Bible's teachings on Hell. I surely don't. But Jesus said it. Those closest to Him that were His Apostles, those that saw a Resurrected Christ prolifically taught it. To reject it is to reject Scripture. Yes, it is a terrible thought. And whatever it really is, for a spiritual being, is a place of mental anguish of their own consciences constantly accusing them. And it doesn't mean that they instead would later want to turn to God. Yes, like the Rich man in hell, they will want relief from their self-caused and perpetuating circumstances. But that doesn't mean they will desire to love God. At the very least, it is an eternal separation from God and all He offers them. To reject that is simply mind-boggling!
If one accepts that Scripture is God-given, they also cannot deny that it relentlessly teaches and warns of hell. And whatever that might entail, it not only ain't good - it would appear to be FOREVER!
