Is it Possible That No One Will Go To Hell?

Question:

OK, hear me out.
God has infinite love, wisdom, and mercy. He is everything good. As Christians, we know this. The thing I can't comprehend is that God would ever allow his any of His creation to be eternally damned. How does that make sense?
If someone is sent to hell, and they suffer for years, how could God not accept their repentance? And if someone is sent to hell, that means Satan has won. And if God is all-powerful, then Satan cannot win permanently, right?
I know this isn't in the Bible, and yeah, this is an unconventional idea. All I'm asking for is a well-reasoned response. I'm not criticizing Christianity or any religion.
Granted, an atheist can say, "No one will go to hell because it doesn't exist." But I would rather you look at this from a Christian perspective.

My Reply:

This is actually a belief by many who call themselves "Christians"...and it's also wrong:

1. Jesus talked about separating the good from the evil, children of God and children of Satan, and a place where many will go where there will be gnashing of teeth, torture, and fires some 1000 times hotter than anything we can imagine here. To say there's no hell or that nobody will go there is to call Jesus a liar.
2. Most of all, if there's no hell, then Jesus' death on the cross was in vain, His resurrection was pointless, and there's no reason to believe in, follow, or witness about God (an atheist's point, I'm sure). Also, the Apostle Paul said that if Jesus hadn't been resurrected, then we'd all still be dead in our sins and our ministry would be void (and we'd be worse off than atheists, for we'd be preaching something that puts us deeper in debt).

Although you are correct when you say that God doesn't wish for any of His creation to perish in Hell, for Hell wasn't even created for humans, but for Satan and his demons.  In fact, God's love for all of His creation is what led Him to die for us in the first place.  But with that same love, God also gave us a choice...spend eternity with Him, or without Him, and our decision must be made in this life.

So if one is to say that they're a Christian, but they don't believe there's a hell, then they can't actually be a Christian, for such belief is a contradiction of the Gospel, as well as the whole point of it.  To believe in no hell, no judgment, and no condemnation is to believe there's no reason for salvation.  For them, the account of Jesus' death and resurrection is not "Good News", for they don't believe that because Jesus saved them from anything.

---Pastor Andy G.

What does it take to get into heaven?

Question:
What does it take to get into heaven?
1- All religions have holy Bibles that contradict one another in most areas.
2- God is supposed to be omniscient, so "He" will know that attending church once a week doesn't make you religious any more than spending time in a garage makes you a race car.
3- God gave man freedom of choice, and no clear directions on his expectations (otherwise there wouldn't be so many religions, and so many variations of each one).


My Reply:
I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to answer these out of order:

2- Christianity isn't a religion...Christianity is a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Everything else out there is just a religion...they're about what you need to do to be considered as good or righteous. But they're all judged by how a human some time ago considered it as such.
The Apostle Paul tells us that the only way to become righteous, or "good" in God's eyes, is through faith in Jesus Christ, whom God sent. It's not about what we can or need to do, but about what Jesus has already done.
So when you mention that all religions have holy Bibles that conflict one another in most areas, keep in mind that Christianity isn't a religion.
Also, you're right...there are a lot of people who go to church but don't have a relationship with God.

1-You'll also notice though that most "holy" books, traditions, practices, and beliefs are actually very similar to that of the Holy Bible of Christianity. That's because they're all copycats. Satan's a copycat...everybody wants to be or be like God.
There's nothing in the others that wasn't first in the Holy Bible. God even told Moses that His name is what He is...God. But others take on that name in order to fool people into believing and following them.

3- Freedom of choice. You're probably right about the different religions. I notice that there are a lot of people out there searching for God. Sometimes they find Him, and that's great. Sometimes they try to figure things out themselves without guidance from somebody who already knows God, and start up a church with others with the same messed-up thoughts. And some people trust the wrong people and end up meeting somebody wearing a generic version of God's clothes, and end up becoming more messed up than they were to begin with.
But I think freedom of choice only plays a small part in this.

The freedom of choice part comes in play in terms of whether or not we want to have anything to do with God. For example, science continues to prove God's existence, and archaeology continues to prove events in the Bible. But yet, even with the proof, some continue to refuse to believe. But that's a choice that they made...they CHOSE not to believe. If God forced people to believe in Him, then He'd be a tyrant.
Some believe in God, but CHOOSE to have nothing to do with Him. Sure it breaks God's heart, but God’s love for them is expressed in His giving them that choice.

So what does it take to get to heaven? Repentance of sins, acceptance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

---Pastor Andy G.

Why Will Some People Go To Hell?

Dear Pastor Andy, why do Christians say that anyone who isn't a Christian or doesn't believe in Jesus is going to Hell?  Christians also say love thy neighbor and be civil or something along those lines.  Saying anyone who doesn't believe in Jesus is going to hell is not loving and not civil.  Explain yourself. 

My Reply:

Here's the thing.

God loves you...He REALLY does. In fact, God loves you SO much that He died (as Jesus) for you, and He died for you not to lay a guilt trip on you, but so that you could be with Him for all eternity. All you have to do is accept Him now (during your lifetime) by accepting Jesus as your Lord and God, and you will spend eternity with Him. This place where He is is Heaven.

God REALLY wants you to join Him there, and He's opened the door. But if you don't walk through the door, which is Jesus (John 14:6), then you obviously won't go join Him there. And since there are only 2 places to go when you die, you'll go to the other place.

You say it's not loving? God doesn't force you to love Him back. He gives you the choice to believe in Him, have faith in Him, accept Him, get to know Him, love Him...He says that if you truly seek Him, you'll find Him. But if you choose not to seek Him, then He won't force you...that's love. If He forced you, then that wouldn't be love.

God gave you the choice...the ball's in your court. Will you choose God who's in Heaven, or not God, which leads to the other place (Hell). Either way, it's your choice, and that's love...and it's also fair.

Dream Translation Needed

Question:

I had a religious dream and wondered if you could help me understanding it?  Now first, I am not very old, I'm still a teenager and God is my number one priority.  Here's the dream: 

I was in my youth group at church and then one of the youth group members just turned away from the Christian faith just a couple of days before the Antichrist came. I heard the 7 trumpets and I knew that it was time for everyone to ascend to heaven. I saw everyone in my youth group in heaven except that one person. I pleaded with God to bring that one person up into heaven but then me and God got into a little argument. Then God said I had the option of going back to earth, so I said I'd go back and suffer with that one person so that he wouldn't have to suffer alone. When I went back it was literally a living hell. And then it just cut off and I woke up.

Some people have suggested that it could be a premonition of what I'm destined to do, but when I told it to my church, they said that I have a pure soul and that it's not a premonition but more of the idea of what the dream was based on.  So can you tell me why God would give me this dream?

My Reply:

Hey Mike, that is an interesting dream you had.  I thought I'd pray first before trying to answer this.  Now, that doesn't mean I'm right, but either way, I would like to suggest you explore these possibilities...OK, so here's is what I'm seeing:

1. I believe the Lord has revealed to me that He will return in my lifetime (I'm 38 now). So He may be revealing this part to you also. In other words, time's short...He's coming soon.
2. The Lord may have revealed to you somebody in your youth group who's struggling with his faith, or sin, and needs a brother in Christ to help him in his walk. But don't delay because of #1.
3. In Revelation 8 and 9, the 7 trumpets sound off the beginning of God's wrath upon those who are not caught up in the rapture - those continue to put off repenting and accepting Jesus.  Many of us have loved ones who have not accepted Jesus Christ, and it's tough to accept the fact that they won't be with us in Heaven. So your arguing with God may be revealing a difficulty you're having with this...the arguing was your wrestling with God and your faith with the fact of some people you know not being saved.
4. Going back to suffering with that friend. I'd compare this with what I said in #2...sometimes walking with a brother or sister in Christ can include suffering with them. The Lord also may be revealing that this friend of yours is currently struggling with sin and/or enduring a living hell, all the more reason for him/her leaving the faith, and needing somebody (or somebodies) to walk with them in their suffering.

You sound like a good friend, and you've got an awesome heart for the suffering. I'd suggest you pray for this friend and ask the Lord how you can be the Christian Brother that this friend needs. But remember also, time is short, so don't delay.

---Pastor Andy

Description of Hell?

Picture courtesy of...

Question:

I'm sure you may have heard, or have told someone yourself, that hell is best put as "eternal separation from God." Most believing Christians, to my knowledge, do not strictly adhere to the literal interpretation of a fiery dungeon called Hell. 
With that said, what do you think of the condition of being separated from God eternally? Is it possible that this condition (this state of being completely severed from the living God) is not much different from the state of non-existence? After all, what type of life is it that exists separately from God?  Is there a possibility that hell (eternal separation from God) is actually banishment from humanity as well as divinity? Could it be the very diffusion of the conscious soul into the sinful nature? Could hell be the subtraction of that which makes us human, that which makes us more than animals? Could it be the subtraction of the breath of life and the return to dust? 
What is the nature of the second death that is spoken of in scripture?
I am not debating key doctrines here; I am just looking for a different and more educated insight.

My Reply:

You're thinking too much into it.
Hell is described, yes, as eternal separation from God, but it's also described (by Jesus) as a very hot place, filled with eternal torment, no humidity at all, and the gnashing of teeth.
In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus describes hell as very hot, even to the point where the rich man begged for Lazarus to even dip his smallest fingertip into some water and place it on his (the rich man's) tongue. Jesus also explained a chasm between heaven & hell that couldn't be crossed (torture to see those you hurt in paradise while you're burning eternally).
C.S. Lewis described the difference by saying that in hell, everybody's sitting at a banquet table with all this great food in front of them. But their arms are locked straight out in front of them, so they can't get the food into their mouths. Then in heaven, it's the same situation with the arms, only there, they're feeding each other.
Either way though, hell is continuously described as a place we shouldn't wish to go. It's not the same as not existing though, for we're beings that were created to live forever...there are 2 places where that could take place, and it's our decision now while we're here to make as to where that place will be.
Also, if you've ever had a run-in with Satan or one of his demons, you've gotta figure that hell is where they're going, and they know it. Anyplace where they are is definitely not a place where anybody should want to spend the rest of eternity.

---Pastor Andy

Description of Heaven (part 2)

Dear Pastor Andy, Will everybody in Heaven be filled with lots and lots of happiness? Also is Heaven a million times better than a wealthy person driving nice cars, owning a mansion, a cabin in the mountains, a vacation home on the beach, lots of nice clothes, boats, water skis, nice stereo equipment, nice furniture, going on lots of nice vacations, eating lots of their favorite meals and being surrounded by all the friends they want?  And will everybody in Heaven have equal privileges?

My Reply:

Will Heaven be filled with happiness and a million times better than a wealthy person?  Well first of all, ask just about anybody who's rich in the ways you said, and I'm sure that neither of them will admit to actually being happy. Actually, as I've come to understand, that's why they keep spending...because they're not content with what they have.  And so the less happy they are, the more they get, and again the less happy they become. So they buy things in an attempt to fill the void.

Heaven will be awesome, for it will be in the full, constant presence of the Lord.

Here's how I imagine how Heaven will be:

Have you ever have those "God moments" where you feel the Lord's presence, along with an "ah-ha!" moment? Or those times when you have no fear but only comfort and safety, even though the opposite is what would be expected? Or those times when Jesus reveals Himself to you in even the smallest of things? And especially when you're praying and He answers you in some way that you can't deny it being Him?

Now imagine that, what, several billion times stronger, and constant, never-ending. I think that'll be even a speck of what heaven will be like!

As for equal privileges, I think we can look to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians and Galatians about everybody being equal in Christ, and apply it to those in Heaven (but then, we also hear of the pillars in Heaven, so I can't say).

Ultimately though, it'll be POLAR to the other place.

For more on Heaven, check out my other blog.

I also replied to a similar question on here.

---Pastor Andy

What If...?

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Question:

Born again Christians believe that those who do not believe in Jesus will be tortured for all eternity by a loving God. Suppose someone never had the opportunity to learn about Jesus. For instance they are in a remote African tribe and simply never heard of Christianity or Jesus. Are they damned for all eternity?

My Reply:

Ya know, people often mention the "what about this guy in remote Africa who never heard the gospel" question. But "hypothetically" speaking, if you really cared about what would happen to that one guy in remote Africa, you'd travel out to him and tell him about Jesus so that there would be no "what if" issues. But all honestly, you really don't care about him, but just use the question to justify God's fairness.

Yes, God is a loving God...He died so you don't have to. What else do you want from Him? Eternal life in Heaven? Sure! That's why God raised Jesus from the dead...so you CAN be with Him in heaven for all eternity. All you have to do is:

1. Receive the invitation...tell Him that you want to receive eternal life (by this, you're acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, for you're asking Him for something that only He can give you)
2. Repent of your ways (let me give you a head start...you've questioned His faithfulness, denied His awesome gift, lived selfishly, etc...)
3. Put your faith into Him (you're doing this even as you're taking the time to talk with Him), and you'll receive it. Why is that so difficult to do?

Then begin reading the Bible, communicate (talk) with Jesus regularly, find a Church to fellowship with His other believers, and begin to learn from and follow Him.  

Then, if you still wonder about and begin to really care about those people in the remote parts of Africa who don’t know about Jesus, travel out to them and tell them about Him.  Then you won’t have to wonder, “What if…?”

---Pastor Andy

A Muslim's Afraid of Death

Dear Pastor Andy, I am a Muslim. I pray five times in day, I read the holy Quran, I listen to hadith, I follow the sunnah of the prophet...but one thing I fear, and that is death. When people talk about death, I get scared. When we die, do we still have thoughts and feelings? I need to know...I need advice.

My Reply:

As Christians, we understand that everybody was made to live eternally...conscious and everything (yes, thoughts and feelings). Only thing is that where we spend the rest of eternity depends on what or whom we choose to follow now.

Your confusion and fear could be due to your image of God. As Christians, we believe that God is a loving God who loves His creation, and INVITES us to spend the rest of eternity WITH Him. Being a Christian also means having a relationship (friendship) with God through Jesus Christ, who we believe was not just a prophet, but God Himself in the flesh, come down to communicate His Word and die (then be risen) in order to reconcile us to Him, We just need to accept His gracious invitation. If we refuse, then we will spend the rest of eternity in the other place, which is in complete isolation from God, and also a good reason to fear death.

It could be that God is trying to communicate Jesus to you in this fear of death. Check out this video for more information on Jesus - the main one I suggest you watch is called "The Jesus Film", but there are other great videos and resources there, also. Scroll down to your chosen language and give it a chance, if not to believe, but then to help answer your question.

Also, feel free to email me if you like.

---Pastor Andy

What is Manna?

Question:

What is Manna?

My Reply:

Exactly!

You don’t get it…OK, well you see, in the original language, "Manna" means "What is it?"
Manna is known as "bread from heaven". In the Old Testament, it was the food that God fed the Israelites during their 40 years in the desert. It's described as flakes of wafers and honey.  It obviously had all the vitamins and nutrients needed to live on, also.

In the New Testament, Jesus called Himself "Manna", for He is the bread of life that came from Heaven...the only "food" we need to "live".

---Pastor Andy  :}>+-

Type of Music In Heaven and Hell

Question: Is Christian music the only style of music that is played both in Heaven and in Hell?

My Answer:

We're told that in Heaven, constant praises to God will be sung.  I also like to think that there will be all styles of praise, like Third Day, Kutless, P.O.D., Deliverance, Pillar, Sinai Beach, and such, too.  :)
 
As for Hell, that's a place of complete separation from God. Also, Christian music gives hope...in Hell, there's no hope, only torment. Therefore, my guess is that even Christian music wouldn't be present in Hell.

But what type of music will you hear in hell?  That's a good question...a scratching record? Constant repeats of the B-52s? Maybe your favorite song cut off just before the best part?  Some say Lucifer was gifted with music, so maybe you'd be stuck listening to "Satan's greatest hits".  Either way, if there even is music in hell, it wouldn't be enjoyable.

---Pastor Andy