Years ago, God was a God of wrath and that perception was a guiding force for a number of years. A Catholic friend once referred to his faith as one built by guilt.

Then came the Jesus people (led in part by Chuck Smith) that taught us God was a God of love.

But today, there is a much greater focus on “me”. The words of JFK that ran true so many years now seem hollow. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Today, we are concerned about “My” rights and it seems like we chase fairness and justice for every issue. “That isn’t fair to me” or “I don’t want to do that” is common language.

There is a part of me that understands the conflicts of justice and love. But I struggle with those that want to soft sell the faith because someone could be offended; that hell is too bad, too long, too hot…just kidding but I hope you get the point.

My struggles are simple, I guess. Why shouldn’t we be held accountable for our decisions? More importantly, why can’t we trust God to make the right decisions for who enters the gate of heaven and hell? Too many of us, including me, sit in judgement too often and believe “I” know better. Isn’t that why we call Him God?

I think this a good point. I think my problem is trying to understand the justice of eternal damnation. It seems hard to fathom that a LOVING or a JUST God would allow someone to suffer FOREVER for even a lifetime of sins. 80 years of sin = eternity of suffering? It’s not just a difficult teaching but it seems inconsistent with love or justice.

So yes, I can see how the people suffering the brutality of Hitler couldn’t fathom a God that would forgive such evil. But, at the same time, how does Ghandi deserve eternal damnation (from a strict exclusivist position) for his sins because he did not believe that Jesus was the living God and Savior of the world?

While I agree that, “I would never want a loved one to rely on” a very inclusivist theology either, but I can’t help but be hopeful that God’s justice and mercy will include those who aren’t believers (at least in the sense we most talk about). I don’t think I can be a strict exclusivist.

I even come to appreciate Annihilationalism for the same reason.. something even John Stott felt was necessary base on his understanding of God’s love, mercy, and justice.

-Kenny

On the justice of damnation being eternal, I too struggle, though CS Lewis has helped me immensely here (especially The Great Divorce and The Problem of Pain). To me damnation has less to do with the proportionality of our finite sins vs an infinite punishment and more to do with our desire for God. Measured against eternity, even the sins of a Hitler or Stalin do not merit eternal punishment. But for one who has no interest in adoring God in this life, how would an eternity in heaven be heaven?

And for those who do sincerely desire God (perhaps Ghandi did – I really can’t say), I trust that God will deal justly with them.