A Fundamentalist View of Hell

[Donb123]

(04-16-2012 03:05 PM)TurningIntoDavid Wrote:  I really do have a problem with hell as it was taught me... but I think the problem still exists, even within inclusivism. I read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis and thought it was pretty good. Way more redemptive than the doctrine of hell I'd been taught. My problem, though, is the once-in-hell-always-in-hell assumption I'm crediting you with making, (which you may in fact not be making). I just can't see how God in His love ends up winning over evil when He has to keep some of his creatures whom He loves far from Him because they hate him for all eternity.

Yes, that is my position. I believe the Bible teaches, and the Church has historically taught this.

I see a problem in your scenario in that God is changing the hearts of reprobates in hell to cause them to love him. Now I believe that's what he does in the here and now as we are incapable of repenting and turning to him on our own volition. However, the rest of the story for those who believe this way is that God does this specifically for his elect. The elect is not a universal number.

So I'll make an addendum to my universalist summary statement from before and add universal election.

I'm failing to see the point of the gospel, the point of evangelism, or any of that if I'll be hooked up in the end. Sometimes Christianity is not easy. I'm not suggesting that, in some fundyesque way, that the doctrine of hell should cause us to work and trust in our works. But Jesus did say we were to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. I'm thinking I'd rather not bother with all that and he shouldn't have put that burden on me if it's rather unnecessary.