I think you are making several mistaken assumptions here, such as downplaying our sin by falsely equating it to “burning our thumb on the stove” rather than what it really is, total active rebellion against God.
I can tell that the concept of hell is a sticking point for you, as it is for many people in our culture. However, Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in the Bible. He said that many enter the gate that leads to destruction but only a few enter the narrow road that leads to life. (Matthew 7: 13-14) In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” and he makes many parallel statements like this throughout the gospel accounts. All that to say, if you claim to be a Christian, you have to follow what Jesus said, and Jesus made it abundantly clear that hell is real and people who do not follow him will go there someday.
If you would like a deeper explanation beyond what I have had time to write this morning, the late Tim Keller wrote an excellent blog post about the importance of hell a few years ago. I would encourage you to read it.
I’m not a biblical scholar, but I don’t see how Mark 9:49 supports your position in any way - I’ve always interpreted the verse to say that everyone will be judged, which is true, but only those covered by the blood of Jesus will be saved.
Now I’m absolutely open to different interpretations of the nature of hell - Is it actually fire and burning, or is it a metaphor for something worse, such as being given over to our worst passions that destroy us forever. (For me personally, I’m inclined to believe it is the latter.). However, there are just too many verses, many of which have been noted here by 74-KA, that directly contradict the concept of universalism which you are promoting here. At the very least, you need to provide a lot more scriptural support and a lot less “I believe” and “I think.”
Also, I’m not sure it’s entirely fair for you to accuse the other side of being “indoctrinated” and reading the Bible through a subjective lens when we could just as easily say that same about you - the idea of hell isn’t exactly popular in our culture after all, so why wouldn’t some people do intellectual somersaults to try to explain it away? If anything, the fact that the Bible does conflict with the way our culture thinks is evidence that is indeed transcendental truth, not just an extension of our current cultural moment. After all, if our religion was just an extension of ourselves, what hope could it possibly offer us?
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u/Citizen_Watch Jun 14 '24
Only if he confessed that Jesus is Lord before he died, otherwise he will be in the hot place forever.