Being here for two and a half months, and growing closer to my fellow interns as we eat together most nights, study the Bible together, pray together, work together, and do all those little life things together (cooking, dishes, walking, etc), we have had conversations about almost everything under the sun. Sometimes we laugh and talk about movies while sometimes we yell and debate hard questions about God. I love it. I am so glad we don't have a TV here! I have noticed that I have much different views about God then most of the other guys. This has made our conversations all the more interesting and challenging. Asking ourselves why we believe as we do reveals some interesting things.
One of the things Brad, our eMi Uganda director, and I have talked about several times is hell. What is it? How does our view of it reflect our view of God? Is it literal? Is it figurative? Is it eternal?
It is ironic that I had just finished John Piper's "Let the Nations be Glad," in which Piper both explains in detail why the Bible supports a conscious eternal suffering view of hell and critiques several other theologians' views, mostly the annihilation view of hell. It took me a moment to remember why the name Clark Pinnock sounded so familiar when Brad told me he agrees with his view of hell. Then it hit me... Pinnock is the author whose particular works Piper attacked most adamantly in his book! I mostly agreed with everything Piper wrote about hell being eternal conscious suffering, as I tend to agree with almost everything I have read of Piper's, so far. However, I sometimes reluctantly will try to keep an open mind, and I have decided to read the book which presents Pinnock's and three others' views on hell. It is very interesting. So far, my favorite part is after the conclusion of each author's view, where the other three authors offer their critiques. I had plenty of time to read it slowly today, as it was a public holiday (Good Friday), and I did not work but went to a local garden/health club to read and spend time alone with God. Pinnock's view is the final one, and the only one I have not read yet. I am sure it will make me angry, and I think that is OK.
For me, the most interesting thing about the whole concept of hell is how it helps us to know God. Many people have problems with the traditional/orthodox view of hell and even the metaphorical view, if it is still believed to be eternal conscious suffering. It can seem to make God look unjust. What about the bible verse we all know so well, "God is love"? Could a loving God send someone to suffer forever? I ask myself, "is that all God is? Love? Doesn't God also hate sin? Does he hate sinners, too? Can he love and hate someone at the same time?" As much as the whole idea of lost souls being tormented in flames bothers me, literal or symbolic, I acknowledge the fact that God is who He is. He does what he wants. He is God, and he is good, whatever he does, and yes, he is love.
I will probably discuss more of what I learn about God through studying hell soon. Have you wrestled with the reality of hell? Was it worthwhile? What did you learn?
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