I think God is grieved when people turn their back on His love and mercy and so choose hell and eternal death. I think we should despair for all lost souls, but rejoice in God's justice.
Thoughts or comments? Am I wrong? Let's dialogue.
I find it slightly un-nerving reading all the "Burn in Hell, Osama" posts on Facebook and Twitter. Yes, I understand he was public enemy number one. Yes, I understand that his entire life was a constant plotting of wickedness and violence. Yes, I understand he took the lives of many innocent people, and yes, I even understand that I will never be able to fathom the crippling loss and drowning sorrow that fills the families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks. Still, as Christians, it seems wrong that we should ever rejoice or gloat that someone is in hell. Anyone who jokes or makes light of someone being in hell obviously does not understand the horror and utter agony that hell is. Hell, in all honesty, is so terrible and eternal that the weight of it should cause us to not wish it on even our worst enemies. God did not create hell for people (Matt 25:41) and it was never his intention that people should suffer there. God does not delight in the death of the wicked. "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)
I think God is grieved when people turn their back on His love and mercy and so choose hell and eternal death. I think we should despair for all lost souls, but rejoice in God's justice. Thoughts or comments? Am I wrong? Let's dialogue.
19 Comments
paul
5/2/2011 03:15:29 am
I had made a similar comment on fb about this topic. I find it strange that so many professing Christians were responding with rejoicing of this man's death, when had it not been for God's mercy, they too would be a citizen of Hell. I also thought of Ezekiel, but 33:11 which says the same thing basically.
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Eric
5/2/2011 03:19:19 am
This is exactly what I was thinking Alex. You put it into words nicely. I noticed, also, that many of the "burn in hell" posts are actually from people who do not know Jesus. Its sad because many people don't realize that without Jesus we are ALL already condemned, whether we are doctors, lawyers, teachers, or terrorists. There are none righteous.
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Michael
5/2/2011 03:19:50 am
God didn't intend for human beings to go to suffer in hell when he made it?
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Bedros Enfiedjian
5/2/2011 03:42:30 am
... good blog and comments. Jesus asked as to not only love our neighbors, but enemies as well. Praying for our enemies will only cause our faith to grow - in Jesus' teachings and ways to live.
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Kevin
5/2/2011 03:57:43 am
I'm pretty sure the Israelites rejoiced when goliath fell and i'm pretty sure he didn't go to heaven, was that wrong?
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John Golden
5/2/2011 04:15:50 am
Prov 24:17-18 "Do not Gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath from them". I remember 9/11 very well...I remember the terrorists dancing in the streets, chanting slogans, and celebrating...I was disheartened to see the same reaction by Americans with the death of this terrorist leader.
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Michael
5/2/2011 04:59:11 am
Ah, thanks, John. Your response makes it sound like God did intend people to suffer there. It sounded strange to say that it was possible for God to do something he didn't intend to do.
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Hey everybody. Good comments. I understand this is a touchy issue.
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paul
5/2/2011 05:35:33 am
@JMichael - yes the Scripture tells us that Hell was made for Satan and those angels which sinned after him. - the verse Alex posted says this -
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John Golden
5/2/2011 06:07:52 am
@Paul, I am a simple guy, so I often cross reference KJV with NLT. The NLT translation of Prov 6:16-19 is as follows:
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Michael
5/2/2011 06:21:10 am
@alex I don't see it as a predestination v. free will issue. My point wasn't that God is mean, or something like that. Nor am I implying that your viewpoint suggests that God hates people.
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paul abeyta
5/2/2011 06:34:36 am
@ John - I'm glad you're simple - I hope that I am too, but I think that you are complicating things for yourself by referencing the NLT. The NLT is a dynamic equivalence translation - like the NIV is as well, so it's not a literal translation - but more of a "thought for thought" translation so as to make things more understandable. Unfortunately, it may do more harm than good.
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John Golden
5/2/2011 07:26:42 am
Paul, my first thought is that I love that you are making me think! So often debates about interpretation turn into a ‘my way or the highway’ argument. What I have found in my limited time studying the scriptures is that each passage carries with it wisdom and guidance that can be interpreted differently based on the circumstance and situation.
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paul
5/2/2011 01:59:48 pm
John, you were doing this in between conference calls!? I commend you brother - those were long and thought out comments you made!
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John Golden
5/4/2011 06:08:22 am
Wow…sorry, super long response…I have thoroughly enjoyed this back and forth!
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John Golden
5/4/2011 06:09:38 am
26Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
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paul
5/4/2011 09:13:06 am
Thanks for the response John. I will respond back to you on FB so as not to hijack any more of Alex's blog post......but I actually meant "Osama" - not "Obama"....slip of the finger I suppose
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5/14/2012 07:18:45 pm
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
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alexonhe
5/15/2012 01:38:22 am
@Inspirational... Glad you got a free lunch! :)
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