A bit of light conversation: who goes to hell?

We usually use the word punishment when it comes to hell

You break God’s rules so you’re sent to hell to be punished

I think we get it wrong
I think people chose to go to hell

Think like a freeway with a speed limit

Now I’m driving 90 in a 65 stretch
A police officer pulls me over
I get a ticket
I am being punished, I have to pay a fine. The goal is that I will want to avoid the fine in the future and that’ll motivate me to follow the speed limit.

I don’t think hell works like that.
I don’t think God works like that.

I’m driving that same stretch of highway. The 65 speed limit is there for a reason. There are a series of curves and if I take them too fast I’ll fly off the road. The limit is to prevent me from injury myself and others.

I ignore it again and drive 90.
There is no police officer this time and I lose control. I fly off the road and am horribly injured.

I’m not being punished now.
I’m suffering the consequences of my choices.

Ignored the speed limit and that choice resulted in the crash.

This is how God works
God gives us instructions
To prevent us from crashing
When we crash it’s not punishment from God
It’s the inevitable outcome of our decisions

Why do people go to hell?
Because they choose to.
It’s the inevitable outcome of their actions.

Jesus gave us clear simple instructions, the steps to avoid crashing.

Attend the hungry & thirsty & stranger & naked & sick & imprisoned

Love your God & your neighbor

Do it with all your mind and soul

Or you’ll crash

If you want to know where I got most of this, check out the parables of Matthew 25 and even 22. Even if just as a jumping off point.

Also, I’m not talking about earning salvation eyeroll but I’ll talk about justification and all that academic nonsense at some point later on. When I’m bored

Same with Hell

I’m def on the left side of Christianity where the concept of Hell is not as prominent. I’ll probably talk about why I still believe in it at some point. Though my belief, as outlined above, is definitely not in favor on the right side of Christianity