Christians often find themselves intimidated in the midst of conversations which challenge the credibility of the Bible, especially when the subject of hell is brought up. This is certainly understandable. On a first glance, the idea of somebody spending eternity separated from God or from anything good does indeed sound like the judgment of a vindictive deity.

At the same time, I have found a response that invites skeptics to look beneath their own surface reactions. Observe the following sample conversation:

“I simply cannot and will not believe in a God who would send people to hell.”

“What about heaven?”

“How’s that?”

“Heaven. Can you believe in a God who would send people to heaven?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“And who will God allow into heaven?”

“Everybody.”

“Everybody? Racists are going to heaven? Murderers are going to heaven?  How about rapists? Will Adolph HItler be in heaven? It sure doesn’t sound like much of a heaven. Isn’t heaven a place free from people who would harm us?

“Well, OK. I guess not everybody will be in heaven.”

“Then where do the other people go?  Doesn’t God seem more just and therefore more loving to not allow human beings to get away with evil without some kind of accountability?”

“I suppose.”

“And then, what about the fact that all of us in our hearts have harbored evil thoughts; thoughts of unprovoked anger, bitterness, selfishness?”

When all is said and done, a loving God will either find a way to forgive us for the fact that we have all sinned and deliver us from this sin, or banish forever from His presence, those uninterested in taking responsibility for the evil side of their natures. Make no mistake: A loving God places people in both heaven and hell.

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