Does Anyone Give a Damn?

I know ... that sounds bad. Good Christians aren't supposed to use that term. But there is a meaning that isn't intended as foul language, isn't there? Merriam-Webster says that it might be a curse word, but that's Option 4. Option 1 is "to condemn to a punishment or fate; especially : to condemn to Hell." That's actually my question. Does anyone actually condemn to Hell?

I will first of all point out that we don't get that option. This condemnation is not in our purview. If such a thing does occur, we don't have the authority to make that call. So let's be clear; the question I'm asking is "Does God actually condemn anyone to Hell?" Which really boils down to the question, "Is there a Hell?" John Lennon asked us "Imagine there's no heaven -- It's easy if you try -- No Hell below us; Above us only sky." Is he right? Should we jettison the concept?

The idea of Hell doesn't spring from human logic; it comes from the Bible. Jesus spoke about it (e.g., Mark 9:43-48). Hell is described as eternal, conscious torture (Matt 25:46; Rev 14:10-11), a place where "the fire is not quenched" (Isa 66:24; Mark 9:48), the result of not being written in the Book of Life (Rev 20:15), of not knowing Christ (Matt 7:21-23). It is, biblically, a given.

But ... why? I mean, the whole concept of eternal torment is repulsive to us. It sounds harsh, mean, unbearable. Isn't that "inhumane treatment"? So difficult is it for us these days that the left has decided to jettison the idea and even biblical Christians prefer to put it by the side and not talk about it. I mean, even Bible-believing Christians don't care for "hellfire and brimstone" preachers, right? Leave that for past times. We like a less awful story.

So, why is it even there? What is the importance of Hell? Paul gives us the beginnings of a clear answer when he says that God's will is to "show His wrath and to make known His power" on "vessels of wrath prepared for destruction." (Rom 9:22) So there is a point here that, like everything else, brings God's glory to the front. So, how does that work?

The just punishment for a crime should be an indicator of the magnitude of the crime. You don't say, "It only took two minutes to commit the murder, so I shouldn't get more than two minutes in prison." Murder is a crime of great magnitude not because of the time it took, but because of the life it took. (Our society, by the way, is dancing dangerously close to losing this, having rejected the notion that we are made in God's image and, therefore, have value from God. If we're simply biochemical bags, of what real consequence is it that one of us was terminated?) If it is true, then, that the magnitude of the punishment fits the magnitude of the crime, and if it is true that Hell as eternal, conscious torture away from God is the punishment for sin, how big does that make sin? Clearly sin is not a "faux pas," a "social blunder," a "boo-boo," a mistake. It is a crime worthy of eternal torture. If, on the other hand, no Hell exists, sin isn't so bad. In fact, it's really inconsequential.

If there is no Hell, then the worst we get for sin is a slap on the wrist. Some argue that it isn't eternal torment; it is instantaneous annihilation. A slap on the wrist. Over and done. But Paul says that Christ "gave Himself for our sins" (Gal 1:4), that "Christ died for our sins" (1 Cor 15:3). That makes sin something bigger than "Poof! You are no more." Someone had to die for it. If there is a Hell, someone has to die eternally for it. Eternal death, eternal torment, eternal payment. If there is no Hell, the cost of sin is minimal; if there is, it is huge.

Really at question here is the justice of God. I spoke of "The just punishment for a crime." Is God just if He prescribes Hell for sin? Or is He just if He does not? That question is answered, again, by the magnitude of the crime. If sin is an assault on God, a violation of His glory, open rebellion against His rule, some sort of Cosmic Treason, then sin is much bigger than a false step. It is as big as the God it violates. If sin is that bad, then the just punishment requires a penalty as big as the God it violates. That is, if God does not assign Hell as a response to sin, God is not just.

There is, then, one more consequence to the existence of Hell. If the just response to sin is eternal torment and God accepts the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, how big is God's mercy? If no Hell, it's not so much. You deserve ... a slap on the wrist. God does not give you that slap on the wrist. No big deal. But if you have diligently and fully earned the sentence of eternal, conscious torture and God then does not give you that sentence, that is MERCY with capital letters and flashing lights and fireworks and all. That is bigger mercy than we can grasp, mercy magnified by ... Hell.

The Bible isn't ambiguous. God does give a damn -- the assignment to Hell for those who refuse Him, for those who claim Hell as their own. People earn it and He pays it out. Without it, sin isn't so bad, the price for sin isn't so high, Christ's death isn't so important, God isn't so just, and mercy isn't so big. But the Bible isn't ambiguous, and the result is that sin is horrendous, the price is high, Christ's death on our behalf is everything, God is absolutely just, and mercy is magnificent. I think that's kind of important.