Hell

We had an interesting discussion at youth group on the topic "Hell: does it really exist or not?" Almost everyone agreed emphatically that Hell exists. Some people were even offended that the question was being asked. When one guy suggested that it might not exist, some people walked out. Someone said, "if Hell doesn't exist, then where do all of the disturbed souls who wander the earth to torment us because they're not at peace come from?" Someone at the meeting said, "everyone knows we are fighting to stay out of Hell every day of our lives." That's a lot of pressure and fear in every day life! There is such a STRONG culture of fear of evil spirits here. A lot of people even keep the lights on while they sleep. So much is blamed on evil spirits - from brake failures to accidents to mental illness to poverty to anything bad. I'm wondering if it's why people love to be in church all of the time - because it's safe. There was a prayer at the end where someone prayed against the Devil and evil spirits. He said a few times, "we know that right outside of these walls there are spirits waiting to attack us and destroy us, but we are safe in this house of prayer." It's become quite unfashionable to talk of Hell in the west. Street corner preachers who stand with their megaphones telling people to "turn or burn" are mostly mocked. But here, fear of Hell seems to just be part of people's every day reality. Personally (and I said this), I find it hard to understand how so many Christians feel so comfortable talking about others going to Hell. I mean, the second most important command in our Bible is to love our neighbours as ourselves. If we love every other person as much as ourself, how can we not weep uncontrollably at the mere thought that another person might be consigned to eternal punishment? A few people said that if we didn't believe in Hell, there would be no reason to become a Christian or to come to church. I found this quite sad. In my view, we shouldn't come to God for negative reasons (because we're afraid of Him, or we're afraid of the consequences of NOT following God). We should come to Him because He's good and loving and faithful and just and forgiving and compassionate. And because life that includes a relationship with God is a good thing. Even if I died tomorrow and found out there was neither Heaven nor Hell, I wouldn't have traded being a follower of Jesus. It makes my life good and complete. My belief in God gives me hope, and gives me a full heart of love for others. What do you think?