Uncomfortable As Hell - Soul Choice Ministries

Why does the topic of hell make some Christians uncomfortable?

There are at least four reasons:

1. A compromised Christian living in sin should fear hell.

Luke 12:4-5, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

Jesus called those He was speaking to, “My friends.” That would indicate a believer, yet they should fear hell.

Mark 9:47-48, “And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

Jesus was talking to His disciples here. Again, this is a warning not to play around with sin, or you are in danger of hell.

Mark 11:25-26, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive…But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

This person is a believer because Jesus said, “when you stand praying.” So He was talking to His disciples. They are on dangerous ground if they refuse to forgive someone.

Jesus gave an example in Matthew 18 where a man owed 60 million days’ wages, according to Nelson’s Bible Commentary. The man owed 10,000 talents, an amount impossible to repay! He begged for forgiveness, and the one he owed forgave him of all that debt. Then later, this same man who was forgiven refused to forgive someone who owed him only three days’ wages. This was discovered by the one who forgave him the vast amount, so he withdrew his forgiveness and delivered the man to the tormentors. Jesus said, “So shall your heavenly Father do to those who do not forgive.” This sounds like unforgiveness may lead to hell. It is a fearful verse, to say the least.

Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Hebrews 10:26-27, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

These are sobering verses and should cause a compromised Christian to wake up and fear God.

2. Hell is uncomfortable for the Christian who says they love people but never share their faith.

Mark 16:15, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’”

This was a command for all of us, and not a suggestion.

Ezekiel 33:8, “When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.”

If God tells us to share the way of salvation and warn someone, and we do not, we are held partially accountable. Another fearful verse.

2 Corinthians 5:11, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” (If we do not persuade men, we do not love people, and do not fear God.)

3. You are uncomfortable because you have relatives or friends who have died without Christ.

If hell does not exist or is softened, it makes you feel better.

But John 3:36 says, “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he that believes not on the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Matthew 25:46, Jesus said, “These shall go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Because hell is forever, it should motivate us to have an urgency to witness.

4. Hell is much more severe and horrific than you thought.

Mark 9:47-48, “To be cast into hell fire—where their worm (maggot) does not die and the fire is not quenched.”

Matthew 22:13, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 24:51, “…and will cut him in pieces and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Isaiah 14:11, “The maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.”

Revelation 14:10-11, “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night.”

What would God’s wrath be like in full strength?

Matthew 23:33, “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?”

Luke 16, Jesus told us about the rich man who was in torment in the flames and begged for just one drop of water.

Many believers do not share their faith because they say they did not feel led. However, the real reason is that many fear man rather than fearing God. We have grown numb to a world dying without Christ around us. We have become distracted and desensitized to death, violence, and horror from our modern-day movies, video games, news, and social media.

In Psalm 51:10, David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

As Christians, perhaps we need to pray Psalm 51:10 afresh. Let us ask God to soften our hearts and change us. Be intentional to look for opportunities to share Christ with others and pray for them. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us on the Cross. The least we can do is put up with being a bit uncomfortable, inconvenienced, or ridiculed to help someone avoid an eternity in hell.