Have a Question? We all have questions, big God questions.  Throughout the summer at Christ United Methodist Church in Gastonia, NC, we’re asking some big questions!  Here is our Sunday Rewind for June 5, 2016.  We ask the big question, “How can a loving God send people to hell?”

O.J. Simpson still makes headlines.  Think what you will about the various trials that followed, twenty years ago we were all shocked at the jarring headlines.  Mr. Simpson was a beloved sports figure, commentator, and actor.  His smile made you believe him, trust him, as he pitched Hertz rentals or gave his viewpoint about teams and players.  America loved O.J..  Then everything changed.  We all have a question about O.J. Simpson now.

Its easy to talk about God when we keep the specifics to a minimum and emphasize love.  Its okay to quote the bible if its 1 John 4:8 “God is love.”  John 3:16 causes few waves, “For God so loved the world…”  Who’s gonna argue with love.  Try to take the conversation deeper however, and God-talk starts making people uncomfortable.  Read the rest of John 3:16-21, and words like judgement and darkness start creeping in.  We love a God who loves and gives with no expectation.  Suggest judgement, and everything changes.  It makes us have a question about God.

How can a loving God send anyone to hell?  Its a fair question.  Its a big question.  The two words, love and hell, seem as opposite as could be.  Who is God?  Is God loving and gracious?  Or is God a monster, reveling in judgement?  What gives God the right to judge my life?  Continuing our summer message series, I’ve Got a Question, we ask and try our best to answer, “How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?”.

 

Click below to listen to this past Sunday’s Message.