What About Hell?
AM Psalm 89:1-18 • PM Psalm 89:19-52
Hab. 2:1-4,9-20 • James 2:14-26 • Luke 16:19-31
What the heck is this stuff about hell? If I don’t do enough good with my wealth (according Luke’s scripture) I’ll end up tormented in the flames of hell with no hope of rescue! This is the vision of hell I learned as a child, in my grandparents’ Baptist Church, and from my Missouri Synod Lutheran schoolmates. I’ve since adopted a belief system that doesn’t give much space to life after death. It’s based on “the kingdom of God is at hand” ideas. That heaven or hell exist here in our daily lives, depending on whether we are living and acting out of love, or not. Coupled with this is the idea that whatever afterlife or resurrection exists is open to everyone. There is no St. Peter acting as a bouncer at the Gates of Heaven and diverting some sinners into everlasting torment.
And now I’m faced with today’s scripture. Because he doesn’t help the poor around him, Lazarus ends up in an eternal fiery torment. I want to take the scripture seriously, but not literally. The literal message seems inconsistent with a loving, compassionate God.
Most of the living hells that I think of are for people suffering the consequences of others’ behavior: enslaved people, people in poverty, victims of crimes and abuse, for example. But do those who caused these situations and do not repent (like Lazarus) suffer a living hell in their lifetime? I would say sometimes yes, more often no. My sense of justice tells me that people who hurt others and have no remorse, should somehow learn from their behavior. And this brings me to karma. Maybe those who harm others do have consequences that we cannot see. Maybe that is part of what Jesus is saying. In Eastern traditions those who cause pain and suffering in this life, suffer in the next life. In that tradition, as I understand it, there’s a chance of redemption, in the life after the next. I still struggle with the finality of the message Abraham gives to Lazarus, i.e., no chance of redemption. But I can accept that God is at work, that God is compassionate, and that there is a possibility of justice or repentance that I cannot see from here.
Written by Cathy Campbell
Cathy is a semi-retired professional counselor. She makes a joyful sound in the choir. She advocates for marginalized groups, especially LGBTQ people.