Clarity: Why Does a Loving God Send People to Hell?

Part of the Clarity Series: Building a Christian Worldview


In 1829, George Wilson was convicted of robbing a U.S. mail carrier and sentenced to death. However, public outcry led President Andrew Jackson to issue Wilson a pardon. But Wilson did something unthinkable—he refused it. The case went to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice John Marshall wrote these striking words:

“A pardon is a deed… The value of the pardon must be determined by the receiver. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives it… Therefore, George Wilson must die.”

The pardon was real, but Wilson’s refusal sealed his fate.

This story helps frame the difficult question we’re exploring in today’s Clarity post: Why would a loving God send people to hell?

It’s a hard question—one that makes us uncomfortable. We recoil at the thought of eternal separation or torment. Even for people we disagree with, the idea of hell is almost too much to bear. If we feel this way, how could God possibly send anyone there?

But maybe we need to rethink the question. In a sin-corrupted world, suffering is already normal—death is the natural end for everyone without divine intervention. Even the universe is winding down toward decay. So perhaps the better question is this: Why does God offer a way out?

And if He does…Why do some reject His pardon?

To answer that, we need to explore three questions:

1. What does the Bible say about hell?
2. Why is hell necessary?
3. How do we avoid it?

1. What Does the Bible Say About Hell?

Hell is not a peripheral idea in Scripture. Jesus Himself spoke about it often—especially in connection to judgment.

In Matthew 25, He describes the final judgment and says that those who fail to live out His values of compassion and justice will go to “eternal punishment,” while the righteous will enter “eternal life.” Hell is described as exclusion (being thrown out), darkness (separation from God’s light), and destruction (Matthew 10:28).

Hell wasn’t originally made for people—it was created for Satan and the rebellious angels (Matthew 25:41). But those who reject God’s character and refuse to bear His image end up there as well. It’s not about a single mistake—it’s about a life lived in rejection of God’s grace and authority.

While theologians debate whether hell involves eternal conscious torment or ultimate destruction (conditional immortality), the central truth remains: Hell is real. And it’s tragic.


2. Why Is Hell Necessary?

Let’s consider two reasons:

First: Hell is justice.

Imagine watching someone abuse your child or grandchild. You would do anything to protect them—and demand justice. God’s love includes justice. He doesn’t ignore evil.

Sin corrupts creation, and part of restoring all things means dealing with evil—removing it from His New Creation. Hell holds spiritual beings and people accountable for unrepentant rebellion. It’s not about cruelty—it’s about protection and justice.

Second: Hell separates rebels from the Kingdom.

In Luke 19, Jesus tells a parable of a king and ten servants. One servant refuses to serve the king and is ultimately grouped with the rebels.

This story isn’t just about punishment. It’s about allegiance. God’s New Creation is for those who recognize Jesus as King. Hell is not arbitrary; it’s the logical outcome for those who refuse God’s rule.

We understand this in our world. Treason has consequences. So does rejecting the Lordship of Jesus.

3. How Do We Avoid Hell?

The answer is simple—but not easy. Declare Jesus as King.

This is why repentance, confession, and baptism matter so much in the life of a Christian. We turn away from our old lives, publicly acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and pledge our loyalty to Him.

Then we live that out—day by day—aligning our lives with His.

What about those who’ve never heard about Jesus?

Romans 2 suggests they may be judged by what they do know. But Scripture consistently shows the clearest path is through hearing, believing, and following Jesus.

That’s why we support missions, preach the gospel, and share our faith—we want people to be confident in their salvation.

Why Do People Reject God’s Pardon?

Why would someone—like George Wilson—refuse rescue?

Because, at the heart of it, they want to be their own authority. They don’t want a King. They want to do what seems right in their own eyes—just like in the days of the Judges.

God honors that choice. He gives people what they want—even when it breaks His heart.

Our Calling: Love People into the Kingdom

Our role is not to judge and condemn but to proclaim and love.

We don’t weaponize hell—we weep over it.

• We pray.
• We share.
• We hope.

Because hell is a terrible reality, and it should bring tears to our eyes. That’s why we do what we can to love people into God’s Kingdom.

Hell is the result of not wanting Jesus to be King.

If we reject Jesus as King, we can’t be part of His Kingdom—and we won’t experience the joy of His New Creation.

Your Challenge: Do two things this week:

1. Pray for someone who needs Jesus.

2. Reaffirm your loyalty to King Jesus.

Next in the Clarity Series:

Stay with us as we continue exploring how a Christian worldview helps us face life’s toughest questions with confidence, compassion, and clarity.

Clarity: What Happens When You Die?

Part of the Clarity Series: Building a Christian Worldview

In 2018, 18-year-old Renard Matthews was tragically shot and killed in his New Orleans neighborhood. At his wake, something unusual happened. Instead of being laid in a casket, his body was posed in a life-like scene: slouched in a chair, PlayStation controller in hand, sunglasses on, Doritos and root beer nearby, and NBA2K playing on the TV. The practice, called “extreme embalming,” aims to show people doing what they loved in life.

That desire is deeply human. We want our last memory of someone to reflect who they were—not just how they died, but how they lived. Behind that desire is also a belief: they’re in a better place now, doing what they love. The idea of a great golf course, garden, or video game lounge in the sky comforts us.

But it also raises a deeper question: What actually happens when you die?


Facing Death with Hope

Death is something we all face. Whether we’re grieving someone we’ve lost or preparing for our own eventual passing, we long for clarity—and hope.

This question has layers. As New Testament scholar N.T. Wright puts it, we’re really asking about life after life after death. In other words, what happens immediately after death? And what happens ultimately?

To answer that, we turn to 2 Corinthians 5:1–10, where the apostle Paul gives us a framework for understanding death—not just as an ending, but as a transition. Writing to a church that faced trials, persecution, and loss, Paul reminds them (and us) that this life is not the end of the story.


1. Our Hope (vv. 1–4)

Paul begins with a clear picture: this life is like living in a tent—temporary and fragile. But we have the hope of a permanent home, “a building from God, eternal in the heavens” (v. 1). That home isn’t an escape from our bodies—it’s the promise of resurrection.

Unlike pagan thought, where the body is something to be discarded, the Christian hope treasures both spirit and body. God created us as whole beings. So when we die, we’re not fully complete—we’re “naked,” Paul says (v. 3), waiting to be clothed with our resurrection bodies.

What happens when a Christian dies?

• We go to be with Jesus (see also Philippians 1:21–23).
• It’s a place of joy and rest.
• But it’s also temporary.

We wait for the final resurrection, when heaven and earth are renewed (Revelation 21), and we receive new, incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15).

So our hope isn’t just going to heaven when we die. It’s being raised to new life in God’s New Creation—a world without pain, death, or sorrow. A world made right.

2. Our Confidence (vv. 5–8)

How can we be sure this will happen? Paul says we have a guarantee: the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is God’s down payment—proof that we belong to Him and that He will finish what He started. While we live by faith and not by sight, we aren’t guessing or crossing our fingers. We’re living in covenant with a faithful God.

So whether we remain in our earthly bodies or leave them behind, our confidence is this: we will be with Jesus.

3. Our Responsibility (vv. 9–10)

Because we have this hope and confidence, Paul challenges us to live with purpose.

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.” (v. 9)

One day, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ—not for condemnation, but for evaluation. What we do in this life matters. Our lives now are the building blocks of eternity (see also 1 Corinthians 3:12–15).

This means…

• Living by faith.
• Living with love.
• Making disciples.
• Doing what pleases Jesus.

What About Those Who Don’t Follow Jesus?

You might be wondering: what happens to people who aren’t followers of Jesus?

The Bible doesn’t give us a lot of detail, but it does give us a warning. In Luke 16, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. After death, there’s a separation between those who are with God and those who are not—and that separation cannot be crossed.

Jesus is clear: eternal life is found in Him. To be with Jesus in the Spirit is joy. To face judgment without Him is loss. That’s the hard reality—and the reason we share the gospel.

(We’ll talk more about this in next week’s post on the reality of hell.)

So, What Happens When You Die?

If you’re a follower of Jesus:

• When you die, your spirit goes to be with Jesus.

• You wait there with joy for the resurrection of your body.

• One day, you’ll live forever in the New Creation—whole, renewed, and in the presence of God.

If you’re not yet following Jesus, there is still time. Jesus invites you to trust Him, follow Him, and receive eternal life.

Your Challenge: Live with Eternity in Mind

Because eternity is real, live your life in anticipation of spending it with Jesus.

This week, do something that pleases Him:

1. Stop doing something that distracts from your purpose.

2. Start doing something that reflects Jesus to the world.

3. Love someone with compassion and grace.

Next in the Clarity Series:
If there’s life after death, what about the reality of hell? Stay tuned as we continue to build a biblical worldview to help us see clearly, live faithfully, and love deeply.

Clarity: If God Is Good, Why Does Evil Exist?

Part of the Clarity Series: Building a Christian Worldview

In this series, Clarity, I am attempting to help us construct a Christian worldview to guide us through life’s most profound questions. In this post I seek to tackle one of the most challenging and emotionally charged of them all: If God is good, why does He permit evil?


We often repeat, “God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.” However, can we still hold onto this belief when evil seems to dominate the news? 

• What about when a child is senselessly killed? 
• When earthquakes devastate entire regions? 
• When floods come and destroy homes and wash away people?
• When wars destroy nations and tear apart families? 

This question—Why does a good God allow evil?—is one of the primary reasons people abandon faith. Before his conversion C.S. Lewis rejected God because of the death of his mother, despite fervently praying for her healing. 

Beneath this question lies a profound realization: If I possessed God’s power, I wouldn’t allow this to happen.

So, how do we reconcile God’s goodness with the reality of evil?


Job’s Lament and God’s Response — Scripture Focus: Job 38:1–7 

The book of Job provides us with a profound approach to this question—not with straightforward answers, but with deep truths.

Job, a righteous man who lost everything—his wealth, health, and children—in anguish demanded answers, even accusing God of injustice. His friends argued that he must have sinned, questioning why God would allow him to suffer.

However, both were wrong.

Finally, God speaks. Instead of providing an explanation, He asks Job:

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?” (Job 38:4)

God doesn’t explain the “why” behind Job’s pain. Instead, He reveals His identity as the Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign. He reminds Job (and us) that His wisdom surpasses ours.

While this may feel unsatisfying in the moment of suffering, it forms the foundation of trust: God knows more than we do. He is not indifferent; He is powerful, purposeful, and present.

Four Biblical Truths About Evil 

While Scripture doesn’t offer a comprehensive philosophical answer to evil, it does provide guiding truths. Drawing from Peter Kreeft’s Fundamentals of the Faith, here are four truths to anchor your thinking:

1. Evil Is Not a Thing—It’s a Choice

Evil is not a created force. It is the result of free will gone wrong. God created angels and humans with the ability to choose. Both groups—heavenly and earthly—chose rebellion over obedience, and that introduced evil into God’s good creation.

We still have that choice. As Moses challenged Israel:

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. … Oh, that you would choose life!” —Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)

2. Evil Causes Suffering

Evil doesn’t stay contained. It spreads into every layer of life. In Luke 13, Jesus pointed out two kinds of suffering: one caused by human evil (Pilate’s violence) and the other by tragedy (a falling tower). Both were part of the broken world we live in.

If evil causes suffering, then love is what pushes it back. Love—freely chosen—is the foundation of moral good. It alleviates pain, offers hope, and reflects God’s character.

3. Jesus Is God’s Answer to Evil

God didn’t ignore evil. He stepped into it.

In Jesus, God entered the brokenness of this world and took the worst of evil upon Himself through the cross. And in His resurrection, He broke evil’s ultimate power—death.

“Death is swallowed up in victory… thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” —1 Corinthians 15:54, 57

We now live in the tension of the already and not yet. Evil still exists, but its days are numbered. Until then, Jesus calls His followers to be agents of hope and comfort.

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.” —2 Corinthians 1:4 (NLT)

4. Good Can Come Out of Suffering

God never wastes our pain. He uses it to shape us.

“When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. … for when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” —James 1:2–3 (NLT)

Hardship deepens our character, strengthens our faith, and opens doors for love and compassion. Suffering is often the spark that ignites generosity and action.

“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” —1 John 3:18 (NIV)

God’s Plan: Jesus and His People
God is not absent from suffering. He responds to evil in two profound ways:
Through Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: He secures the ultimate victory. Revelation 21 promises a day when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
Through His People’s Compassion: He calls us to embody His love. Matthew 25 reminds us that when we care for the hungry, the sick, and the hurting, we are serving Jesus Himself.

God addresses the issue of evil through Jesus and His devoted followers. 

As citizens of God’s Kingdom (Colossians 3:17), we may not have all the answers, but we do possess a calling: to resist evil by doing good.

Your Challenge: Resist Evil by Doing Good

You don’t need to comprehend everything to make a difference.

This week, take a step:
Support a charity that addresses suffering—local shelters, food banks, or global disaster relief.
Offer help to someone in your life—deliver a meal, make a call, or lend a hand.
Spread hope by hosting a gathering, encouraging a friend, or volunteering in your community.

As we’ve explored throughout the Clarity series, our worldview profoundly influences our response. When we believe in God’s goodness, even in the face of suffering, we can live boldly, love deeply, and fight evil with hope.


Closing Prayer
Thank You, God, for the hope we have in Jesus’ victory over evil.
Grant us the strength to trust You when life becomes challenging.
Empower us, Holy Spirit, to reflect Your goodness by doing good in a world that is hurting.

If this post has stirred questions or you feel God’s nudging your heart, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to walk alongside you.

Let’s continue building a worldview shaped by God’s truth—one that helps us see clearly, love boldly, and live faithfully in a broken world.

Clarity: How Should We Think about Gender?

Part of the Clarity Series: Building a Christian Worldview

In this Clarity series, we’re building a Christian worldview to help us navigate life’s toughest topics. So far, we’ve explored spiritual warfare, the Bible’s trustworthiness, the relationship between science and faith, political identity, the End Times, and biblical morality.

Today, we turn to a topic that shapes relationships, culture, and the church: How should we think about gender?

The Big Idea:

God’s desire is for men and women to work together in unity for His Kingdom, reflecting His image in partnership.

The Lens of Our Worldview

Imagine a builder tasked with constructing a magnificent house. He’s given blueprints and tools but decides to ignore the plans and follow his own instincts. The result? A structure far from the original vision—distorted and incomplete.

That’s what happens when we ignore God’s Word, the blueprint for life. The Bible is a gift from God to help us know Him, understand His will, and build a worldview that reflects His character. Even when we disagree, a shared biblical foundation unifies us and anchors us in truth.

Gender might not seem like a “difficult” topic at first glance, but it deeply affects how we approach marriage, leadership, relationships, identity, and church life. If we want clarity, we must understand:

• God’s design for men and women,
• how sin distorted that design, and
• how the Gospel restores it.

God’s Design for Gender

To think clearly about gender, we begin in Genesis—with creation.

1. Created in God’s Image (Genesis 1:26–28)

Both men and women are made in the image of God, called to reflect His character and co-rule over creation. Masculinity and femininity are not opposites—they are complementary expressions of God’s nature. Together, they reveal God more fully than either could alone.

2. A Helper and a Partner (Genesis 2:18–25)

When God created Eve, He called her a “helper” fit for Adam. The Hebrew word for “helper” (ezer) is also used of God aiding His people—far from a lesser role, it signifies strength and necessity. The word translated “rib” can also mean “side,” suggesting a unity of two halves. Marriage, in this context, becomes a reunion—man and woman joined together for a common purpose.

3. The Fracture of Sin (Genesis 3:16)

Sin distorted God’s good design. Instead of partnership, domination entered the picture—men ruling over women, and women longing for the unity that was lost. Throughout Scripture, we see the effects of this distortion in stories like Hagar’s, Tamar’s, and countless others. Women are often portrayed not as rebellious, but as victims of broken systems.

Restoration Through the Gospel

The good news of the Gospel doesn’t just reconcile us to God—it begins restoring what sin shattered, including relationships between men and women.

1. Invitation to Discipleship (Luke 10:38–42)

Jesus welcomed women like Mary of Bethany as disciples—something radical in His cultural context. He didn’t relegate women to support roles. He invited them to learn, lead, and participate fully in the Kingdom mission (Luke 8:1–3).

2. Partners in the Mission (Romans 16)

Paul’s ministry depended on both men and women. Of the 28 people mentioned in Romans 16, 10 are women—including Phoebe, a deacon; Priscilla, a teacher; and Junia, possibly an apostle. These women weren’t footnotes—they were central to the Gospel’s expansion.

3. Unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28)

In Christ, “there is no male and female.” This doesn’t erase differences—it removes hierarchy and exclusion. The early church welcomed women into leadership, learning, and even martyrdom. As Rodney Stark points out in The Rise of Christianity, women often outnumbered men in the early church, holding influence in both public witness and house churches.

The Big Idea: Unity in God’s Kingdom

God created men and women to reflect His image together. Sin fractured this partnership, introducing dominance and marginalization. But through Jesus, God restores His design—inviting men and women to serve as equal partners in Kingdom work.

We must not overlook anyone’s contributions based on gender, race, or social status. In God’s Kingdom, every gift matters. Unity is not uniformity, but a Spirit-empowered harmony of purpose, dignity, and mutual service.

Your Challenge

Take time this week to examine your heart:

• Am I living as if men and women are equal partners in God’s Kingdom?
• Have I undervalued someone’s voice or gifts based on gender?
• Am I encouraging others to serve, lead, and reflect God’s image—regardless of role or background?

Let’s model God’s design by affirming one another, walking in unity, and using our gifts to reflect His character in the world.

Tying It to Our Worldview

The Clarity series helps us build a biblical lens for life:

• Spiritual warfare teaches us to stand firm in Christ.
• The Bible grounds us in truth.
• Science and faith are complementary tools for understanding God’s world.
• Politics remind us of our allegiance to King Jesus.
• The End Times call us to live faithfully.
• Morality shapes our witness.

Now, gender calls us to reflect God’s design through Spirit-empowered partnership.

Closing Prayer

• Thank You, God, for creating both men and women in Your image.
• Give us wisdom to honor Your design and partner in Your mission.
• Shape us, Holy Spirit, to reflect Your love and unity in the church and the world.

If you have questions or feel God calling you to take a step of faith, please reach out. I want to encourage you to create places where men and women walk side by side—reflecting the glory of our King.

Clarity: How Much Influence Should the Bible Have on Morality?

Part of the Clarity Series: Building a Christian Worldview

How much influence should the Bible have on our morality?

This is more than an abstract question—it shapes how we live every day. Whether we’re making personal choices, engaging in culture, or raising children, our view of right and wrong matters deeply.

In Clarity, we’re exploring key topics that shape our worldview. We’ve considered spiritual warfare, the trustworthiness of the Bible, faith and science, political identity, and the End Times. Now we turn to morality—and how Scripture forms it.

This is what I want you to remember: The Bible shapes the beliefs and behaviors of God’s people as we live as salt and light in the world.

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The Lens of Our Worldview

Imagine trying to live out every command in the Bible for a year. That’s exactly what author A.J. Jacobs attempted in The Year of Living Biblically. In a TED Talk, he shared three key takeaways: following rules reshaped his behavior and mindset, sacredness matters, and—perhaps most notably—we all pick and choose the rules we follow.

Jacobs, an agnostic, made value judgments about which biblical commands seemed helpful or harmful. But that raises a deeper question: Who gets to define what’s right and wrong?

Across cultures and religions, morality exists. But a Christian worldview begins with a foundational claim: morality flows from God, our Creator. Romans 2:14–16 reveals that even those without the Law have a moral compass—because all humans are made in God’s image. We were created to reflect His character.

If that’s true, why don’t we all share the same moral convictions? The answer is found in the story the Bible tells.

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The Bible’s Story: Our Moral Foundation

In the beginning, Adam and Eve were created to walk with God and learn from Him what is good. But in Genesis 3, they chose to define good and evil for themselves. That rebellion has echoed through human history ever since.

Still, God didn’t abandon His plan. He called Abraham and formed Israel to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:5–6). They were to reflect His holiness and justice through the Law. Yet Israel, like humanity at large, often failed—choosing conformity to the world over obedience to God.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God declared Israel would be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6). That calling was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). And now, Jesus commissions His followers to carry that light, to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–16).

This is where our morality matters most: we are called to embody God’s character so that the world might see what love and truth look like.

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Biblical Morality Begins with Love

Morality isn’t about legalism—it’s about love. When asked to name the greatest commandment, Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29–31). The Ten Commandments reflect this: the first four teach us how to love God; the last six show us how to love people.

Love is more than a feeling. It’s sacrificial, intentional, and deeply rooted in action. Jesus showed us what this love looks like by washing feet, healing the broken, and dying on the cross (John 13:34–35). Paul echoed this call in Ephesians 5:1–21, urging us to walk in love, truth, and wisdom—to live lives that reflect the light of Christ.

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The Bible’s Role in Shaping Morality

So how much influence should the Bible have on our morality? For followers of Jesus, it’s not just an influence—it’s the foundation. God’s Word reveals His will and character, forming our hearts and habits as we study, worship, and obey.

That doesn’t mean quoting Scripture will always convince others. Many reject the Bible’s authority. But we still influence the world—not by forcing moral codes, but by faithfully living as God’s people. That’s how the early church transformed the Roman Empire, and that’s how we can live as a faithful witness today.

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Living the Truth: A Challenge

This week, read Ephesians 5:1–21.

Ask God to reveal any area where your life isn’t aligned with His love and truth. Then, choose one practical way to show sacrificial love to someone around you. Let your morality shine as a reflection of God’s light in the world.

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Tying It All Together

This Clarity series helps us build a lens through which to view life.

• Spiritual warfare taught us to depend on God’s power.

• The Bible gave us a trustworthy source of truth.

• Science and faith reminded us that reason and revelation work together.

• Politics revealed our identity as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

• The End Times called us to live with purpose.

• And now, morality anchors us in love and holiness, pointing us toward the kind of life that reflects Jesus in a dark world.

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Closing Prayer

• Thank God for the wisdom and truth found in His Word.

• Confess where your morality has been shaped more by culture than by Scripture.

• Ask God to help you live as salt and light, a faithful witness of His love and truth.

If you have questions about what it means to follow Jesus—or if you sense the Holy Spirit calling you deeper—please reach out. Let’s walk this road together, living out a worldview shaped by Scripture, and shining God’s light in a world longing for clarity.