The Punishment is the Crime
In my last post, I referenced a session given by Paul Copan at the Reasonable Faith apologetics conference in San Diego. In that session, Copan argued well that Hell is most likely not a literal place of “high thermal output.” He further argued that Hell is the logical outcome of a life and mindset away from God.
Hell should be understood as an outcome which flows naturally from a lilfe on earth which has been directed away from God. If one finds himself in Hell, it should not be a surpise outcome, but the natural consequence of how one has lived his life on earth. Copan quoted Peter Kreeft and Ron Tacelli’s Handbook of Christian Apologetics:
The punishment fits the crime because the punishment is the crime. Saying no to God means no God.
Hell, understood accordingly, is both the punishment and the fruit of one’s earthly life. Copan also stated:
God’s presence would be torture for those who don’t desire it.
He illustrates this point by mentioning his love of the music of J. S. Bach. To him, such music is heavenly (I agree). To some, listening to the music of Bach might be intolerable. For those who have no desire for God in this life, God will grant their desire for eternity. Why would one wish to spend eternity being in the presence of one who he has no desire to be with today?
The very essence of Hell is separation from God. Now, to me and other Christians this is the greatest loss possible since the presence of God is the greatest gain possible. To spend eternity alienated from the presence of God would be agony and utter hopelessness. This said, one’s choices on earth will determine one’s state beyond this life. God will not impose on that individual anything other than to what he has already committed himself. The punishment is the crime.