Hell as a Present Condition

I suggested last Sunday, and in a recent post, that Hell is not simply a future state, but that Jesus often uses the word to describe a condition we experience now. Some of Jesus' words make hell sound like a virus that is thriving inside us. Other times he says that by doing some small (seemingly harmless) things, we are walking on a slippery slope, and may soon be rushing toward fire. Fron these passages, Hell seems to be more than a place. It is better described as a spiritual condition in which our destructive tendencies, pride, and animal-wants overpower our souls, make us into something we are not meant to be, remove us further from the life of God. They do in fact remove some forever.

There are 12 uses of the word "Geenna" GK. (translated 'Hell') in the New Testament. 11 of these are uttered by Jesus; the last by James. "Geenna" refers literally to a place of burning trash in a valley outside of Jerusalem. Now Jesus does use this word to describe a place the wicked go after death, see Luke 16:23 and Matt 10:28. However, it seems to me that Jesus also uses this word to describe what is going on inside someone who is far from God.

Look at Matthew 5:27-30. Hell is used here twice. After commenting on lust, Jesus says, "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." He repeats the idea and references one's hand as the instrument that should be amputated.

Now, it seems to me that Jesus is talking about a present state here. That staring and lusting, or habitually masturbating (come on--why else would you need to cut off your hand in response to lust?) is self-destructive in deep ways. Might we bring in the idea of "Geenna" and say that lust is not simply a fire; it is a burning trash within you, and Jesus is calling it what it is.

Look above at Mt 5:22, "But I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother ... who says, "you fool!" will be in danger of the fires of hell." Might we also characterize Rage as trash burning within as well? Certainly throwing someone into Hell for eternity for an angry outburst seems a bit overboard (no pun intended). But saying, this is the reality of your rage--you are inviting heaps of burning waste into your soul--this seems to follow better.

Now, look at Matt. 23:13-15: "Woe to you...Pharisees...You travel over sea to win a single convert and when he becomes one you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." The phrase "son of hell" here is interesting. What would it mean to be born of hell--a hell-spawn--if hell is only a future state? How can you be born of somewhere you may or may not be going? Odd? However, what if you are born of the flaming trash heap inside you, and then in danger (v.33) of being condemned to hell--this time without hope of return. Again, the duel use (present and future) of this term makes more sense to me.

My favorite verse on this is in Matt 16:18, "I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Hades is the greek word for the place of the dead and is generally equivalent to hell. But note, how can the church overcome hell if it is some future state? How, once we are in heaven, do we lay seige to hell? But if hell is a present condition, if phrases like "hell on earth" are apt, then certainly the church may assualt the gates of hell.

Now, move to the passage in James 3:6, "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell." 'Hell' in this instance sure sounds like a present force. So in both the gospels and the lone epistle, we see hell referred to as a present reality.

What strikes me in all these passages is the idea of one's body literally being set on fire by a boastful tongue, a lustful eye, or a rage filled heart. We can all sympathize with what this means: to be overcome by a fire of sorts: a fire which--if we were to step back and smell it--is fowl and repulsive. Yet we know that some live in that state. They are in fact consumed by the flames of their flesh. They live out the flaming trash inside of themselves. This is Hell. There is no better description for bondage of this sort.

Link to Art Work by Cornelis Monsma