If I'm honest, I just don't know what it means to think well about hell. I've spent a great bulk of my life thinking about the doctrine of God, salvation, and figures like Jonathan Edwards, but I really don't spend an aweful lot of time meditating upon hell. To get some conversation going, let me try to draw out some thoughts about what it might mean to think well about hell.

1. Questioning hell because of God's love is absurd. 

Let me explain my brash statement. It is not surprising to find atheists taking a similiar line of logic to deny the existence of God - a loving God can't exist with the reality of this kind of world - or so the argument goes. But for Christians, we have no room to make these arguments. What we must never do is to start with a general idea - love - and then apply it to God. Rather, since God is love, we must see what God is like to know how to define love. If our God send people to hell, that has to somehow inform what a loving God is (even if we don't directly tie it to his love per se). In the same way, we must not talk about a loving God outside of talking about the cross. 

I spent New Year's Eve in quiet contemplation and communion with God. At 11:30 last night, I was sitting in bed with my Bible and journal, praying, reading and listening for direction from God. It was a beautiful time and I was very encouraged by how God is working several influences in my life together to speak a common message to me for the coming year. I asked God to begin renewing my heart and mind in a fresh way, and I have a strong assurance that He honored that request in a profound way.

My new year preparation started on Sunday, in fact. I finally got to hear Dr. Pete Shemm, a professor of theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, preach at Cave Spring Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Shemm, or Pete (as he would prefer to be called), is the interim pastor at the church I grew up in, was baptised in, and where my parents remain active as church musician (mom) and Bible teacher (dad). Since Pete came a few months ago to fill the pulpit and provide transitional leadership after the former pastor left, I have been receiving regular updates from my father, who is deeply impressed by Pete Shemm and his gift for preaching, evident humility, and passion for theology.

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners....'"(Matt 11:19) NIV

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners...'" (Luke 7:34) NIV

I was just wondering what it was about Jesus that gave him the reputation of being a drunkard and a glutton.

Did he laugh too much or too loudly?

Did he enjoy wine or ale?

Did he enjoy eating too much, and did he have a reputation for taking a second dessert?