Hell

November 20, 2019

“Save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of thy mercy.” I was reading an article on the role hell and damnation play in Christian faith, and came upon these words which were part of the author’s daily family prayers. We don’t speak much of hell these days. Perhaps we’re too sophisticated, or maybe we have come to believe in participation trophies in matters of faith as much as we love them for our children. But if there is no hell, why should Christianity concern itself with the notion of salvation? If everything will somehow magically turn out all right in the end, why not just forget all about evangelism and good works? And why this talk of the Cross? 

Hell is not a pleasant, nor an easy subject, but it cannot be ignored without doing damage to Christian notions of salvation. Skeptics and critics ask how a good God could allow people to go to hell when the real question is how can we? It is more of a practical than a philosophical question. 

This author’s prayer strikes me both in its simplicity and its mercy. In it is the desire for personal salvation, with its recognition of the gravity of our own sin. But there is also the longing for everyone to know the bounties of God’s grace, and especially those who are living further from it than most. It isn’t hard to pray for those we know and love; it’s another story when it comes to praying for our enemies, as Jesus commanded. “Especially those in need of mercy.” The blatant and unrepentant sinner, the persecutor, the atheist and mocker of religion—these are singled out for special prayers that God will snatch them from the gates of hell around which they congregate. 

I must confess that my prayers haven’t always included the salvation of those most in need of mercy. I lean towards justice...when it comes to others. For myself, I prefer mercy. May God mold me after his own heart in this matter, so that I may both pray and act to save others from the fires of hell...especially those most in need of God’s mercy.