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  • Writer's pictureBible Brian

Hell contains many a Christian


It is a sad fact that a large number of atheists are especially hardened against the faith because of toxic Christians. Horrible bigots who do not love those who don't agree with them. Nasty hypocrites who see sin everywhere except in themselves. Emotionless psychopaths who wouldn't shed a tear upon disowning their own children. Animals so devoid of compassion that they would spend more money on a trinket to wear to church than donating to a homeless person desperate for so much as a bottle of clean water. The Pharisees did not die out, they just moved into the Church.


I am almost tearing up at the truth I am about to tell you: This meme is based on a real conversation with a real atheist who genuinely said something along the lines of what you see in the red speech bubble. Like many unbelievers, he was raised by one such group of vicious hatemongers. Due to the abuse he received, his heart is hard against Christianity. In his eyes, eternal torment would be preferable to meeting with such people.


While I have strong doubts he meant it literally, the sentiment expressed is very real. Spending eternity with people you hate is hardly an attractive concept. But what he, and others like him, fail to consider is that there are only two options with regard to such toxic Christians. The first, and based on their fruits I would say the most likely, is that they, themselves, are unsaved. In Christianity, faith and works are inextricably linked. A true Christian, while of course still imperfect, will gradually look more and more like Jesus as their lives go on. Even shortly after conversion, there should be a noticeable change, and so if a person becomes more and more toxic over time, that strongly suggests they are a fake Christian. In this case, where will they go? Hell.


The alternative is that their faith is genuine, and they are simply toxic because they are incomplete. As I said, Christians are still imperfect. We still sin, we still fail, and unfortunately, that does mean that some of us remain toxic, at least for a while. In this case, firstly, we should grow. Toxic Christians, given enough time, will become progressively less toxic, both becoming more capable of love, and more capable of showing it. Furthermore, in Heaven, that growth will be instantaneously completed. No one in Heaven will be affected by sin. Hatred for each other will be impossible. Prejudice, violence, even disagreement, will all be off the table. Every relationship will be perfect. Bitter enemies here on Earth will be restored as inseparable siblings in Heaven, with the Most High as our Father. Everyone who has ever wronged you, you will forgive, and everyone you have ever wronged will forgive you. The weakest relationship in Heaven will be far greater than even the strongest here on Earth.


Personally, I know toxic Christians. Friends turned enemies. People I loved turned on me like vipers. Cowards abandoned me in my time of need. Even liars, whose slander caused me a great deal of harm. One girl in particular is so toxic, she had me praying that God would curse her. To this day, I struggle to repent of such evil prayers. And yet, if any of these people are saved, as I truly believe most, if not all of them are, I rejoice in knowing that a restoration is coming. My greatest foes who left me for dead may instead share eternal life. And that is beautiful.


It is a tragic fact that there are some very toxic Christians on this planet. Some, we are fortunate enough to not have to worry too much about. They're a minor annoyance in our lives, but minor nonetheless. Others may be our own families. Our cousins, our siblings, even our own parents. Toxic Christians are an unfortunate fact of life. But no Christian should be so toxic as to cheat you out of eternal life. If such Christians are not saved, there is no need to perish with them. Leave them to their own destruction and let God pay you for your trouble. If they are saved? Why should you die while they gain the benefits of the cross? Be the bigger person. Forgive them, and when the time comes, in this life or the next, be reconciled. In neither case should you allow hatred to consume you. Let the love of God wrap around you like a blanket on a cold, snowy day.

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