by Joe Palvado

Created on: December 19, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2009

God is a loving God. He does not indiscriminately send people to hell. In fact, the question borders on the absurd. God, who created humanity to share in the splendor of all of his created wonders, on earth as well as in heaven, provides every conceivable gift to humanity. He even provided a means for forgiveness in response to our inevitable transgressions and ingratitude.

God’s commandments are written not on stone tablets but in human hearts. God’s command is clear: love the Lord your God with your whole heart, whole mind and whole soul and love others as you love yourself. One may choose to obey or disobey the command to love. All will inevitably fall short. Still God initiates a process of reunion even when our attempts seem feeble. God, like a father who yearns for the return of a wayward child, always extends love and acceptance to the one who acknowledges personal transgressions, sins, hardness of heart, the narcissism of self indulgence but then turns and seeks the path of love and forgiveness.

Two thousand years ago, God came to earth to repair an otherwise irreparable breech, to restore the rupture caused by humanity’s blatant disobedience of God’s directives. He subjected himself to humiliation, rejection, revilement and crucifixion by human beings in order to repay the debt caused by a selfish humanity. Humanity's guilt was expiated by the very God who mysteriously took upon himself the sins of humanity and endured every brutal act to redeem a fallen human race. A relationship was restored by the resurrected Christ in behalf of those could accept his most astonishing sacrifice. Forgiveness and redemption of humankind was affected in the person of the resurrected God who is, according to Pope John Paul II, both the center of the universe and human history.

What more can humanity expect from so gracious a God? What more should God provide? Is it rather humanity that owes a debt to Almighty God that can never be paid? Is it plausible that God should simply disregard the actions and attitudes of those who have neither an interest in nor an appreciation for God who is love -particularly in light of his astounding, unfathomable goodness?

The just punishment of intentional and impenitent wrongdoing is separation from Love. Good and evil are diametrically opposed. Darkness cannot dwell in light. Love and apathy are incompatible.

Human beings ultimately condemn themselves by refusing to accept both personal responsibility for wrongdoing and the universal availability of reconciliation that is manifest through the candid admission and confession of wrongdoing, a firm resolve to turn from evil and the acceptance of a loving God's forgiveness and guidance though faith. Pride is the enemy of love. Humility is the pathway to love.

"You have been told, oh man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you; only to do the right, and to love goodness and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8).

No, God does not "send" people to hell. Hell is of their own choosing. Furthermore, God has provided every means for our happiness. His love is ours to either claim or reject.

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