IS GHANDI IN HELL?

My comments here are not on Rob Bell’s book, “Love Wins” since I have not read the book. That would be unfair and intellectually dishonest. I am solely commenting on the questioned posed by Bell, “Is Ghandi in hell”.

It would seem that many are believing that this is not possible because of all the good that Ghandi has done. Again I am not even reviewing Ghandi’s list of good or bad deeds. Yes his bad deeds because no one is 100% good, not even Ghandi, but only Jesus the Christ.

The questioned is framed by a person’s view of man and his abilities  to do good and the need for the slain Lamb of God that is the picture of God’s love, holiness, and justice.

The idea that a man that does good to and for his fellow man could not go to hell is founded in the belief and valuing of his own good deeds. The list of humanity’s examples of compassionate loving people could be long if not endless but that does not answer the question of qualifications or in Christian terminology: Righteousness.

I remember as a child entering contests to win a prize never realizing that I was eliminated even before the judges review my submissions. Why? How unfair!! Now I realize, since I am no longer a child but as an adult with life experience, that there were rules and formats to be followed to even be considered. The contents, no matter if it was excellent, would be discounted if it is in the wrong format. Anyone who has written a term paper and lost points for not  having proper format (i.e. spacing, correct pagination, spelling, etc.) can attest to this fact even if the contents is of A+ quality. Trust me, I know (must be the life experience I referred to)!

Since this is a discussion (how sad that this even is up for serious discussion) among the Christians let us turn to the Bible and see what our Holy Book writes on this subject.

Romans 3 states that is no difference between Jew (religious) or Gentiles (the world), since both are unrighteous and cannot be considered justified without receiving the sacrificial death of Christ.

Is Jesus the only way to the Father who does not reside in hell? John 14:5-14 is very clear that there is no other way to the Father but through the Christ. Jesus is the (only) way both as a path and a person.

Certainly there could be another way and eternity is not wholly dependent on only through Jesus as the way. What of all the people that will perish if this is the case?

Again the scriptures, John 10:1-21, very clearly answer this point by stating that any other way could only classify you as a thief. Hmmm, not a very good classification for one desiring to be in the presence of a Holy God and not damned to hell.

The attempt to point to a person’s good works (Ghandi’s or others) as a justification to enter the Kingdom of Heaven does NOT stand under the glaring light of Matthew 7:21-23. Regardless of all the good deeds the person is called an “evildoer”.

The natural question would then be who could be saved if these qualifications stand between heaven and hell? Luke 18:26-27 does say that it is impossible by man but possible through God.

Finally everyone should review John 3:16-18 to know the heart of God:

1. No desire to see anyone perish vs 16
2. Jesus was not sent to condemn but to save mankind vs 17
3. But if Jesus, and only Jesus, is not believed in as the Son of God and the way to the Father then he is condemned (going to Hell) vs 18

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not judged, but anyone who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. HCSB.

Back to Bell’s question, “Is Ghandi in hell?” The answer must be that not only is Ghandi in hell but so is everyone else who does not follow Jesus as the sole way to the presence of a Holy God regardless of their good works, desires, or understanding. The only possible way a person could refute this stance is if they view man’s standard of being good as the ultimate measure and not the standard set by the scriptures.