So connecting Bell, Keller and Lewis on their thoughts about hell attracted a bit of attention and helpfully I was sent a few links which are worth reposting here.

• Do read Dave Bish on Love Wins: How do you talk about heaven and hell well?
• Thanks to Rob for digging the article How willingly do people go to hell? by John Piper out of the Desiring God archive. Andrew Wilson in this talk thinks John Piper is responding to Tim Keller.
• Likewise thanks to Mike for finding this one on the importance of hell by Tim Keller from the Redeemer archives.

Some observations from Piper and Keller. Firstly what I think is a very astute observation from Piper.

“What sinners want is not hell but sin. That hell is the inevitable consequence of unforgiven sin does not make the consequence desirable. It is not what people want—certainly not what they “most want.” Wanting sin is no more equal to wanting hell than wanting chocolate is equal to wanting obesity. Or wanting cigarettes is equal to wanting cancer.”

I think that’s right.

Some interesting affirmations and conclusions from Keller.

“We run from the presence of God and therefore God actively gives us up to our desire (Romans 1:24, 26.) Hell is therefore a prison in which the doors are first locked from the inside by us and therefore are locked from the outside by God (Luke 16:26.) Every indication is that those doors continue to stay forever barred from the inside. Though every knee and tongue in hell knows that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11,) no one can seek or want that Lordship without the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3.This is why we can say that no one goes to hell who does not choose both to go and to stay there. What could be more fair than that?”

And from Out of Ur here’s an interesting reaction to John 14:6