Is it Unloving to Warn People about Hell & Judgment?

Is it unloving to speak about hell? Should Christians avoid talking about hell and judgment because it might offend others? Why is talking about hell and judgment an uncomfortable or offensive topic for many?

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

In this particular Scripture Jesus is speaking about the path to hell and the path to heaven. Christ Himself preached about hell and He warned people that the gate to hell is wide and many people will go through that gate. However, He also advised people to enter by the narrow gate because this particular gate leads to eternal life.
Therefore Jesus did not avoid speaking about hell nor about judgment because He taught that how we live on earth will affect where we go after death.

Imagine being told that in a particular area in your neighborhood there are two types of paths.
One path is a dangerous path where criminals hide to ambush, rob and murder people who walk on that path.
However, the other path is a safe path where people can walk freely and peacefully without being attacked or robbed.
A truly loving person would warn others not to take the dangerous path, but instead advise people to take the safe path.
Love requires for one to speak the truth. We do not love people if we do not tell them the truth.
We do not love people if we do not warn them about certain dangers that lie ahead.

1 Corinthians 13:6 says: (Love) does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

True love does not rejoice in sin but instead we are to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), even if people might be offended by hearing the truth.
Unfortunately, the reality of life is that: speaking the truth will sometimes offend others; speaking the truth can sometimes make people uncomfortable.
Paul once asked the Galatians this question: “Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).

However it is the truth that will set us free if we embrace it (John 8:32).

Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus vividly described hell in order to help people understand the reality and seriousness of entering hell upon death.
Hell is a place that nobody should desire because it is a place of eternal punishment for those who reject Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
Jesus described hell as a place of: everlasting fire (Matthew 25:41); outer darkness (Matthew 22:13); a place of weeping & gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30); a place of eternal torment (Luke 16:22-28); Hell is a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43); Hell is a place of eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46).

In other parts of the Bible, hell is described as a lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10). Hell is a place where there is no rest day and night (Revelation 14:11). Hell is a place described as having burning sulfur (Revelation 21:8);

Jesus warned people because He loved them and He wanted people to take the path to eternal life rather than the path to eternal destruction.

In John 14:6 Jesus says: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

In John 10:9-10 Jesus says: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Jesus is the path to heaven; Jesus is the door to heaven; Jesus is the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Any path other than Jesus will lead to eternal destruction.

Should Christians Speak About Judgment?

If the Bible speaks about judgment, then as Christians we must also speak or preach the very issues that are mentioned in the word of God.
Christians cannot speak about heaven or hell without speaking about judgment. We cannot speak about life after death without speaking about judgment. The true gospel cannot be preached without speaking about judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 NLT says: And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment

The reality is that we will all face physical death. The other reality is that each of us will face certain judgment concerning whether we will enter heaven or hell.

2 Corinthians 5:10 says: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

As Christians we should not be afraid to warn people of incoming judgment from God.
According to Scripture, anyone who rejects Jesus Christ will unfortunately face eternal punishment.

In John 12:48 Jesus says: “The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day”

However those who believe and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour will experience eternal life.

Therefore the issue of judgment and hell is very important for Christians to talk about because the world must be warned about sin and its consequences.
Living in sin or according to the works of the flesh will lead to eternal punishment. However only Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins on the cross can save us from the power of sin and its consequences.
Jesus came to save the lost and pay the debt for sin that we cannot pay to God. Christ paid our debt so that we could receive salvation as a free gift.

Romans 6:23 says: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT says: For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Only Jesus Christ can reconcile man with God because of the sacrifice He made on the cross to deliver the world from sin.

Conclusion

Ultimately one of the most loving things we can do to anyone is present them with the gospel of Jesus Christ and witness to them about the finished work that Jesus completed on the cross.
The true gospel presents people with a choice: to either choose Christ and therefore enter heaven – or to reject Christ and therefore enter hell.

John 3:19-21 says: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.  20  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God