9Marks Journal: Hell (29期：地狱——记住这可怕的现实)

Remembering the Awful Reality

Embracing the reality of hell means setting aside moderation. It means admitting that our sin is dark and heinous to the point of eternal damnation; that the white light of God’s character and glory justly destroys those who have fallen short of his glory; and that that our non-Christians friends have nothing greater to fear. That’s tough to do when you have moderate views of your sin, your friend’s sin, and of God’s glory. Embracing the reality of hell also means going against the fallen cultural structures and belief systems of this world, all of which conspire together with our own hearts to repeat the serpent’s promise of a moderate outcome, “You will surely not die.” As hard as it is to stare at the doctrine of hell, surely it must be salubrious to our faith to do so from time to time. It forces us to once again reckon with who God is and who we are. We hope this issue of the 9Marks Journal will help all of us to do just that.

生活中的智慧常常体现在“适度”方面。吃东西适度、讲话中庸、情感平稳是明智的，有人甚至会说信仰上的“适度”也是聪明的。

但是关于地狱的教义则没有“适度”这个概念的容身之处。其在每个方面都是“极致”的。对思想而言是极致的概念。对内心的挑战也是极致的。它也与世界上的成规背道而驰。

持守“地狱”的教义意味着拒绝中庸。这使得我们要承认罪的黑暗与永恒咒诅的可憎；承认神本体所发的光辉与荣耀会毁灭那些亏缺他荣耀的人；也要承认没有什么比地狱这个事实更应该让我们非信徒的朋友害怕的。你对自己的罪、你朋友的罪以及神的荣耀的妥协会使情况很糟。

相信“地狱”的实在也意味着抵挡这世界堕落的文化与价值观体系，它们一直共谋向我们的心重复那古蛇谗毁人的谎言：“你不一定死”。

鉴于有关“地狱”的教义容易令人遗忘，时常谈论它对我们的信心有益。其迫使我们再次思想神是谁以及我们是谁。我盼望本期九标志期刊能够在这一点上帮助你。