Talking about Hell

[Salty]

Often, some people will make a statement such as - "This past week, I have been thur Hell"

I consider this - at best, inappropriate and at worse blasphemy.

Sure, a person may have had a horrible week. Say for example - a terrble car collision, or the last few weeks of enduring cancer.

But I contend that is nothing compared to actually being in the torments of Hell.

So - do you think using the term Hell in that context is wrong?
Is it offensive to you when someone says that?
What would be a more appropriate statment for such an event?

 

[InTheLight]

So - do you think using the term Hell in that context is wrong?

I do. But I also realize it's just an idiom. Do we also complain when people use the word Heaven in a non-literal sense, i.e. "getting 9 straight uninterrupted hours of sleep was heaven."?

Is it offensive to you when someone says that?

It is, for the reasons you state. It's particularly bad when believers say it, and it also bothers me more than usual when known atheists say it.

What would be a more appropriate statement for such an event?

"I've been through the wringer."

 

[Alcott]

"I've been through the wringer."

No, you ain't done that either. So why say it?

 

[HankD]

The inspired word of God is full of metaphors so if God thinks it's OK then use them.

e.g.
Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

and on and on, etc...

HankD

 

[Yeshua1]

Often, some people will make a statement such as - "This past week, I have been thur Hell"

I consider this - at best, inappropriate and at worse blasphemy.

Sure, a person may have had a horrible week. Say for example - a terrble car collision, or the last few weeks of enduring cancer.

But I contend that is nothing compared to actually being in the torments of Hell.

So - do you think using the term Hell in that context is wrong?
Is it offensive to you when someone says that?
What would be a more appropriate statment for such an event?

Depends in the context!
Are they saved or lost?
Are they "caught up in the moment", and reacting out due to emotional/mental/physical stressing?

 

[go2church]

Not bothered it's a common idiom that is used in lots of contexts.

 

[quantumfaith]

I do. But I also realize it's just an idiom. Do we also complain when people use the word Heaven in a non-literal sense, i.e. "getting 9 straight uninterrupted hours of sleep was heaven."?



It is, for the reasons you state. It's particularly bad when believers say it, and it also bothers me more than usual when known atheists say it.



"I've been through the wringer."

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

[HankD]

I've been through the washer the wringer and then hung out to dry...

I deserved it.

HankD

 

[Van]

As I age, I keep getting reminders. I visit a museum, and they display something we had in our home, when I was a child. Ammo boxes we used to keep our fishing gear in, a blow torch dad used to braze things with, a trundle sewing machine from Singer.

My parents, when frustrated or angry would say (God forbid) Hells Bells. Not sure what that referred to, but a change in my location was indicated.

 

[Revmitchell]

Often, some people will make a statement such as - "This past week, I have been thur Hell"

I consider this - at best, inappropriate and at worse blasphemy.

Sure, a person may have had a horrible week. Say for example - a terrble car collision, or the last few weeks of enduring cancer.

But I contend that is nothing compared to actually being in the torments of Hell.

So - do you think using the term Hell in that context is wrong?
Is it offensive to you when someone says that?
What would be a more appropriate statment for such an event?

Blasphemy?

 

[Servent]

Often, some people will make a statement such as - "This past week, I have been thur Hell"

I consider this - at best, inappropriate and at worse blasphemy.

Sure, a person may have had a horrible week. Say for example - a terrble car collision, or the last few weeks of enduring cancer.

But I contend that is nothing compared to actually being in the torments of Hell.

So - do you think using the term Hell in that context is wrong?
Is it offensive to you when someone says that?
What would be a more appropriate statment for such an event?

I find it to be an open door to share the gospel.
Do you understand what hell is really like, do you know what you must do to keep from winding up in such a place.

 

[Marooncat79]

It should break our hearts that there really are people dying and going to hell

 

[Livingnow]

I don't believe that there's something wrong with that, it's just a way of expressing how tough things have been. There's something that I occasionally hear people say when talking about trials and persecutions, "Make someone life a living hell on earth".

 

[wpe3bql]

I still remember my mother "counseling" me when I was only 7-8 YO when I used the word "Cripes."

She told me that this word was using our word "Christ" in vain. As a boy living in the mid-1950's, I guess that was considered as bad as using the word "Hell" today.

OTOH, strictly speaking, the Bible's use of "Hell, especially in the OT (and perhaps before Jesus died on the cross in the the Gospel narratives), the word "Hell" usually referred only to the grave. Otherwise Peter would be accused of implying that Christ Himself was in "Hell" [See Acts 2:27,31].

 

[agedman]

Fanny Crosby's expression was "Oh, my soul," when she heard news that was a bit alarming.

I don't know what she said at other emotional times.

The best way to be unoffensive is keeping as close to yes and no as possible.

Few people really care about another persons sleep, body functions, appetite, likes, dislikes, sleep habits, history, and most of the other items that folks like to spew.

One thing I personally like to do is come up with a response that will cause that person to be taken back.

For instance: I pass an acquaintance in the store, and the typical person will say, "Hi, how are you?" and at times I respond, "Lousy, but that is typical." See it is a conversation starter.

Or the counter person will say, "May I help you?" and my response might be, "My wife says I am beyond help." Again, it is a way to bring some casual thoughtless question into focus for a conversation.

Perhaps, it isn't so much that a person might declare with language that is unacceptable, as it is our response.

Not to change the OP but to explore another artery on the thread, is there some response that is a conversation starter in which the first response it self-deprecating as shown in the above examples?