When asked why they do not embrace Christianity, some people respond by saying that they do not believe in a god who would send a good person to hell. The proper response to this type of objection is not to begin dialoging about how God would or does send good people to hell. The reason for this is simple - it's just not true. The God of Christianity would never send a good person to hell. He is good, fair, and just.
Too often we are so set on disagreeing that we fail to recognize where we can and do agree. The case in point is an instance where we see the image of God in every person at work. We all desire a good and just God. This is precisely where the Christian faith shines. If some reject the Christian faith because its God is not good or just, they have not learned him accurately or well. They have rejected in error.
As far as I can see, the error is at least two fold:
First, some may approach the Scriptures with their own presupposed concepts of goodness and/or justice. When the God of the Bible is presented to them accurately, the biblical definitions of goodness and justice do not coincide with their own. Instead of changing their conceptions, they reject the biblical ones. I have encountered this not a few times.
The problem is tragic but simple: the Word of God brings change. If people encounter it without a willingness to change, they will reject the Word of God rather than change.
As a side-note, I have also found it interesting that when asked what their conceptions of goodness and justice are, or where their conceptions were obtained, the answers have been far from consistent, justifiable or objective. It usually boils down to the fact that their personal conception of good does not fit with the Bible's.
The second error is just that - error. It is typically grounded in a biased and unjustified disbelieve in the God of the Bible. They do not believe that the God of the Bible is just and good because they do not want to believe that the God of the Bible is just and good.
Either way, the Christian argument must be presented with grace and truth. We do not believe in a God who sends good people to hell. We just don't believe there is anyone who is good. The truth is that our God is even greater than this - not only is he good and just, but he is gracious and merciful. While we don't believe he sends good people to hell, we do believe he provides a way for bad people to enter into heaven.
This is problematic because he is just. But the problem is solved when we understand the Biblical truths of grace, substitution and sacrifice. Our God sends his Son to die to make bad people good. Then he allows them entrance into eternal life. Those who do not place their faith in the Son are left to their badness. And we do believe that he will send those to hell.
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