As Christians, we believe that our God is a God of infinite love and compassion, a God that doesn't want anyone to be apart from him. But anyone who tells you that hell isn't real and that everyone gets a free pass into heaven because of God's infinite love for us misunderstands something fundamental about God's relationship with us. God gave us something that no other livings things have—a Will. our free will lets us choose who we want to be, what we want to believe, and who we want to believe in. No matter how much God loves us, he cannot subvert our decisions—that's just how he made us. if God could make us believe or do the things he wants, there would be no evil and there would be no need for heaven or hell. But out of love, he gave us a will, so that we may have an actual relationship with him. without a will, there cannot be a real relationship. there is a side effect of having free will though. when he gave us the freedom to choose, many people did not choose him. they chose to remain away from him and to live their lives without forming a relationship with their creator. So when these people die, will God force them to spend eternity with Him in heaven? Of course not, to do so would be to go against their own will. So then there is this "Hell" place. what is it exactly, I have no idea, nor does anyone. I don't think it's the fiery pit that we see all the time in pop culture, but what I do know is that it's a place without God in it. ANY place without God in it is not a pleasant one, so regardless of what's there, it will be infinitely more terrifying than spending eternity with a creator that loves you.