Dear sisters and brothers!
The controversy spurred by Rob Bell’s recent book, Love Wins, is continuing, in some Christian circles. I haven’t read it yet, but the argument it started is less about the book than about the simple question of whether a Christian (and especially a pastor) is required to believe in hell, or not.
The flap has spun out into United Methodist circles as seminarian & student pastor Chad Holtz was removed from the pastorate of his North Carolina parish after writing that he doesn’t believe in hell. I don’t know Chad’s future with the United Methodist Church, but I know he has a pastor’s heart and a keen mind; in my opinion, he’d be a better pastor than most of us of any denomination.
About believing in hell: “believe in” is a funny phrase, isn’t it?
- Sometimes “I believe in” means “I believe that something exists.” I believe in the rubber-band on my desk. I believe it exists. That is a very, very trivial belief. Some people “believe in” God that way: they believe that God exists, but this belief doesn’t make any significant difference in their lives. That is also a relatively trivial belief. (The Epistle of James says even devils believe that God exists!)
- And sometimes, “I believe in” means “I trust my life to.” This kind of believing has a more familiar name, Faith. This is Christian belief. It’s not about believing a doctrine, it’s not about believing that something exists or doesn’t exist, it’s about trusting in the object of your belief – for Christians, trusting God – with your life.
“So, pastor Wes, do you believe in hell?”
No. I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Church. I believe in the indwelling spirit and image of God in every person living. I believe in you.
Love,
Wes
Hi Pastor Wes!
Did you catch this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/15/heaven-and-hell_n_900346.html
And now Francis Chan has a new one coming out, called “Erasing Hell.” Interesting that it’s coming out right after Bell’s: http://youtu.be/qnrJVTSYLr8
Thanks, Sophia, yes I saw that he & David C Cook find it necessary to come to the defense of hell.
It won’t change many minds that aren’t already changing, but Marcus Borg’s newest, Speaking Christian is also useful in laying out a distinction between the heaven-and-hell worldview and a faithful Christian worldview that, in his opinion & mine, is biblically more sound.