Tough Teaching

Hell is a tough teaching in the Bible.  Eternal punishment.  It's tempting to find a different explanation for what the Bible teaches.  That seems to be what is done in a new book, A Heretic's Guide to Eternity, Amy Hall comments on.  Brian McLaren's book The Last Word, and the Word after That also explores alternative explanations for what the Bible teaches

Any Biblical teaching on Hell has got to take seriously what Jesus said about Hell, punishment, and the afterlife.  Doug Groothius has posted a segment of his book On Jesus that takes a look at what Jesus said about it.  Here's Groothius' summary:

Jesus articulated a robust metaphysics. He embraced a highly personal theism and God’s dominion over human and cosmic history, a dominion that was entering a new and decisive stage through his own ministry. Jesus was a mind-body dualist, who acknowledged the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. He often engaged the demonic realm through exorcism and healing, and he spoke of Satan, demons, and angels. However, his main focus was always on God and his own mandate “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

It's fair to question whether our commonly held understanding of the Bible is correct.  We should be open to a fresh look.  But Jesus teaches some things are hard truths and not easy to accept, especially for non-believers.  Jesus warned that some people would just not want to hear Him (John 10) and some would just not be willing to accept what He had to say (Matthew 23:37).  So our good desire to help a non-believer understand the Gospel can never tempt us to water down Jesus' tough teachings.

Comments

[spencer burke]

Melinda,

Thanks for the interest in my new book "A Heretic's Guide to Eternity" I am interested in why you think I am not willing to lean into the tough teachings / questions about heaven or hell?

When the book comes out in July/August will you read it and email me with your thoughts - I hope we will all base our opinions on actually reading of the text - be it scriptures or my book...