Erasing Hell by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle addresses the current hell controvery. In a simple easy-to-read fashion they explore the various verses in Scripture that speak about hell. In the process they write against Rob Bell’s recent book as well as the American “everyone goes to heaven” funeral mentality. This is much needed in the world and church today.
Still, where the book really shines is when it challenges the way Christians respond to this doctrine of hell. Hell should make us weep. Hell doesn’t make sense to us, and so should humble us before a God that is greater than we are. Hell should cause us to examine ourselves to see if we are really of the faith. Hell is more than a doctrine to fight about or an issue only for the lost. Hell is something that Christians must wrestle with and live in light of. The reality of hell has ramifications for how we live. And these reminders are much needed in the church today.
Brian J. Mikul 
In 2011 world population will reach 7 billion (vs. 3 billion in 1960). There are now approximately 2.2 billion Christians. Chan and Sprinkle seem to be saying that 4.8 billion people may be facing eternal hell.
Concepts of afterlife vary between religions and among divisions of each faith. Not all Christians agree on what will happen after death in this life, nor do all Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or other believers. Rebirth, resurrection, universalism, and/or oblivion are other possibilities…none of which can be proven.
Mystics of all faiths have more in common than followers of their orthodox religions. True mystics care more about infinite here and eternal now than with that fleeting moment called this life. The age of Earth is said to be 4.5 billion years, of the Universe 13.7 billion, yet few humans live to be 100. This life is a mere speck.
Scriptures are subject to interpretation; there may be 7 billion interpretations. Lives are different, why not afterlives?
Ron,
Thank you for your comment. Indeed there could be seven billion interpretations, but the right one would be the one Jesus, Paul, and John intended. That is what we are seeking – not our own interpretation, but what they meant by what they said. And they seem pretty clear that there is a place called hell.
Again – you are right, we can’t prove what happens after death, but God (who made us and this world) knows what comes after death, and he has told us what is coming through Jesus, John, Paul, and others in the Bible. Since we don’t know, we should trust the one who does.
Now certainly not everyone believes that the Bible comes from God, but that is an entirely different issue than Chan/Sprinkle are addressing. They are addressing the Christian view of hell based on what the Bible says. And several passages point pretty clearly to a place called hell.
Brian
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