This summer, the Christian world erupted with the release of Rob Bell’s Love Wins. Many were unhappy with Bell’s treatment of hell and dubbed him a universalist. Countless response blogs, books, and articles were created to address some of Bell’s ideas. Most of the feedback he got was negative which led HarperOne editor Mickey Maudlin to ask, “Why such hostility? Why would leaders attack as a threat and an enemy someone who shares their views of scripture, Jesus, and the Trinity? What prevented leaders from saying, ‘Thanks, Rob, interesting views, but here is where we disagree’?”
Shortly after the release of Bell’s book, popular American author and preacher Francis Chan released his response book, Erasing Hell. In it he cautions against believing anybody will get a second chance after death to be saved (a view opposite to Bells own). Mark Galli, managing editor of Christianity Today magazine also released a rapid response book titled God Wins. Galli argues that God does not have to explain himself. “In the Bible, whenever God is asked a question that throws into doubt his kindness or justice, he more or less refuses to answer. In some instances he says, ‘You have no idea what you are talking about.’ Or he says, ‘You’ll get an answer in my good time,’” Galli explains.
Regardless of your opinion on the matter, these three books have sparked a heated debate that is at the forefront of contemporary Christian Thinking.
Read former Canadian Christianity and BC Christian News editor Flyn Ritchie’s critique of all three books here
Who Wins? The Debate about hell between Galli, Chan, and Bell [Converge Magazine]