Photo by: Darkmere
A few days ago, online communities lit up with pre-publication rumors about a book that is coming out by Rob Bell on the subject of heaven, hell, and the destiny of all. Overnight, a video teaser, and cover copy released by his publisher stirred up enough furor (over what Rob might say) to earn his book a wide reading.
Many have jumped to the conclusion that Rob will, by this book, cross the line into universalism (i.e. that all will ultimately be saved by the sacrifice of Christ whether they believe in Christ or not). Many others are saying, let’s wait and see what there is on the other side of the teaser copy.
I, for one, don’t expect Rob to kick the traces of the faith that has made him a loved servant of Christ to so many. My hope is that he will be asking questions that push the envelop enough to make all of us think twice about whether we are saying more or less than what the Bible makes certain about heaven and hell.
In recent years, we have all endured the images of human torture and prisoner abuse of Abu Ghraib, carried out by a nation that we hoped would not be responsible for such crimes against God and humanity. We’ve been sensitized, politicized, polarized, and traumatized in the process.
Yet here, with the issue of heaven and hell, more is at stake than the credibility of our government. Having seen the evils of human torture inflicted by terrorists on one side, and government hirelings on the other, many are more than ever inclined to resist the thought of eternal conscious torture.
Because it is too much even to think about, I really don’t want to say more or less than what the Bible necessarily says about hell. It’s obvious from what our Lord says that the judgment of the lake of fire, whatever it is, will always be the ultimate danger.
At the same time I’m trying to resolve unnerving questions about both hell and heaven in the same way. From what I read from the whole story of Genesis to Revelation, I’m sure that the wisdom and character of our God will make heaven as wonderful as it can be, and hell as only as terrible as it needs to be.
We’ve considered before what happened when the people of Israel almost went to war with one another over a rumor that “brothers in the East” had erected a great altar to a pagan god (Joshua 22).
Fortunately, wisdom prevailed and the tribes who settled west of the Jordan sent a delegation to those on the “east bank” to see what was really happening. The result was that, before drawing blood, the whole community of Israel had a chance to clarify their facts and return to their own homes in peace.
In a day when the internet gives us a chance for gossip on steroids, never has there been more need to get our facts straight before humoring our enemies, and killing family, with untimely words and judgments.
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