A Review Of Three Books On Eternal Lostness -- By: Larry Dixon

Journal: Emmaus Journal
Volume: EMJ 20:2 (Winter 2011)
Article: A Review Of Three Books On Eternal Lostness
Author: Larry Dixon


A Review Of Three Books On Eternal Lostness

Larry Dixon

Larry Dixon is a graduate of Emmaus Bible College and Professor of Church History and Theology at Columbia International University Seminary and School of Ministry. He is the author of numerous publications and a frequent speaker at various assemblies and Bible conferences. Larry has taught at Emmaus as an adjunct faculty member.

The noted American church historian Martin Marty commented decades ago that “hell has vanished and no one noticed.” That situation has changed. Several Evangelicals have not only noticed hell’s disappearance, but have responded biblically with well-reasoned pleas to return to the clear teachings of Scripture about eternal lostness.

For this review we examined three books. The first is Francis Chan’s response to Rob Bell’s recent attack on hell in his Love Wins (2011), co-authored by Preston Sprinkle, entitled Erasing Hell: What God Said About Eternity, and the Things We’ve Made Up (David C. Cook, 2011).1 The second book reviewed, edited by Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson, is entitled Is Hell for Real or Does Everyone Go to Heaven? (Zondervan, 2011). The longest of the three books reviewed is Sharon L. Baker’s Razing Hell: Rethinking Everything You’ve Been Taught about God’s Wrath and Judgment (Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

Erasing Hell: What God Said About Eternity, And The Things We’ve Made Up

Francis Chan, the author of Crazy Love and Forgotten God, deserves our thanks, along with his co-author Preston Sprinkle, for tackling this topic and for speaking clearly against Bell’s “alternative” view to eternal lostness. There are many attractive features to Chan’s treatment, especially his pastoral concern that we work to keep people from going to hell. The chapter titles are self-explanatory: Chapter 1 asks, “Does Everyone Go to Heaven?” Chapter 2 poses the question, “Has Hell Changed? Or Have We?” Chapter 3 deals with “What Jesus Actually Said about Hell.”2 Chapter 4 raises the issue of “What Jesus’ Followers Said about Hell.” Chapter 5 asks, “What Does This Have to Do with Me?” Chapter 6 provocatively queries, “What If God…?” Chapter 7 challenges the reader with the words “Don’t Be Overwhelmed.” There is then a ten-page appendix on “Frequently Asked Questions,” followed by a modest bibliography.

There is much to like in Chan’s work. His pastoral heart causes the reader to really care about the lost. He reminds us that “hell is the back...

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