The Best Books on Spiritual Formation

There are thousands of definitions of Spiritual Formation, but here’s what I mean by it:

“The activity involved with becoming more intimate with God through disciplines, practices and knowledge, with the goal of becoming more Christlike”

In my 41 years as a Christ-Follower, I have read many books that sought to help me in this process of Spiritual Formation. Many of these were written centuries ago and some show up from year to year. When I find a book that impacts me, it is usually because it shows me a path to God that is both challenging and accessible.

I realize a list like this is subjective. I have not read a lot of Eugene Peterson, Henri Noewen or Timothy Keller, so their books are not on this list. Also, as a spiritually oriented counselor, I have added more books on how to have a healthy inner man than most other people. I tried to include books from every age.

My criteria for choosing books on Spiritual Formation include the following four characteristics:

1. Good theology, but not too much

2. Biblical basis but not a lot of quotations

3. Practical elements, but not a how-to

4. Personal reflections, but not a biography.

So, without further explanation, here is a list of the books I consider essential for any disciple of Christ.

The Bible: Because it shouldn’t go without saying this is THE BOOK.

Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham. This is the foundation for a missionary movement greater in scope than any other. And a simple book on Hearing God

Hind’s Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. This is the only allegory on the list, but it propels the reader to greater understanding of suffering and joy.

I Found the Key to the Heart of God by Basilea Schlink. Most North Americans need to delve into what one of the world’s greatest souls found as she lived out her Christianity in a rugged culture.

Love, Acceptance and Forgiveness by Jerry Cook. Jerry understands those things that we have to have to live for God in a broken world.

Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets. He understands how to pray for others and expresses it more clearly than any other book on prayer. And I’ve read a lot of them.

God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis. If you have never fasted, or never got much out of it, this is the quintessential book on the subject. I love books of less than 100 pages that say this much.

How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit by A. W. Tozer. Another short book that delivers what it promises.

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe. Many people will be shocked to see this one on here. But when you read it, the cost of what it means to follow Christ becomes clearer and clearer.

Ordering Your Private World by Gordon McDonald. This book has changed the lives of so many people.

When I Relax I Feel Guilty by Tim Hansel. Every intense follower of Christ needs this one to balance out Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.

Between Heaven and Earth by Ken Gire. This is the best book by a man I consider to be one of the most thoughtful writers alive.

How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur. No one presents the principles of Inductive Bible Study better than Kay Arthur.

Healing Life’s Hurts by Ed Smith. This is a simple to read explanation of just about every mental and spiritual problem we face. And it lays out the simple solution.

Transformation of the Inner Man by John Sandford. The tri-fold nature of man needs to be understood and this book does a thorough job.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Boenhoeffer. This is actually  not high on my list because it is difficult to read and not well written. But the concepts are foundational and may make this one of the greatest books in Christianity along with…

Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Okay, here is another allegory, but it is so much more. Get a modern translation of it if you can.

The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. The greatest mind of Chinese Christianity and some of the simplest and profound practices of getting closer to God.

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. If you ever wondered how the Enemy of our souls carries out his business, this might be the best book on the subject.

The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. This explains why most of us have trouble getting along with other people and shows how God can solve that.

The Divine Romance by Gene Edwards. When I first read it, I thought it was heresy. I have changed my mind and now consider it a great book. Read it more than once for full effect.

Don’t Waste Your Sorrows by Paul Billheimer. Have you ever grieved and mourned? Was it worth it? That strange question is the foundation for a powerful truth.

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. In this unique set of daily prayers the Bible comes alive in a semi-private conversation between Jesus and you.

Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. You need to understand real holiness and Bridges delivers in this simple book.

When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson. Though perhaps not as well written as some of the rest (from a technical standpoint), it is rich in a subject most Christians ignore: The power of God

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. The so-called master of spiritual formation, this book is his best.

The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. A good explanation of all the spiritual disciplines. Please don’t let this be the only one you read (as is true of most of these).

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. The scene about washing dishes radically changed my view of the sanctity of work.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I caution the reader to see this is one man’s passion and may not be every person’s calling. That said, this is a great depiction of God’s love for us and how we can live that out.

The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer. A classic understanding of the intricate levels of our relationship with God.

Wild At Heart by John Eldridge. Like many of the books on this list, this one launched a movement of men to get closer and more intimate with God.

The Autobiography of Madame Guyon by Jeanne Guyon. This is a deep and reflective look at God by a woman literally locked up most of her life. This is not an easy book to read, but is extremely valuable.

Holiness and the Spirit of the Age by Floyd McClung. This is a glimpse in how to read our culture with a focus on how the people of God should live in that culture.

Review of Chapter Seven in the book “Radical”

Key Teaching in this Chapter: Platt asserts that most Christians are either intellectual or practical Universalists (Sidenote: A universalist believes everyone will go to heaven). This chapter is designed to show the reader that Universalism is not a biblical position to live by.

Strong Points in this Chapter: Taking the reader on a whirlwind tour through the Book of Romans, Platt stops at significant places to point out why we need a Savior and why many people will not achieve heaven. He notes that all people have a knowledge of God, that all have rejected God, that all are guilty before God and will be punished. He also shows how the death of Jesus pays the penalty for sin and gives us a chance of heaven. This is a good Gospel presentation, though it is primarily intended to show the believer one last point: That people can really only trust in God if someone preaches. And we cannot preach unless we go to every nation with the Good news about God. If we really believe people are lost, we will be “radical” in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This chapter lays out the case for missions, evangelism and the proclamation of the Gospel very clearly.

Weaker Points of the Chapter: Though this is a very straight-forward teaching on missions and the worldwide proclamation of the Gospel, it still has some weak spots. I do like his description of practical Universalism. I am not sure you can apply it as widely as he does. Just because a person does not personally preach the Gospel to a tribe in Irian Jaya does that make them a Practical Universalist? As every preaching missionary reminds us, the support and sending of the church, giving of financial support  and praying for success and protection for the missionaries are just as important as the preaching is. Like an extravert, Platt continues to emphasize radical living in terms of major steps of action – like preaching.

Also, I do not agree with his assessment that we are doomed because we reject Christ. People are doomed because of rebellion and sin. If people are doomed because they reject Christ, then people are not doomed if they haven’t heard of Christ. In addition, Platt does not seem to wrestle with the harder issues of hell and heaven. (Or at least if he does, he doesn’t mention the wrestling match). As the old Evangelist, George Whitefield says “No one should teach on heaven and hell without tears.” This chapter seems to have all the zeal with few of the tears. I guarantee you that Platt feels deeply about the lost condition of man (his actions show that). He needs to communicate that with more emotional investment than just a bible study through Romans.

My Personal Takeaway from this Chapter: Every time I read anything about missions and the needs of the lost, I am purified in my resolve. This chapter had a personal impact on me to force me into seeing the lost condition of man all over again.

Review of Chapter Six in the Book “Radical” by David Platt

This chapter is better written than the rest and gives us a real sense that the author himself is still working through some of the issues he writes about. Recently, I read the life story of Jacey Duggard, the girl who was kidnapped from her home and held captive for over 10 years. A year after escaping, she wrote her autobiography. At the time, I thought the book was premature. It would be much more helpful if it had been written at least five years later. But I now believe she wrote it to help herself work through the pain of what she went through. I feel the same way about this book. It might have been a more helpful book had it been written ten years from now. But, I believe Platt wrote this because he is working through a lot of these issues himself. This chapter reveals that quite clearly.

Key Theme of the Chapter: This chapter focuses on how we use our money. Specifically, it focuses on the greater needs of poverty, sickness and disease around the world and how believers often have a blind spot when it comes to addressing those needs. Our wastefulness and decided neglect of the poor will come back to bite us some day.

Best Parts of this Chapter: I like how he brings out the decisions that John Wesley made about money. Wesley is often quoted as saying: “As followers of Christ, we must work hard to make money. We must live simply and give as much as we can away”. It is a simple formula, but profound. Platt’s best point revolves around that one. We can and should live more simply and deliberately than we do. We can and should consider our money and what can be done regularly to give away as much as possible to the needs of the poverty-stricken. He also shows the hardest part of this equation: We are often blind to our own selfishness and will not see what we are not seeing until it gets critical in our backyards.

Weaker Points of the Chapter: His use of two Scripture passages is less skilled than it should be. First, the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, as heard by his Jewish listeners, is not primarily about being judged for how we use our finances. The chapter has more to do with where we put our trust than on how we use our money. The rich man trusted in his riches and Lazarus trusted in the Lord. The Rich man was not in torment because he was rich and ignored the poor, but because he never gave God a second thought. This also ties into the second passage Platt does a poor job with. The story of the Rich Young Ruler is all about a man who could not see his overwhelming greed and love of possessions and money. When Jesus tells him that he should sell it all and give the money to the poor, the key to it all is the last part: “Then come follow me”. It is the relationship with Jesus that compels us to care for those in need, not the command to sell everything. He went away sad because he loved his wealth. Anyone who loves wealth more than God needs to give it away so he can start from scratch again. Platt hints at that, and this could have been a better chapter if he spoke about listening to the Holy Spirit when he leads us to care for another in need.

My Personal Takeaway: I realize as a leader in God’s church that we spend so much time, money and energy on feeding ourselves and making things better for ourselves than we do at taking care of what God wants. In reflection today, I am asking myself what God really wants me to do with my time and if I am really just giving the “scraps” to God or the “best offering”.

Review of Chapter Five of the Book “Radical

I warn you as you begin to read this chapter’s review. If you love this book and are reading these reviews because you want me to verify why you love this book, you may need to change your approach. I believe in critical reviews. What that means is the reviewer is looking to analyze everything he reads and to report on both the best points and the lesser points. In this way, we can separate what is possibly divine from what may be very human. This is not to find fault or to become hypercritical, but actually to appreciate even more what has been written. No books contain ALL well-written truth. Some come closer than others. Some books are garbage. Only people with a critical mind can discern what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:17–19 says “Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold onto what is good.” With that in mind, on to the review of chapter five.

Synopsis of the Chapter: David Platt discusses the central nature of discipleship in the growth of the church. It is his contention (and it is hard to argue with him about this one) that all Christians should be involved in the process of disciple-making. He notices (as do a thousand other Christian writers) that Jesus’ Great Commission is to make disciples. If I sound a little cynical, it’s because this chapter appears to be thrown together quite carelessly. But we’ll get to that in a second.

Strong Points of the Chapter: As opposed to the last chapter, this one didn’t contain as many good points. He does identify the process by which disciples are made. It is a three-fold journey that includes Going, Baptizing and Teaching. In addition, he shows how the life of Jesus was poured into just 12 men and not into the crowds. Even though he did a lot of miracles in his life, he did not stress these but rather he put all his time into teaching his apostles the meaning behind what he was doing.

Weaker Points in the Chapter: There are seven things I feel this young author needs to address if he looks at this book for a reprint. This chapter will begin to lose people, even those who agree with his central point. This is a yawner at best and considerably annoying at worst. Allow me to enumerate its weaknesses and flaws.

1. Formula Writing: Normally, I don’t care much about the way an author outlines his work. Most authors have a style and a system to how they write. Platt is no beginner (as his Masters Degree in Communications reveals)

Review of Chapter Four in “Radical”

Summary of the Chapter: Platt focuses on the call of God to all believers to be involved in bringing the Good News to the nations. He contends that this call is not just for some, not just for those who feel “called” to overseas missions. In this chapter, he challenges the idea of a special call to missions. He says that few of us think we have a special call to be blessed, or a special call to be cared for by God. So why should we think we have to have a special call to go to the nations.

Best Points of the Chapter: It is ludicrous to take the command of Jesus to “make disciples of the nations” and naturally assume that is referring to someone else. In this chapter, he presents a compelling case that in some way every follower of Christ is expected in some way to be uniquely involved in the Great Commandment. He ends the chapter with several examples of people who have begun to use their skills and resources to reach out to the world. He mentions a young engineer who is ministering in Guatemala. He talks about a successful businessman who uses his time and resources to help a pregnant woman living on a garbage dump. He introduces us to a retired couple who help feed the refugees in Sri Lanka. All of these people are prototypical of Americans, except they have not shirked their call to the world.

Weaker Points in the Chapter: At some point, Platt needs to stop opening his chapter with straw men and ideal examples. In this chapter, he opens with a pastor who threatens his congregation if they don’t give to missions he will pray their children get sent overseas. The pastor and deacon mentioned at the beginning of this chapter are cartoon christians. I assume they’re real, but so few are really like that. What Platt needs to learn to do is present more realistic and down to earth examples –  both good and bad.

It got me thinking: I thought through a very long list of believers I know who have sold almost all they had and begun serving the nations. They represent the full gamut of ages, professions and abilities. Yet they have all had this in common: They believed Jesus was speaking to them when he called them to bless the nations. I believe this is hugely important.

Review of Chapter Three – “Radical” by David Platt

Summary of the Chapter: In this chapter, Platt calls into question the validity of the American Dream. Whereas our country promises that any person can achieve whatever they want with enough hard work and determination, the Kingdom of God is not built on that principle at all. The Kingdom of God focuses on what each Christian lacks and then promises that the Spirit of God has the power and resources to take any situation, no matter how impossible, and turn it into a victory for God.

Strong Points in this Chapter: Whereas chapter two was the weakest in the book, this chapter may be one of the strongest. Using examples like George Mueller and the Israelites marching around the walls of Jericho, Platt emphasizes the critical biblical understanding that God’s Kingdom is built by His power and not by man’s efforts. He tells about coming to his current church with an expectation that their size, money and huge human resources would guarantee a successful missionary enterprise. But he found that it is often the weakest, smallest and frailest individuals who are sold out to God and rely completely on his power that see the work of God go forward. It is his contention that we often ignore the Power of God and rely on our own abilities and talents instead. This chapter gives a compelling case for seeking the presence, power and purity of the indwelling Spirit of God.

Weaker Points of the Chapter: There were only two minor points of contention I have with this chapter. In chapter two, he points out the danger of measuring success by how many people respond to Christ. But in chapter three, he champions the early church and points out how many people respond to Christ after demonstrations of God’s power. I’m not sure he completely agrees with his point in chapter two. In addition, I notice he likes to focus on God’s power to do miracles and not so much on the gifts of the Spirit which are for the strengthening of the church (such as prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues and word of knowledge). This is not surprising when one notes his Southern Baptist background. At least, he believes that God heals today.

It Got Me Thinking: I wonder if those of us who are more missional and believe that the power of God is more important than man’s best efforts still look forward to our efforts producing results.

Review of Chapter Two – “Radical” by David Platt

Synopsis of the Chapter: Platt returns to another group of Asians in an underground church. His point is to show how they commit themselves to the Bible by listening to it for 12 hours a day over a 3 day period. He uses this scene to show that North American Christians have a limited commitment to God because we don’t want to spend more than an hour and a half in church. He is trying to show how radical commitment affects our time and our loves. In addition, he is contrasting the person who makes a “decision” to follow Christ and the person who lives this out daily in their lives. He mentions that many people will come to the Judgment Day and claim they had a relationship with God, but find out they really did not.

Strong Points of Chapter: After hearing about the way Asian Christians devote themselves to the Word of God, the reader comes away with a sense of their own lack of passion for the Scriptures. Several times a year, I teach at a Youth With a Mission base in Montana where they put on a course called “School of Biblical Studies”. In this course, the students study the Bible, book by book for 8 hours a day (and 4 to 6 hours of homework each night) for up to nine months. I am sure we can find other groups that study it even more. His key strength is pointing out that the common Soteric view of the Gospel (i.e. That we just need to make a decision to follow Christ and that is enough to get into heaven) is inadequate. I completely agree.

Weaker Points of the Chapter: Platt continues to make the mistake of taking verses out of context. Unfortunately, this chapter contains the most egregious of these. He claims that the Book of Habbakuk chapter one builds a case that “God actually does more than hate sin, he hates sinners”. The author is trying to hard to re-cast God and his desire for holiness and his place as Moral Judge of the Universe. God is the judge and He does hate sin. But in no sense does God hate us. This one statement will turn off many people wanting to go further. He also seems to claim later that we really don’t have salvation unless we continue to grow into that faith through works. This is consistent with the other “Lordship” teachers of the past twenty years (typified by the Master’s College and Multnomah grads…though Platt attended other schools than these). He tries to modify this position by claiming that grace will still be extended to those who mess up, but after the harsh rhetoric of the beginning, he makes a less than compelling case for grace. Also, I am starting to get annoyed as he compares “apples and oranges” with people in third-world agrarian societies and urban office workers. Does he really expect that those who work 12 hours a day (counting commutes) in an office are going to come every day to study the Bible for six hours. Even the farmers he mentions in this chapter can’t do that. We should take a few days out of every year to study the Bible intensely, but to even leave the suggestion that this is to be the regular habit of every Christian for the rest of their lives is unrealistic and no one in the Bible lived up to it. Not even Jesus.

What I learned: Lately, I have committed myself to seeing new converts focus on living as healthy as they can and to continue growing every day and not just the first days of their faith.

“Radical” Chapter One – A book Review

So here is how this series of book reviews is going to go. I’m going to put them in four parts

1. Synopsis of the Chapter

2. Good Points

3. Weaker Points

4. How This Chapter Got Me Thinking

Synopsis of Chapter One: David Platt tells us about his experiences teaching in underground churches in Asia. He briefly shows the commitment level by these Christians who must face possible death and problems  just to practice their faith. Then, he returns to America and is asked to pastor one of the fastest growing Mega-churches in America; the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. During the flow of this chapter, he makes frequent references to how the church in America (and perhaps other parts of the world) has settled for a Christianity that is weak, unbiblical and without obedience to Christ. He then goes through some of the more radical demands that Jesus made on his followers, focusing on demands to give up all, surrender all and selling everything to follow Jesus.

Good Points: I love how he takes all the radical demands that Jesus indeed does make and refuses to accept the standard misinterpretations of these passages. Too many bible teachers see Jesus’ bold demands on his followers as necessary only because of the nature of the Messiah’s appearance. That is, Jesus had to make it difficult to follow him because he was calling for a complete break from Judaistic culture and tradition. Many bible teachers like to say we need to make commitments to Christ, but that it is not necessary to carry those commitments to the extreme that Jesus’ disciples did. Platt hits that head on. There is no reason we should think Jesus’ radical demands have changed over time. He compares how Christians are acting in situations outside of our country and contrasts their life commitment with the prevalent “mouth commitment” that Christians make in Western countries.

Weaker Points: This is going to be a weakness in some of the chapters: he does make good observations on some Bible passages, but does not give much context to what he will be teaching. Some of his interpretations are not accurate and this causes many of his applications to sound really radical; but they are actually somewhat legalistic. For instance, he speaks about the rich, young ruler being asked to sell all he had to follow after him. From that example, he says that all of us need to sell what we have and give to the poor, the destitute and the work of the Kingdom of God. Really? He knows that is what God is saying to every Christian? Here is a fundamental principle of bible interpretation. First, find out what Jesus’ teaching meant to the people he was speaking to. From that, determine the key thing he is teaching in that situation. Then, establish a universal truth that can apply to all people. Then, apply that truth as broadly as possible. Platt is very strong on living radically; so strong in fact, that he seems to pass over some of these necessary rules of bible interpretation. In the case of the rich, young ruler, he could have been just as radical if he said it this way: “Jesus was calling a man to examine all he had and compare it with the value of being obedient to God”. For one person, that will cost all their possessions. But for another person, they may be asked to give up the idea of marriage. God must be the one who helps each individual apply truth. Platt seems to want to do that for us.

Thinking: As I read this, I do look at my life and wonder if I have compromised my relationship with Christ at times for something easier. Have you?

Up Next-Chapter by Chapter Review of the book “Radical”

Starting Sunday night, I will be going through David Platt’s book “Radical” chapter by chapter. I am doing this because there are parts of the book I really appreciate and parts of the book that are just plain wrong. Just so you don’t waste your time reading my reviews, here are the groups that usually find my reviews hard to take:

1. Kneejerk, Reactionary Christians: If you are one of those who thought Kirk Cameron was a dorky actor UNTIL he started to do poorly produced Christian movies, and now you think he should be nominated for Best Actor any time he does anything, you won’t like my reviews. I don’t accept the concept of “if it’s got a Christian message it must be worth seeing, hearing or reading”.

2. If You Despise Detailed Analysis: If you like to enjoy a book as a whole and not worry about the parts, you won’t like my review. I am going to look at everything: content, approach, style and skill. If you liked the book and hate to have someone criticize anything you like, then don’t read my reviews.

3. If You Believe the Church Must Change Immediately: For 2000 years, the church has struggled with moral purity, church government, heresies, godless culture, lukewarm followers of Christ and ignorance of the Bible’s key messages. If you believe that it all has to change today, that’s fine. If you think that any one book is going to accomplish that (and think “Radical” is that book) you won’t like my review.

4. The Friend Factor: If ten friends recommended this book to you and told you how this changed their life and you equate criticism of this book with criticizing those ten friends, then you won’t like my review. And finally…

5. The “David Platt is one of Our Prophets” Crowd: If you believe that any author is a modern-day prophet in the Old Testament sense – meaning that we cannot “touch the Lord’s Anointed” – then paste the pages of his book into the back of your Bible and stop reading book reviews.

All others stay tuned as we review this book. It’s a book I like, but it’s also a book that goes too far in some ways and not far enough in others.

The Value of the Book “Love Wins” by Rob Bell

Can a book have value, even though most people reading it don’t agree with its philosophy or conclusions?

Can a book have value, even if the writer is flawed in his writing skill, his debating skills and his rhetorical approach?

When people read books they don’t agree with, they react in several ways. First, they don’t recommend that others read the book. Second, they find as many people as possible who also don’t agree with the book and trash it. Third, they refuse to see any value in the individual parts because they reject the book as a whole. This is a dangerous thing to do with books. The most insidious viewpoint to hold onto is one you will never challenge or allow others to challenge. That implies you are not willing to be wrong or to be shown how you are wrong. The greatest false beliefs are those which go unchallenged for a long time.   Truth can always withstand the scrutiny of examination. That’s why the Bible has been around for so long.

Rob Bell is a pastor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is claimed by others, but not by Mr. Bell, that he is part of two movements within Christianity: the Postmodern and the Emerging Church movements. I cannot confirm or deny either of those claims. He has written a book called “Love Wins”, which has been challenged and vilified in many places on the Internet. The book is an examination of the belief in Hell, and in God’s punishment for sin. Here is a good place to start with a critical evaluation of it. Here is a much longer – perhaps more thorough – examination of the book. I expect there will be thousands of such book reviews coming. The book was marketed in a controversial way (as you can see here) and as such was already condemned even before it was published.

I’ll be clear. There is much I don’t like about the book myself. But I will leave the critical examination to others. I want to be that ‘other’ voice in this sea of opinion. I want to list what I believe are the best parts about this book. I do this so that even those who disagree with Rob Bell will stop for just a moment and consider that God may have prompted him to write it. I don’t mean it is inspired or even full of truth. But God can still nudge along someone to write something, even if that person is not completely accurate. Who of us are?

The Most Valuable Parts of the Book, “Love Wins”

1.    He asks great questions. He asks the kind of questions that church leaders hope non-believers never ask. These are thoughtful, direct and well-crafted questions. They are designed to attack the doctrines of hell and God’s wrath in such a way that we have to start from scratch in deciding why we believe the things we do. Here are some examples of the hundreds of questions he asks:

• Why does God tell us we have to forgive everyone, including our enemies, and then He doesn’t do the same with sinners going to hell?
• Does God punish people for infinite amount of years with eternal torment for things they did in their few finite years of life?
• How does a person end up being part of the lucky few who don’t go to hell? Chance? Luck? Random Selection? Being born in the right place at the right time in history in the right family, speaking the right language?
• Is there no hope for someone who dies and is not a believer?
• What is the age of accountability? What happens if a person dies a day before that age? Does he go to heaven? What happens if he dies the day after that age? Does he go to hell?
• What EXACT prayer does one have to pray to get into heaven? What if we get the wording wrong? What about people who have prayed some version of the prayer? Or any prayer? Do they get in for making an effort to talk to God?
• Is Hell the best God can do with the unbelievers?
• So does the kind of person you are not really matter as long as you have prayed the right prayer or believed the right things?
• Can a good person who doesn’t pray the prayer and a bad person who keeps doing bad things after the prayer go to heaven and hell respectively?
• Do we have to care about this world if it’s just going to be destroyed anyway?
• What if the only person who ever shared Jesus with you was the man who beat you up every day and then sang hymns while he did it? Do you get to escape hell because the example of a believer was so bad?
• Can you do anything to receive God’s grace? If you have to believe, is it really grace?
• What about the guy whose sins were forgiven because of the faith of his friends who let him down through the roof with a rope? Does the faith of someone who knows you count? If it doesn’t, why did Jesus tell him his sins were forgiven?

2.    He Doesn’t Believe Hell is a Single Issue: For instance, there is no doubt that Rob Bell believes in hell. He says it three times in the book that he believes there is a hell. But then he separates the issue. His questions (and perhaps his own struggles) relate to issues like “Who will go to hell” and “how long will hell last?” and “Will God ever give those in hell another chance?” For a long time in the Christian Church, these issues were all wrapped together in one package and we were told that if we mess with one part of the package it spoils the whole lot. But some of the current beliefs in the evangelical church about hell owe more to teachings in Dante’s “Inferno” than the Bible. Bell makes the case that these ideas need to be discussed and challenged.

3.    He Shows us the Value of Dialogue alongside Systematic Theology: Modernists are those who like to have neat and tidy categories for everything. Postmoderns believe that it is always premature to decide on what truth really is until we have all the facts. Since we are never sure we have all the facts, we need to be careful about being overly dogmatic. In this book, his stated intention is to throw open the discussion on hell, heaven and divine punishment so that all the implications and questions can be asked and the answers dissected for accuracy. Most modernists like to have their beliefs wrapped up and decided upon so they are not open to challenge. Debate perhaps, but not challenged. It used to be that several doctrines were considering too sacrosanct to ever question. The doctrine of Atonement (the belief about what happened on the cross to our sin and how it affects us now); the doctrine of the Bible (i.e. whether it is God’s Word or man’s invention); The doctrine of the Trinity (a belief that God is one being in three persons) and the doctrine of the church (i.e. its legitimacy and form). If one questioned or differed on these doctrines, then they could be dismissed as wrong and heretical. Added to that list is the doctrine of Hell. Without a proper understanding of hell, the atonement, the trinity, the church and the Bible, one is considered outside the barriers of good theology. But if you study church history, you’ll come to realize that all these doctrines were debated in their day and survived. The earliest was the Trinity. Then came Atonement. Then the Church (it’s still being debated), and then the Bible. The only one that has not been seriously discussed by the most conservative elements of the church is Hell. Why? It is strongly believed if there is any softening of the position on hell, it will destroy the last reason we do evangelism. After all, if there is no hell, then why witness to someone? Yet, witnessing to people has almost become extinct in today’s church. Few individuals do any evangelism and we still maintain a conservative view on hell. So perhaps Rob Bell’s book will foster enough reaction so his questions will not be swept under the carpet.

4.    The discussion on the word “Eternal”. Bell focuses much of his thesis about hell on the interpretation of one word: aion. It is the word often (though not always) interpreted “eternal”. In John 3:16 when it says those who believe in him will “not perish, but have eternal life”, the Greek word there for eternal is aion. Even though I think he does a less than acceptable job interpreting this word, he does right to question our understanding of it. The primary meaning is not “forever”. It does mean eternal, but not in the sense of time. More in the sense of permanency. Eternal life is also a quality of life and not just a reference point in time. God has eternal life with him and not just in the sense that he is eternal. We can never be eternal like God since we have a beginning point. So, I applaud Rob Bell for bringing this word to our attention. I await better scholars and more able communicators to tackle that word before I feel satisfied what it means.

What I don’t appreciate about the book can be summed up in two ideas.

First, he starts with what he considers the logical end game for God (i.e. God’s love will win everyone over) and then figures out how the Bible can end up there. That is turning the issue on its head. His logic and hermeneutics (the study of how we learn from the Bible) are not skilled and what comes out is a very complicated end-product. Most people reading this book will get lost in the vagaries of the theological machine he is riding.

Second, his Narrative viewpoint is not consistent. Mainly, he interprets the parables of Jesus as if they are part of the story being told by God to man. The Narrative approach believes that we must understand where the story was when Jesus taught and not where it is today. God is not telling the story the same way today. I understand that approach. But then, in a number of places in the book, he stops interpreting narratively and uses different Bible verses as “proof-texts”, reverting back to a modernist way of proving a point. I wish he had stuck with one approach or the other.

By all means, read the book. Tell me what you think.