Pastor stirs wrath with his views on old questions (says no hell)

The New York Times ^ | 4-Mar-2011 | Erik Eckholm

[OrthodoxKirkPresbyterian]

A new book by one of the country’s most influential evangelical pastors, challenging traditional Christian views of heaven, hell and eternal damnation, has created an uproar among evangelical leaders

In a book to be published this month, the pastor, Rob Bell, known for his provocative views and appeal among the young, describes as “misguided and toxic” the dogma that “a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better.”

[sr4402]

Although it appears we do agree on the depravity of man I think we might disagree on the extent of it. Total depravity as I’ve understood it means that man is so depraved that he a)doesn’t know he’s depraved for if he did he would know what good is and would then be conscious of a decision to make; either to be good (or at least try to be) or continue to be bad. And b)Since he doesn’t know he’s depraved then he therefore doesn’t know to ask for help or to be able to change his ways. I just don’t buy that, I don’t know of anyone that doesn’t inherently know good from bad and if they know good from bad then they can know whether they are either, and therefore able once again to either choose to be good or bad.

Good to see you again. Again, think Spiritually dead. The Spiritually dead person does not love God and does not want to think of Him by nature. His will is captive to his sin nature and centered on self not God.

This is not to say that a person cannot do any relative good, they can. They can marry, foster children and even do great philanthropic works, but none of them will earn them salvation, none will count as rewards. The reason for this is that they are done without faith. For it says "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11).

As for depravity, I have heard it said that man will sink to the lowest level that God allows. The Lord Jesus Christ said "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:34). Thus the doctrine is not that man is as sinful as is possible, but that God limits the sin in every person for His own purposes and glory.

However, God has this thing about raising people from the dead. And out of every "tribe, tongue and Nation" (Revelations) he has chosen people for His own possession.

Most folks think that they chose God, but just as the Lord Jesus Christ said "You did not chose me, but I chose you" (Gospel of John), the opposite is true. God has done more than we can imagine, even while we were "dead in trespasses and sin" He loved us. He loved folks like us when we could do nothing for ourselves.

So He Spiritually regenerated our minds, gave us new hearts to love him, and imparted a measure of faith (Romans)... all before we even confessed belief in Him. Because He was done the process of the New Birth. A birth we could not do ourselves.

The result of God's work was our confession of faith. And even that good work is planted by God.

Thus we have no basis for pride, for He has done everything needful for our Salvation. He, the Author, is even the finisher - for He is not through with us yet.

But then the question is to what to call these people, of whom God has raised from the dead. And for that I turn to the Lord Jesus Christ, who used the word "Elect" repeatedly.

What is your interpretation of the word "Elect" that the Lord Jesus Christ used repeatedly?