Sunday 27 February 2011

And the greatest of these...

Seems the fundies are already up in arms... I thought we were supposed to WANT hell to be empty?! Oh well, seems I must be a post-modern, semi-evangelical, universalist something or other...

PB

7 comments:

nevell said...

This is a thought provoking post.
I guess we get too dogmatic or narrow minded, because we're fearful of contradicting either what we've been taught, or what we know is written in the bible, or both, and ending up being liberal. One thing is sure: we, or the world, or the universe can't do without Jesus. Another biblical certainty is that God's Ways and Thoughts are immeasurably higher than our own, and our thoughts are not his thoughts.
This calls for not a little humility! As for Ghandi, well he met Jesus as he really is, and I can only imagine he loved what he saw, free from the trappings and distractions of religion & culture/society. I don't imagine that's true of Saddam Hussain or Hitler, but that's God's department...

Chris H said...

One for the to read list!

Some big question there.

Ta.

Revsimmy said...

Of course the fundies are up in arms. This will give them another chance to use the H word many of them seem to love to bandy about. Never mind that Rob knows his Bible (including bits that don't register much on the fundy radar).

I guess there are a lot of us post-modern, semi-evangelical types about. I don't put myself in the universalist camp, because I think there is the possibility that some may put themselves beyond redemption - a kind of agnosticism, I guess.

I await the book's publication with eagerness and will put my order in to my local bookshop tomorrow.

Sam Charles Norton said...

Hmmm. I think this requires a response...

Peter Banks said...

Thanks one and all...

Yes, I am with you Rev Simmy, I wouldn't call myself a universalist, in fact, had to look up the meaning anyway! My point was if Rob Bell is being accused of one and as I concur it is wrong to judge where Ghandi is therefore I must be one too :-)

So I trust that concerns Tim and Rev Sam less?!

Very much looking forward to the book and examining the big questions with you Chris! I love the way Rob Bell asks the questions rather than making statements ;-)

Cheers, PB

James and Maggie said...

Another excellent thought prevoking post Peter, I was just reminded of the anecdote of the Eskimo's conversation with the missionary... 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' 'No,' said the priest, 'not if you did not know.' 'Then why,' asked the Eskimo earnestly, 'did you tell me?'

nevell said...

I just read through some of the comments on Vimeo - gets pretty lively! Seems some lose the point of the trailer, as they're too busy judging Rob Bell, but others point out that posing questions however uncomfortable, is a good way of setting up an arguement. The point is, is he like the serpent, whispering in Eve's ear, or is he simply daring to be uncomfortably honest? Jesus was often shot down as a heretic,(although he wasn't) and posed some tricky questions.
It's a stimulating trailer, regardless of what the book may conclude, or whether RB is a heritic or not.
I looked up universalist, but it seems difficult to pin down. I guess Jesus' invitation to all men is universal; his character ultimately transcends human theology and religion, but you can't exclude the cross, or the need to repent and believe. If I want Ghandi to be with God, then I must conclude that he somehow reached this point between here & eternity. We really are trying to fathom the mystery and depths of God's love....