Erasing Hell
Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle
David C. Cook, 2011, 208 pp., $14.99
Hell is Real (But I Hate to Admit It)
Brian Jones
David C. Cook, 2011, 272 pp., $14.99
With Rob Bell’s Love Wins bringing the topics of hell and the afterlife to the forefront of conversation in Christian and non-Christian circles alike, a handful of books have hit the market in response.
One of the first responses, and arguably the most popular, comes from authors Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle. In Erasing Hell, Chan and Sprinkle humbly and directly confront some of the ideas presented in Love Wins about hell and whether a post-mortem opportunity to accept Christ exists.
Throughout the book, the authors provide a thorough overview on what the Bible teaches about hell and bring clarity to questions concerning the original language and context. The book is written in a very personal voice, which translates into very personal application points and challenges to the reader. If you have read Love Wins, Erasing Hell is a must-read as it truly rounds out the conversation.
Another great addition to the conversation about hell comes from pastor Brian Jones. Hell Is Real starts by providing a glimpse into the author’s own personal struggle early in ministry to accept hell as a reality and why so many share the same struggle. From there, Jones helps us understand the importance of hell in our theology and then spends four chapters highlighting some very practical suggestions on helping people avoid it.
When it comes to the topic of hell, both of these books are great reads for people of all ages, as well as for those seeking answers about Christianity, new Christians or more mature Christians.
