Five Views on the Extent of the Atonement (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology)

Well done and down to earth in an assessment of these four (major) views of the atonement. Worth reading.

I have read many of the Zondervan Four Views books and found them helpful. This one is well done as well. I especially like the inclusion of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox theologies. I have been brought up mainly in the Evangelical/Reformed tradition but for most of my adult life have become more and more disillusioned with Systematic Theology in general. Pardon to the others of this book but the Reformed vs Arminian divide frustrated me no end. Each dated back to the Reformation and consisted of massive libraries of proofs of their teachings. Each were obviously Christian. The difference was that one preferred one set of verses while the other preferred another. Certain texts that each took more seriously than others led one to Predestination and the other to Free Will. Now any sensible person reading the Bible will realize that both sets of texts are taught in the scriptures but these two Theologies battled each other for over a century cherry picking their own favorite passages. Now this does not begin to consider the wars fought between Orthodox and Catholics and Catholics and Protestants over their teachings and theologies.My point is that the interpretation of the Bible for two thousand years has been over proof texting and choosing one set of texts over another just as we find in this book.The Atonement is a universal belief. Christ came to die on the cross to conquer death and give salvation. But to who?Depends on who’s proof text you like. For example,Romans 4 makes a clear presentation that Christ died for the whole world.Romans 9 seems to indicate only for the believers.Hmmm. What are we to do? Each theology has its own theological way of handling discrepancies so that we can say there are no mistakes in the Bible. But each can get pretty testy with how the other does it. It wasn’t that long ago that Evangelicals considered the Pope the antiChrist!So right now why are the Christian Universalist apostates? It’s their turn I guess.That’s not my main poin though.Revelation No book is more controversial than Revelation. So why does everyone quote it all the time to prove his points?Honestly, you theologians that write long books and study the Bible so constantly, do you honestly, honestly believe that someday you will actually ACTUALLY stand around a volcano and watch Jesus throw your neighbors in?If you REALLY believed that then why are you writing theology and not ringing doorbells?Doesn’t this terrify you? Talk about going to heaven with PTSD!You see underneath we are all Christian universalists either in actuality or hope. You don’t really believe that billions of people around the world are going to be tossed into that eternal volcano right in front of you while you sagely nod your head and say “Yes! The justice of God is more important than the love and mercy of Jesus’ atonement of the world.BTW John Stott quoted in the last response became a Christian Universalist at the end of his life as was CS Lewis, Patron saint of Evangelicals

Excellent overview. Gives you some perspective.