Recent discussion about Judgement and Hell, spurred largely by a recent book by Rob Bell, have prompted many to rethink what they believe – what Scripture teaches – about this subject. Among them, Francis Chan in this video titled Erasing Hell.
I had thought I was done with this thread, but Chan’s reflections warrant hearing.
OK, the title of this post is purely to solicit interest. It is a play on the Charlie Chan Mystery series of the 1930’s. So far as I know Francis Chan is not hiding any secrets.
That said, many are still mystified why Chan would walk away from a successful ministry, and the newfound celebrity he was enjoying as a result of his books, in order to explore other unknown opportunities. So, at least in that sense, Francis Chan is a man of mystery.
In this video two of Chans peers, Joshua Harris & Mark Driscoll, sit down and try to get Chan to explain his somewhat unusual departure, among other issues. It is a good discussion.
What is God like? Describe to me the God you say you believe in.
In the first chapter of his best selling book, Crazy Love, Francis Chan challenges his readers to ponder who God is. “Who is it that you are praying to?” Chan wants us to ask. I really appreciate that challenge and that exercise because, quite frankly, I am not sure most people, even in our churches, can offer a substantial answer.
J.I. Packer wrote:
“Those who know God have great thoughts of Him.”
Donald Carson wrote:
“The better we know God, the more we will want all of our existence to revolve around him, and we will see that the only goals and plans that really matter are those that are somehow tied to God himself, and to our eternity with him.”
How well do you know God?
While there is no substitute for Scripture, sometimes the insights of others can help us notice things that we might otherwise not see. Like a tourguide who has navigated a trail many times is able to point out things of importance, of beauty, and of danger, so is one who has walked with God and given himself to careful study of God.
I have found the following books are faithful to Scriptureand helpful in shaping my knowledge of God:
Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
Attributes of God by A.W. Tozer
Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
The Pleasures of God by John Piper
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
I don’t know Francis Chan, but I think I like him. I know I like what I see so far.
A friend, who is also an Elder in our church, introduced me to Chan a few months ago. He had just finished reading Chan’s book, Crazy Love, and said that Chan was teaching the same things I had been introducing to Walnut Hill Church – namely a Gospel-driven, missional approach to living. He wanted to know if I was familiar with Chan, and what my thoughts were. At the time I had none. But obviously I was curious. I was curious to see what this guy was saying, if indeed we were teaching similarly. I was curious to see what my friend and colleague percieved I was teaching, since he thought we were teaching the same things.
I did some investigation on the Internet. The only negatives I found, or rather the only criticisms of Chan I found, were a couple of Asian-American bloggers who thought Chan acted too “White” or Anglo; and someone who seemed put off by Chan’s frequent application of the Gospel to the use of money. I didn’t find either of these charges to be anything to discredit Chan, so I conintued with my investigation.
Now, a few months after first hearing Chan’s name, I find myself impressed. I don’t know all he has said or written, so the day may come when I find myself disagreeing with Chan about something. But that day is not today. And even if, or when, it does come I suspect it won’t be too big a deal. It’ll only be a matter of degree. Francis Chan is a man who loves God, who loves people, and who knows how God has loved His people. He is passionate about telling people about God’s Crazy Love. He is faithful to call people to love God and each other in tangible ways, in seemingly crazy ways.
So not only has my friend stumbled upon a faithful teacher, I have become a student as well.
To get acqauinted with Francis Chan, check out the above video, and the related website, Just Stop and Think.
GRACE & PEACE 