Anabapt-ish Theology Book Club discussion

This is for our ZOOM call with Brad on May 3rd. Add your questions here.

I’d need to chase down the exact reference on this, but I’d like to see how Jersak responds to David Bentley Hart’s claim that “hopeful universalism” is problematic because it, in DBH’s view, means that we hope God will be better (or at least more merciful?) than our reading of Scripture reveals him to be.

I’d ask if he has any advice for those of us working in more traditional evangelical spaces who have developed universalist leanings over the years. How do we preach/speak/share this sort of hopeful gospel without losing our jobs?

Likewise, it seems a big motivator for traditional mission has been the “saving people from hell” angle. What do missions (for me, campus ministry on a secular university) look like in a universalist view? Not so much the ministering to students side, but more the fundraising side? It seems the ministers and students are much less dogmatic on traditional views of hell, but those who write the checks will cut it off if they learn you’re leaning universalist.

1) He points out that the bible is not univocal on the issue. That perspective would make alot of evangelicals uncomfortable. How much of this issue is dependent on the way someone reads Scripture?

2) He briefly mentions the more Christians rejecting penal substitutionary atonement as a reason why recent generations have been willing to let go of eternal conscious torment. I want him to unpack the relationship between PSA and ECT a bit more.

3) (Kind of related to Kevin's questions) Have any of your views changed since writing the book? Especially in light of newer writings like DBH's book.

1) I am wondering (probably futilely) how Jersak’s hell fits in with a more systematic theology. Like creation. I know this slips into speculative territory, but did hell evolve also along with earth?? I'm thinking of Matthew 25 where it talks about hell being created for the devil and his angels a bit.

2) Most people have a problem with eternal conscious torment because of what it says about God’s goodness, right? (At least, that is one of my issues with it). But I am kind of left with the same feeling about universalism. If the gates will never be shut, and people may still be saved “afterwards”, then why is God prolonging this whole earth thing? He could at least put those who love Him now out of their misery??

My question is a bit of a tangential curiosity I have about his thoughts on the principalities and powers. They weren't mentioned much in the book, but in a lot of related reading on hell, Satan, spiritual warfare, etc. the principalities and powers come up a lot. Nik Ansell's afterword stated that through the cross "even the very powers and principalities that crucified Christ are reconciled to their Creator" (205). Yet then quotes 1 Corinthians 15:25 below which states that Jesus will hand over the kingdom to the Father "after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power." So my questions are:

1) How would Jersak describe the role that principalities and powers play in the world today?

2) How do the principalities and powers, in his view, fit into the eschatological picture? Are they destroyed at the judgement? Do they have a purified, reconciled role in the new heaven and new earth?

I really enjoyed the Zoom meeting with Brad. Thanks so much for setting it up!