I can’t remember for sure who I first heard it from, but I think it was Scott McKnight who somewhere recommended this book as the best book in its category. Whoever it was who said it, I’d like to second the opinion. As stated in the foreword, the author of this book has the mind of a theologian, the heart of a poet, and the hands of a missionary. These three gifts make him a very unique and profound voice to speak on these topics. The three topics of this book are:
- Hell
- Judgment
- Holy War
Joshua Ryan Butler spends about 100 pages on each “deep, dark doctrine we’d rather avoid.” In each case the author shows how the Gospel is so much better than the caricature we have in our minds. This is currently the ONLY book on the topic I know of that I’d feel comfortable reading entirely through with someone who was skeptical or curious about these topics. There were a few select pages I thought were theologically insufficient but overall this book is very well researched without feeling academic at all.
The author is able to show how unfamiliar (typically Ancient Near Eastern) concepts can not only be understood by us modern peoples, but can help make sense of some of our most important modern-day questions. Actually, at the end of the book he shows how our questions are Israel’s answers. Picturesque is a good word for his writing. Poetic is another one that fits. This book is very easy to read but is not watered-down. Astute analogies allow the reader to constantly contemporize the information. At the same time, the book feels personal. The author shares many examples from his own life, and you can tell his heart beats for God’s mission and he wants ours to as well.
I appreciate how at the end of each chapter Butler summarizes his arguments with the “key idea” – as seen below. It would be enough in some groups to just list the key ideas from each chapter and talk about them. They are that good.
Since I’d be equally comfortable reading through this book with a Christian or an atheist or anyone in between, I wish the author had included discussion questions at the end of each chapter or at the end of the book. His last chapter titled, “loose ends” is nice though, as he tries to anticipate questions that will come up and he answers each in turn.
This book far surpassed my expectations. This is now the FIRST book (besides the Bible, of course) I’d turn to as a resource for someone who isn’t just throwing out a blanket accusation but really wants to understand some of the more difficult doctrines of Scripture. Highly recommended.
Questions & Hope 