I'm currently working on a 4-part critique of Erasing Hell, written by popular Christian authors/speakers Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle. This book attempts to refute universal salvation through Jesus. Both authors teach that God will punish for all eternity those who don't believe in Jesus in this life. Since co-authoring the very popular Erasing Hell in 2011, Preston Sprinkle has been speaking frequently and positively about annihilationism. This is the teaching that those who don't receive Jesus in this life will be resurrected, judged, then completely annihilated by God—they will no longer exist. You can hear his podcasts from 2016 here. The podcasts are played in reverse order and are numbers 186-169. Sprinkle has made it abundantly clear that he is not an annihilationist.
In addition to this, in 2017 on the podcast Pastor With No Answers (episode 84), host Joey Svendsen challenges his guests at the 21:20 mark, "Put a number to the chances that universalism is true." Sprinkle squirmingly gives his answer at the 26:30 mark. He says he is a "hopeful universalist." His number: "33.3333%" that universalism is true. He has more positive things to say in the podcast about the subject of universal salvation. Listen for yourself.
I'm also currently preparing for a discussion/debate with annihilationist Chris Date on the Pastor With No Answers podcast in mid September. Chris Date is a host on the Rethinking Hell podcast.
Is he saying that he is thirty-three and a third percent confident that universalism is true?
ReplyDeleteYes. Which is a huge step for someone who co-wrote a very popular book refuting universal salvation.
DeleteI'm 100% confident
ReplyDeleteMe too Cathy! The world needs to hear how great our Savior is.
DeleteGood luck with your debate/discussion with Chris Date! I've been wanting to do that again for years. He's a good guy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jason. I listened your debate on Chris' podcast. I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDelete