C.S. Lewis wrote his evocative missive, The Great Divorce: A Dream, in response to the universalism of one of his mentors, George Macdonald, and as a reply of sorts to William Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Lewis walked the extra mile in The Great Divorce to probe the multiple nuances of human choice and freedom and how, when push comes to shove, humans can subvert and sabotage the very freedom that is held so high. There is, at core, the generous grace of God (that comes by many means) and there is human response (or lack of it) to such grace and love. What is the ultimate and final fate (if such an answer can be given ) of humans that chose to say No to Divine grace? Or, can a definitive No ever be the final word?
There are those that argue through the use of certain Biblical texts that eternal punishment and the flames of hell await those that turn their backs on God. Others hold to an annihilationist position. Many are not sure how to make sense of the trying tension of God’s persistent love and human responses to it. There are many hot button issues within the Christian exegetical, theological and philosophical tradition, but there has been a tendency to insist that those who hold to a position of universalism are either heretical or heterodox---such a position is certainly not orthodox for many. Needless to say, there are many Christians (from various traditions within the Tradition) that have held to different types of universalism. The Inescapable Love of God, by Thomas Talbott, stands within such a line and lineage. Talbott is, in many ways, one of the most literate and thoughtful universalists of our time, hence his insights and arguments need to be closely heard and heeded.
The Inescapable Love of God is part autobiography, part exegesis, part theology, part history, part ecclesiology and part philosophy. It is, in short, a multidisciplinary approach to a perennial problem. Talbott began his earthly journey within a conservative evangelical ethos, and, as a young man, he accepted the standard and establishment notions of heaven and hell (and why some went in one direction and others in the other direction). Talbott had been taught that God is Love yet God will send many to hell for not accepting Him or His son (Jesus Christ)---how can Divine Love be squared with such a gruesome end for those who, in this short life, have not said a solid Yes to God in Christ? The Inescapable Love of God attempts to answer such a question by reframing and rethinking both question and answer.
The Inescapable Love of God is neatly divided into three parts: 1) Some Autobiographical Reflections, 2) Universal Reconciliation and the New Testament and 3) The Logic of Divine Love. Each section, bit by bit, inexorably walks the inquisitive reader to the conclusion of universalism. Many who see themselves as fully committed to the truths of Biblical authority will be taken aback as Talbott dips his bucket deep in the Biblical texts and draws up the life giving waters of Christian Universalism.
Part I, ‘Some Autobiographical Reflections’, is just that----personal journal mixing and mingling with honest, heart searching questions. Part I is divided into 3 sections: An Encounter with Western Theology, Religion without Fear and A Legacy of Fear and Persecution. Part I digs up, with sharp intellectual spade in hand, many of the questionable positions held and acted upon in Christian theology and history. There is courage in probing such places, in going where few dare go. Part I creates a clearing of sorts that makes it possible to go further on the journey.
Part II, ‘Universal Reconciliation and the New Testament’ goes to the fount and source of Christian authority (the Bible) to argue the universalist position. The Bible is the very authority that most use to argue the opposite and exclusivist position. Is there a form of inclusive universalism in the Bible? Talbott will offer a resounding Yes to such a question. Part II is divided into 4 sections: Three Pictures of God in Western Theology, St. Paul’s Universalism, Eschatological Punishment: An Interpretation of the New Testament Teaching and God Is Love. Part II is an exegetical tour de force of alternate ways of reading and interpreting St. Paul and the New Testament—such a read will shock many.
Part III, ’The Logic of Divine Love’, treks in a more philosophical direction. There are many ways up this mountain, and Talbott is hiking the peak from a variety of angles. Part III is divided into 5 compelling and readable sections: The Paradox of Exclusivism, Punishment, Forgiveness and Divine Justice, Omnipotence and the Mystery of Evil, God, Freedom and Human Destiny and Love’s Final Victory. There can be no question that Talbott has pondered deeply and fully the philosophical arguments on all sides of this debate, and his conclusions, obviously, will not please the exclusivist Sanhedrin. But, if the Sanhedrin takes the time and turns a listening ear to Talbott, they might just discover what the inescapable love of God might mean.
Do read this landmark book -- regardless of the positions held at day’s end, Lewis in The Great Divorce and Talbott in The Inescapable Love of God are summits worthy of the hard work to reach them—sights seen from such peak perches will bring a fullness of vision that cannot be attained until the trek is faithfully made.
Ron Dart
Read both books and loved them. Talbot as well as Lewis inspired me also to have a closer look at the writings of Geoge MacDonald - whom they both consider to be sort of a spiritual father. There I found a vision of God that made sense of the revelation of Father's heart which I had received about 10 years ago.I am glad that more and more people raise these questions, tackled in this book, and begin to embrace the rich inheritance of the larger Body of Christ. More Lord!
Posted by: Florian Berndt | October 10, 2011 at 06:20 AM