No, the author asserts, everyone will not go to heaven. She makes an age-appropriate case for exclusionary theology, and then she ends with this jaw-dropping statement:
"There are many people who will tell you that God is a loving Father, and that He would never be so mean as to keep out of heaven any of the people He has made. But the people who say such things have never read the Bible."
The first time I read this, I laughed out loud. I find this hilarious. I doubt that Jan Bonda, who wrote an entire book defending universalism based on his interpretation of Biblical texts, would appreciate being categorized as someone who's never read the Bible. I think it's interesting that she has chosen to deny an entire segment of Christianity which believes that universalism is, in fact, taught in the Bible. Finally, it's these kinds of oversimplifications which have caused the church to lose its intellectual authority. What will a child raised on this book do when they encounter a universalist who can defend his/her position by a rational exposition of Biblical texts? Wouldn't it be better to admit that people interpret the Bible differently, and teach that a person must learn how to read and interpret the Bible personally and in community in order to evaluate different Biblically based theologies?
OK, I know, too complex for kids. Then WHY BRING IT UP AT ALL? I mean, look at what she's saying. She's now brought up the whole question of whether God is mean for not letting everyone into heaven. But she doesn't really answer it.
Some topics just aren't appropriate for kids. And we screw them up by trying to teach them to kids. And then, people grow up to be adults and they refuse to consider any form of evangelism as valid, they have major God-Daddy issues, and they leave the church. And we wonder why.
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2 comments:
Good points all! Which, of course, is the reason that we all consider this book to be comic. I can bet you that the author was a member in good standing of the Mother-Church. The little boy to whom that book was given, is still a Christian, but he has had his own journey away from that kind of thinking (or non-thinking).
Frankly, as a devoted Christian, I don't try to know who God is sending to Heaven. It's beyond my understanding. Why in the world would I try to teach a child about it? And you are right. It is inappropriate.
I think that you should teach a class on what is wrong with this book... plus, it would be hilarious.
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