Posted By Aaron Marcelli on July 15, 2011
Nearly five months after the book was released I finally ordered my copy of the much debated Love Wins by Rob Bell. Before it was even released there were tons of online reviews and accusations going on about both the book and the author, including several well known pastors writing Bell off for stances they assumed he was taking in his book about heaven, hell, and eternity.
Sadly, I allowed myself to get caught up in much of the controversy and followed the story way too closely. I later tried to distance myself from the subject until recently when I finally felt I was removed enough to read the book without any biases or external influences. The book arrived and I read it in three days while taking many notes and keeping a Bible at my side. The following is my review as well as my thoughts on the book, the author, and the ideas presented.
First, allow me to share what my feelings were toward Rob Bell before this book was ever released. I liked him. I thought he was a nerd, but I liked him. I listened to his podcasts (and still do) and attended one of his speaking events in Atlanta. In some ways, Bell and I are alike. We have both been accused of being purposefully vague and speaking on important subjects using generalities. We both also use controversy to make our points and generate discussion. So when I heard that he was releasing a controversial book that hinted at a lot of uncomfortable ideas, I figured it was nothing new. I actually expected to agree with quite a bit of it. But I was quickly surprised.
Asking questions is normal of Bell. Creating doubt is not. Yet he seems to go that next step as in the first chapter Bell works hard to paint salvation as complicated and confusing. He also points out many instances in which he makes it sound as though Scripture contradicts itself as well as using quotation marks when using words like truth and right. In chapter one he makes some good points though and says that many pastors today point to a “personal relationship with God” as the key to salvation, yet this phrase is nowhere in the Bible. He later contradicts himself on page 178 where he says God’s love creates “a relationship.”
In chapter four Rob asks a great question. He says, “Does God get what God wants?” At first you want to say, “of course.” Then he goes on to point out all the verses that say God desires all to be saved and longs for the redemption of everyone. So if some go to hell, and not all are redeemed or saved unto Him, then God actually does not get what He wants. It seems as through Bell already had his case for this answer so He sets up the question in a way to present the ultimatum that God is either weak or mean.
At the end of chapter four he talks about how we may not know if God gets what God wants but that ultimately we get what we want. If we choose to reject God and put ourselves in hell, God’s love, which provides freedom, allows that. And if we choose to trust God then God accepts that too.
Rob talks about the different views Christians have about after life. He represents the view that you choose in this life and then it’s settled by the time you die – heave or hell. He then represents the idea that there may be choice after life, perhaps even an ongoing choice and the opportunity for all to eventually be saved. He never seems to strongly take either stance so I don’t think you can say he is building his case for the more universalistic view. However, he does give more scripture references (or parts of Scripture verses) that appear to support that argument.
He quotes Old Testament verses about God redeeming His children and delivering them from punishment to say those things occur for everyone and they occur in the afterlife. He also takes a lot of time emphasizing how original Biblical words could be translated different ways and could mean different things. He does this with a New Testament word translated “age.” He says it could mean a day, a set period of time, an undetermined but temporary set time, or an ongoing, possibly unending set of time. He notes that the common Christian belief about this word when used referring to afterlife is that it is translated “eternity” – never-ending. He says, “It’s important that we don’t read categories and concepts into a phrase that aren’t there” (p.92). Though he is correct in that point, he seems to be saying this to challenge the idea that this word shouldn’t mean eternity and suggest that it mean temporary. If it’s wrong to insist it means one thing, is it not equally wrong to insist it means the other?
For most of the book Bell simply appears to be listing differing opinions about heaven and hell with biblical support for each. He seems to be questioning the traditional beliefs about these subjects without categorizing himself as a part of any one stance. While I realize this is normal Rob Bell, he is dealing with such serious subjects that his fence riding becomes irresponsible as he does not come off as a pastor with concern for the spiritual wellbeing of others.
I said that for most of the book he seems to be riding the fence, simply detailing options. For most of the book that is true. Until you get to chapter seven. Though I wanted to be able to defend Bell, in his chapter titled The Good News Is Better Than That Bell gives reason for all the criticism he has received.
Bell uses chapter seven to say that many people have legitimate reasons for doubting or rejecting God (I agree). He says that others have been treated on earth in a way that breaks God’s heart (I agree). He says that because God loves all He wants to “retell” our individual bad stories, and in doing so create an ongoing opportunity for everyone to change their eternities (I disagree).
He uses the entire chapter to expound on the story of the prodigal son. In my understanding, this story is about neither heaven nor hell (directly) yet Bell goes into great detail, nit-picking the smallest parts of the story to make the point that heaven and hell are both present “at the party” whether they accept it or not.
Within the chapter he makes the statement, “A discussion about how to ‘just get into heaven’ has no place in the life of a disciple of Jesus.” Huh? He also goes on to basically make fun of preachers who twist the Scriptures to say what they want about heaven and hell when in reality his usage of the story of the prodigal son is doing the exact same thing he correctly finds fault with in legalistic preachers.
Chapter seven made me visibly mad. So much so I had trouble calming down to read the following chapter, which closes out the book. In it he tells his own salvation story and challenges his readers to take advantage of this present opportunity, noting that Jesus was always calling his hearers to take a step of faith immediately. Though his closing call to acceptance is good, the short chapter has no leading in how or why to “experience” this love.
In summary, I will admit that I was hoping to be able to defend Bell. I had the words lining up in my head to discuss how differences over post-salvation doctrine does not make one a heretic. But because the book was different than even I expected, I cannot in good conscience say Bell is simply representing another view within Christianity. I think he speaks in general enough terms and refuses to take a stance just enough to still explain his presence in Christian circles, but it is not without reason he finds himself having many new opposers.
As always, I would challenge you to read the book before whole-heartedly accepting mine or anyone else’s thoughts about the matter. I would simply ask you read this book like we probably should read every book, cautiously and with a Bible near. We can learn from anyone and should not use disagreement as an excuse to close ourselves off from others. We should also not gullibly accept the words of others just because they have the same beliefs as ours.
May we all learn to be more Biblically discerning.
Whether you have read the book or not, I would love to hear your comments on Rob Bell, Love Wins, Heaven, Hell, etc. Please share!
Category: Book Reviews, Jesus |
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