My Thoughts On Rob Bell
I felt like writing a blog about Rob Bell because lately he has been taking some heat about a new book he has coming out called “Love Wins.” Everyone from Stuart Greaves to John Piper seems to be chiming in on the premiss of Rob’s book. What I can tell from reading the forward of the book and commentaries from advanced copies (it isn’t released yet) it seems like Bell is making an argument that a truly loving God would never send billions of people to an eternity in hell and that hell doesn’t really exist. This whole controversy is interesting to me because I’m a big Rob Bell fan.
Now before you start passing judgement let me explain what I mean. About 4 years ago a friend of mine gave me a book by Rob Bell titled “Velvet Elvis.” When I finished that book I was extremely impressed. I then read his other two books “Jesus came to save Christians” and “Sex God.” I figured out that Bell’s writing style is one that asks questions for the purpose of making you think. He titles his books, and chapters for that mater, in a racy way so that you will get in a tizzy discussing whatever issues he brings up. That’s why I like him so much. He is a master communicator because wether you agree with him or not, you end up thinking about the issue at hand.
In “Velvet Elvis” Bell challenges you to think through what Christianity looks like. Is it a static expression that we imitate in every culture or is it an outflow of a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ? In “Jesus Came to Save Christians” Bell makes an appeal to the importance of social justice work. He gets you thinking about what it looks like to treat others with Christ’s love. In “Sex God” Bell raises questions about what the world looks like when we try to experience the benefits of intimate relationships (not just sexual) without following through with the commitments of those relationships. He does this all by asking questions to make you think about things in a different way than before.
I like Rob Bell because he asks questions from perspectives that I’ve never thought of. Do I agree with everything he believes? No. Is he really good at creating debate on issues that Christians should discuss more? Yes. Is he super creative in his thought processes? Absolutely!
However, this is where things get difficult. When you have a man that is as talented in writing as Rob Bell, and can frame a discussion by asking creative questions, what happens when he starts asking questions that aren’t really up for debate? Talking about the practical way of demonstrating Christianity, or how should a Christian get involve with injustices in the world, or how to treat women with dignity and respect instead of making them an image is one thing. But trying to create a debate about something that Jesus was extremly clear about is something entirely different.
In Rob Bell’s new book “Love Wins” he asks questions that point to a conclusion that hell doesn’t really exist. He even goes as far to say that “People come to Jesus many different ways. Sometimes they use His name and other times they don’t.” What?! Rob…Come on man!
Here’s my point. I have appreciated something particular about Rob Bell’s style up to this point. I value his ability to form questions in a way that it challenges my beliefs. However, not all beliefs have ground to be debated. Truth is truth and you can’t change it because you have a good argument. There really is a lake of fire, and you really will burn there for all eternity without the saving power of Jesus Christ. His name alone is the only way to be saved - Acts 4:10-12
For a really great critique on Rob Bell’s latest book, check out this article…
http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/love-wins-a-review-of-rob-bells-new-book
