So I posted my review of Bell's work Love Wins the yesterday. Today I feel like it is time to discuss some of the criticism. I am not going to personally attack anyone for two reasons. The first reason is because it would be an unloving thing to do. The second reason is that it is not what the author of the book would want (as he has stated in sermons and in his book as well). Therefore, I will leave the names of some individuals off my blog.
Anyway, today there was an article just posted today on yahoo.com, Who's in hell? Pastor's book sparks eternal debate. First, I am not surprised that the pastor lost his job. Let's face it, this is a polarizing book, and I believe that most people who have continually been taught that Hell is a place with fire and pitchforks where sinners will eternally burn forever will not change their mind due to one book written by Rob Bell. I mean look at Galileo, he had a hard time convincing people that the earth moved around the sun and not vice versa. Now I am not saying what Bell said it complete truth like Galileo's claim. All I am saying is that humans have a hard time giving up what they have been previously taught, whether the new teaching is truth or fiction.
That being said, what disturbs me the most are some of the comments being made by influential Christians. The president of a popular seminary had this to say about Bell's book, "I just felt like on every page he's trying to say 'It's OK. . . And there's a sense in which we desperately want to say that. But the question becomes, on what basis can we say that?" Why does this disturb me? Because here we have a PRESIDENT of an influential seminary who is making a claim that is far from being true about Love Wins. Nowhere does Bell state that it is OK to be a sinner. Nowhere does Bell downplay the affects of sin on a person's life. In fact, Bell goes farther than many traditionalists go when it comes to how sin affects a person. Whereas the traditionalist will often say, "stop sinning and repent, because if you fail to, you will burn in Hell." Bell states something more along these lines, "If you sin and fail to repent, you will live in Hell, both in this life and in the next." Bell's view of sin has immediate and future consequences, whereas the traditional view focuses mainly on the future.
A professor who teaches at another seminary had this to say, "It's love, but it's a just love. . . God is love, but you have to understand you're a sinner and the only way to get around that is through Christ's sacrifice on the cross." Once again the person who made this comment has failed to grasp Bell's thinking. Bell totally believes that it is only through Christ (as the Word of God) who allows us to have access to God. But Bell does actually discuss, the "just love of God" in his work. Bell feels that God's just love will result in him allowing people to either be in Heaven, or be in Hell. In fact, that is the whole point of the book, God's just love wins in the end by allowing us to be where we choose to be, or better yet, where we desire to be.The difference between Bell's just love and the person who made the comment, is that Bell believes God will give a person eternity to choose to accept the just love of God. This does not mean that all people will come to God like the early thinker Origen states, but rather Bell takes on a view similar to C.S. Lewis, when he states that some people will never turn to God, and as a result will never enter into Heaven, but instead they will choose to spend eternity in Hell, aka separated from God. For further information of Lewis' view read The Great Divorce.
Quite frankly I find comments like these all over the place, whether they be in Amazon reviews, or in articles, or in interviews. And the one thing that remains is that those who make such comments, are making uninformed statements about what is in Bell's book. Now, to be fair, some negative critiques of Bell's book are fair, and I have nothing against people making fair negative reviews (see review by Bell's fellow Fuller alum for a fair negative review). And also to be fair, I am sure there are some positive reviews which are uninformed as well.
Anyway, my point is this, if you have yet to read the book, please do not make critiques of Bell's work, because to do so is wrong. And my plea is this, if you want to know about Bell's thinking in Love Wins, please read the book. Or at the very least, ask someone who has read the book in whom you personally trust. Please don't base your opinions off of some internet posting blow hard, whom you have never met. (myself included!)
While I don't necessarily agree with the critics, I can see where they are coming from. If God gives us an eternity to enter into the New Jerusalem, then why do it now? If i enjoyed my "sinful" life now and knew I could decided later on to enter Heaven. What "incentive" do I have to accept Christ now. It some sense it cheapens grace and I think that is what most critics are afraid of.
ReplyDeleteJason, Bell explains it in his book, better than I can. The basis is this, if we desire to go against God's will now, why would we want to go with God's will in the afterlife? Which leads Bell to state that Heaven would not be a place where a racist would want to be, at least not until they repent. For both Bell and Lewis, people will choose to not enter into Heaven because its not what they decide. This is far from cheap grace.
ReplyDeleteAs for this life, Bell views it as preparation for the age to come, and that by being faithful in this age, we will be given a more prominent role in the age to come.
The only reason the critics need to fear of anything like cheap grace from Bell, is if they fail to read the book or fail to understand it. After reading the book, my problem wasn't so much "cheap grace" with Bell, but rather, he might be closer to promoting "works salvation."
Interesting article. I have not read Bell but I can certainly agree with him on a number of points. The already/ not yet is something that currently does not receive the attention that Paul gave 2,000 years ago to it. I also would agree with Bell's take on the presence of God in hell. 2 Thes 1:9 "away from the presence of the Lord" can also be translated "destruction that comes from" which would make sense if God is omnipresent, which He is. Thanks for the book review, Bruce.
ReplyDeleteThe next meeting will be Monday, April 4 from 5:30 to 6:30, at 1814 Oak Park Dr., South Bend 46617. (About 10 min from IUSB) Dinner will be provided. The topic will be about engaging with other students in conversation, building relationships that focus on understanding where their heart is, and giving wise counsel in hopes that we will be able to lead them to Christ. Being that it is April and near the end of the school year, this will be our topic of discussion for the next two meetings. Next year we want to open the forum for topics/questions that students are interested in discussing, so that we have a monthly agenda. It is our prayer that God will open doors in the coming years so that we will be able to share the Gospel and minister to the needs of students at IUSB, Bethel, and Notre Dame. If you want to meet me at IUSB and ride together, let me know. I have class until 5:15 on Mondays. Grace and Peace, Joel.
Thanks for the read and the info Joel.... I'll let ya know later about needing a ride. Now onto the fun stuff. There is a quote you might like from Bell's book, at least I liked it.
ReplyDelete“often people most concerned about others going to hell when they die seem less concerned with the hells on earth right now, while people most concerned with the hells on earth right now seem the least concerned about hell after death."
Sadly, some people seem to forget that eternal life starts at the moment of salvation. Instead they spend so much time focused on getting somewhere that they forget to live on the way. I love to use a quote from Peyton Manning when discussing this issue of getting to Heaven; the year the Colts won the Supper Bowl, someone asked him what the thought about never being able to get to the Super Bowl at the start of the playoffs, and if he thought they could get to the Super Bowl. Peyton replied, "This year, its not so much about the destination, it's about enjoying the road to get to the destination." Which I equate to this, if we fail to enjoy serving God in this life, why would we think that we would enjoy serving God in the next?