I read Rob Bell's book, Love Wins, in 4 days. This entry is dedicated to my personal thoughts, ideas, opinions and conclusions from what I read.
I've read 2 other books by Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis and Drops Like Stars) and have used many of his NOOMA videos for my ministry here in Phoenix, AZ. Based on those resources, I am a fan.
When this book was being marketed, a fury of blogs, links, and social media sites went crazy over his "heresy."
I tried to stay away from that fanfare so that I could approach the book with some sort of objectivity. I failed.
So let me be very clear as I start this review: From the bottom of my heart, I approached this book with the intent of finding the universalism. My goal was to find what everyone said was there.
Having read the book front to back (and re-reading many paragraphs for clarification), I have come to the conclusion that Rob Bell is what I thought he was: creative, artistic, outside the box, insightful, challenging, thought provoking, and above all, loves to help you draw your own conclusion.
His teaching style is very much like Jesus. He loves to question. He leads your thinking and guides it down a very wide road but still allows you to make a decision on what you think and believe. Because after all, the Christian faith is a personal one, correct?
Heaven forbid we walk around being spoon-fed our faith. I believe this to be a major issue in some churches in America. Too many Christians spiritually plagiarize their faith from their parents, Sunday school teachers, youth pastors, pastors or even reading one particular author.
And from the books I've read and the videos I've shown and the discussions I've led, Rob Bell doesn't do that. And as a pastor, he refuses to let his work and ministry to do that.
Your faith is YOUR faith. Therefore, he asks the questions for YOU to answer.
And this book does that. Yes, it's about heaven and hell and the fate of every person who has ever lived. But it's more than that.
I was really disappointed with the book. Everyone built this book up to be about universalism and how Bell doesn't think that hell exists and everyone goes to heaven.
Wrong. Dead wrong.
Rob Bell even says, "Do I believe in a literal hell? Of course."
People need to understand one thing: Rob Bell isn't writing to Christians. If a Christian happens to pick up the book, great. But this book is for non-believers. In case you missed it from the front cover, you get it within the first couple of paragraphs in the preface.
He goes after preconceived ideas of who Jesus is. You know, like hypocritical parents, fallen pastors, and cults like that group from Westboro.
I loved this: "If you asked an atheist why they don't believe in God and really listen to their answers, you'd probably reply with, 'I don't believe in that God either.'"
This book is about going after the REAL, Biblical, God-Man Jesus with a biggie size of Hebrew and Greek on the side.
But having finished the book, here is my conclusion: The REAL reason so many Christians are up in arms over this book is two themes that Rob Bell pushes: free will and social justice.
And since we're talking about two themes that are non-essential to beginning a relationship with Jesus, let's throw the stones down. In the end, does it REALLY matter if a person CHOSE Christ or if Christ CHOSE them? Are there two lines in Heaven and the pre-destination line goes first like SkyMile members in an airport? C'mon. Are we really going to put God in a box like that?
The whole meaning behind the title is the fact that God is love. And in the end, Love wins. Does God lose if people go to hell? No! He is still God! God still wins and since He is love, love wins! Will people choose hell over God? Yes. Do Christians choose the world over God every day in at least ONE area in their life? Yes!
Rob Bell makes you think about hell. Hell is now and it is later. There is an eternal separation from God and there is an earthly separation from God. Think about it. if you're not currently a Christian, you have sin separating you from God. Is that not hell? Absolutely! And that is one of Rob Bell's biggest points. Enter the social justice theme.
One way we as Christians can bring people heaven on earth is to go to their hell. Missions. You know, that very important, non-optional commission Jesus gives us in Matthew 28? Yeah, those missions.
But there is a problem: "Christians who are concerned about the hell that comes LATER are not concerned enough about the hell that exists NOW."
Saving someone from their hell now (economic, physical, emotional, political, etc) is a means to save them from their hell later (eternal separation from God).
If you read this book, read it slowly and carefully, or else you'll miss it. You'll miss what Rob Bell is trying to communicate. That God is, without a doubt, love.
According to my ability to read a book, Rob Bell is NOT a universalist. Instead, he wrote a book about how Jesus is universal. Jesus is for everyone. Not everyone will choose Him. Yet God...still...wins.
Aside from the book itself, I'm really disappointed in many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. So few are willing to read this book yet so quick to judge it and slam it. They don't know the author on a personal level and are taking what others say about him as truth.
Does the Bible not talk about bearing false witness against a brother?
The world has watched us fight over a book written by a man who is fallible. When we should really be engaging that same world with a book inspired by a God who isn't.
But don't take my word for it. I sincerely hope you read it. You may not agree with Bell and you may not agree with me. But perhaps you'll be challenged on a point or two and realize that you can't put God in a box. It might even help to read a different book by Bell first just so you can understand his teaching and writing style.
But don't burn the book because it's not exegetical, pro-free will and pro-social justice. Because after all, you never learn or grow if you only hang out with those you agree with.
Just one sinner's opinion who is grateful, humbled, thankful, and totally-100%-without-a-doubt-in awe that Love really does win.
-NW
I've read 2 other books by Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis and Drops Like Stars) and have used many of his NOOMA videos for my ministry here in Phoenix, AZ. Based on those resources, I am a fan.
When this book was being marketed, a fury of blogs, links, and social media sites went crazy over his "heresy."
I tried to stay away from that fanfare so that I could approach the book with some sort of objectivity. I failed.
So let me be very clear as I start this review: From the bottom of my heart, I approached this book with the intent of finding the universalism. My goal was to find what everyone said was there.
Having read the book front to back (and re-reading many paragraphs for clarification), I have come to the conclusion that Rob Bell is what I thought he was: creative, artistic, outside the box, insightful, challenging, thought provoking, and above all, loves to help you draw your own conclusion.
His teaching style is very much like Jesus. He loves to question. He leads your thinking and guides it down a very wide road but still allows you to make a decision on what you think and believe. Because after all, the Christian faith is a personal one, correct?
Heaven forbid we walk around being spoon-fed our faith. I believe this to be a major issue in some churches in America. Too many Christians spiritually plagiarize their faith from their parents, Sunday school teachers, youth pastors, pastors or even reading one particular author.
And from the books I've read and the videos I've shown and the discussions I've led, Rob Bell doesn't do that. And as a pastor, he refuses to let his work and ministry to do that.
Your faith is YOUR faith. Therefore, he asks the questions for YOU to answer.
And this book does that. Yes, it's about heaven and hell and the fate of every person who has ever lived. But it's more than that.
I was really disappointed with the book. Everyone built this book up to be about universalism and how Bell doesn't think that hell exists and everyone goes to heaven.
Wrong. Dead wrong.
Rob Bell even says, "Do I believe in a literal hell? Of course."
People need to understand one thing: Rob Bell isn't writing to Christians. If a Christian happens to pick up the book, great. But this book is for non-believers. In case you missed it from the front cover, you get it within the first couple of paragraphs in the preface.
He goes after preconceived ideas of who Jesus is. You know, like hypocritical parents, fallen pastors, and cults like that group from Westboro.
I loved this: "If you asked an atheist why they don't believe in God and really listen to their answers, you'd probably reply with, 'I don't believe in that God either.'"
This book is about going after the REAL, Biblical, God-Man Jesus with a biggie size of Hebrew and Greek on the side.
But having finished the book, here is my conclusion: The REAL reason so many Christians are up in arms over this book is two themes that Rob Bell pushes: free will and social justice.
And since we're talking about two themes that are non-essential to beginning a relationship with Jesus, let's throw the stones down. In the end, does it REALLY matter if a person CHOSE Christ or if Christ CHOSE them? Are there two lines in Heaven and the pre-destination line goes first like SkyMile members in an airport? C'mon. Are we really going to put God in a box like that?
The whole meaning behind the title is the fact that God is love. And in the end, Love wins. Does God lose if people go to hell? No! He is still God! God still wins and since He is love, love wins! Will people choose hell over God? Yes. Do Christians choose the world over God every day in at least ONE area in their life? Yes!
Rob Bell makes you think about hell. Hell is now and it is later. There is an eternal separation from God and there is an earthly separation from God. Think about it. if you're not currently a Christian, you have sin separating you from God. Is that not hell? Absolutely! And that is one of Rob Bell's biggest points. Enter the social justice theme.
One way we as Christians can bring people heaven on earth is to go to their hell. Missions. You know, that very important, non-optional commission Jesus gives us in Matthew 28? Yeah, those missions.
But there is a problem: "Christians who are concerned about the hell that comes LATER are not concerned enough about the hell that exists NOW."
Saving someone from their hell now (economic, physical, emotional, political, etc) is a means to save them from their hell later (eternal separation from God).
If you read this book, read it slowly and carefully, or else you'll miss it. You'll miss what Rob Bell is trying to communicate. That God is, without a doubt, love.
According to my ability to read a book, Rob Bell is NOT a universalist. Instead, he wrote a book about how Jesus is universal. Jesus is for everyone. Not everyone will choose Him. Yet God...still...wins.
Aside from the book itself, I'm really disappointed in many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. So few are willing to read this book yet so quick to judge it and slam it. They don't know the author on a personal level and are taking what others say about him as truth.
Does the Bible not talk about bearing false witness against a brother?
The world has watched us fight over a book written by a man who is fallible. When we should really be engaging that same world with a book inspired by a God who isn't.
But don't take my word for it. I sincerely hope you read it. You may not agree with Bell and you may not agree with me. But perhaps you'll be challenged on a point or two and realize that you can't put God in a box. It might even help to read a different book by Bell first just so you can understand his teaching and writing style.
But don't burn the book because it's not exegetical, pro-free will and pro-social justice. Because after all, you never learn or grow if you only hang out with those you agree with.
Just one sinner's opinion who is grateful, humbled, thankful, and totally-100%-without-a-doubt-in awe that Love really does win.
-NW
