The Rob Bell Hoopla
Blog, Featured — By Carole Smith Turner on March 2, 2011 at 8:00 am
Over the weekend twitter was a buzz over Rob Bell’s soon to be released book, Love Wins. I read the articles, the tweets, the Facebook updates. And I was actually shocked at all the hoopla from people who had not even read the book.
Why were they freaking out? Because of the questions.
Many were accusing Bell of becoming a Universalist because of the questions he asked on the video he made to promote the book. The publisher’s write-up on the book also stirred the “he’s a Universalist” furor because it created a desire to question also.
How dare anyone ask questions.
That has always been my biggest beef with Church-ianity: we have generations of answers, handed down from fathers to sons, answers that are rarely questioned without the inquisitor being accused of “backsliding” or being influenced by new age theology, becoming a heretic, etc.
Simply from asking questions.
Here’s what I think: if religious leaders are so sure of what they believe, if they feel the Bible backs them up, why be afraid of someone asking why? How? What makes you so sure?
Evangelicals love C.S. Lewis now, but if you read all of his writings, you will see that he explored the question of heaven and hell thoroughly. You will also find that it appears that Lewis did not believe only people who professed Jesus as Lord were going to Heaven (read book seven of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle, for reference). The person Lewis respected more then any other spiritual leader, George McDonald, was a Universalist. Yet today, Lewis is our darling and Bell is being called a Heretic Universalist by people who have yet to even read the book they are basing this judgment on.
Our lives here on earth need to reflect the light of heaven, not the fear of hell, if we wish for others to come to know Jesus.
The book hasn’t even come out yet and people have already dismissing it as bad theology because, I believe, they fear having to ask the questions themselves.
Thank God we Christians don’t judge based on tiny bits of information or judge someone for asking a question.
We need not fear questions.
Tags: Love Wins, Questioning, Rob Bell, Universalism
24 Comments
The book is being slow-released starting this Sunday to members of the Mars Hill community, of which I am one. I look forward to reading this book before everyone else gets a chance.
I watched the trailer last week and it did not even occur to me that others would interpret the questions as Universalist. I didn’t hear it because I wasn’t looking for it. I hear a teacher, every Sunday, who asks great questions. I love that about my church and I forget how safe it is in That environment until the storm stirs up elsewhere.
I hope this book triggers a true Biblical revolution in the Evangelical church. I don’t know if Bell really advocates a more universalist position, but hell is not a forgone conclusion in the Bible. The issue is really up for debate based on stuff in both the OT and NT. There is SO much stuff in scripture that so-called inerrantists ignore completely. I hope we can get away from this Evangelical oral tradition of what “the Bible says” and start showing Scripture the respect and engagement it deserves.
I promise that I’m not trying to be provocative and start a debate. I’m really just venting some frustration over being told, for years, that some my beliefs which come from close, reverent Biblical study are “not really Biblical” by someone who is just going by what someone else told them.
Looking forward to reading this book. Bring on the questions.
Here. Here. Agreed completely with you Carol.
I know very little about Rob Bell, a little more about John Piper but this controversy is interesting to me. I am an elder in the same denomination as Tim Keller and has seen him criticized by his brothers for counter-cultural practices that are effective though unorthodox. Piper’s tweet was dismissive and arrogant, but understandable.
I have seen ‘doctrine’ elevated to the same level as God and worshiped. Yes, when the word of God is worshiped instead of God, that is the most twisted idolatry you can imagine. So when cherished ‘beliefs’ are challenged or in Rob Bell’s case, questioned, well, people get angry because their ‘god’ is being subjected to impertinent interrogation. Believe me, God does not need any of us to defend him. He wants us to stop arguing and love one another so others can see Him in us.
No one, this side of heaven, has a ‘correct’ set of beliefs. If you believe in the fall, then human reasoning, including that by evangelicals, is corrupted as well. Creation, the gift of the Spirit and the historical record of Christ provide hope, defines love and tells us the importance of personal faith. When we set about to ‘correct’ our brother’s beliefs we elevate our faith above theirs in essence calling them liars. Not the way to show the world God’s love.
Looking forward to reading Bell’s book!
That is very well said Tony. The Zen Buddhists have a similar distrust of “human reasoning”. There is a pretty famous koan that was supposedly given by one Zen master after he saw that the monks in his monastery were becoming to religious in their regard for the Buddha. In order to get them to stop worshipping what they thought the Buddha was or to stop trying to attain their own ideas of enlightenment he told them, “If you see the Buddha on the path, kill him.” I think we Christians would do well to adopt that idea as well when it comes to our concepts and doctrines. I believe Heaven is indeed quite beyond what I have yet to imagine.
I will withhold comment about Bell’s book until it’s actually published. However, I wish the writer of this article would clarify her sensational statements about Lewis. I don’t mean to sound harsh here, but I think Carole has misrepresented Lewis. As she correctly states, Lewis is a darling in the Christian faith today, which is why it’s important to be prudent about what beliefs we attribute to him.
I don’t know if it’s wise to reference children’s fantasy fiction (Chronicles of Narnia) to support a writer’s beliefs on such a heavy topic as the eternal state of our souls, especially since Lewis wrote plenty of non-fiction for adults on Christianity, which seems like a better place to look for his opinion on this topic. Even so, the plot summary linked to in this article and used to support claims about Lewis, has this to offer on what happens in the final scene of The Last Battle: “Each one either joined Aslan in Aslan’s Country or did not pass through the door (talking beasts ceased to be talking and reverted back to being a non-talking animal) and faded into Aslan’s shadow and vanished to be never seen again by the children and to a fate unknown even to C.S. Lewis.” I’m not a Lewis scholar, but this doesn’t seem to align with what the article claims.
In Mere Christianity, which is Lewis’s most straightforward (nonfiction) exploration of the Christian faith, he writes this on the topic of Christ’s return to earth: “For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side.”
Again, I don’t mean to be harsh here. I appreciate that Carole brought this topic to our attention. It seems that a more accurate thing to say about Lewis is that he viewed the topic of salvation as complex, since no human can know the mind of God (which may be similar to what Bell will claim in Love Wins). To quote, again, from Lewis’s Mere Christianity on the topic: “We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ; we do not know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him.”
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=91120
Benjamin, this article shows some similarities between Bell and Lewis without labeling either a universalist.
But your point stands. In a debate all sides tend to comb history and claim as many advocates as they can.
Ben, I only referenced the Last Battle for the sake of current cultural relevance, since the Chronicles of Narnia movies have caused a renewed interest in Lewis and his works in both the church world and the secular world. I can safely say that I have read almost every work by Lewis. I am an extreme C.S. Lewis geek. So, yes, my opinion is based on more then just the reference in The Last Battle, you can see more of Lewis’ belief on Hell and who he believes may or may not spend eternity there in The Great Divorce (which is #1 on my all time favorite books and I believe should be required reading
and also Letters To Malcolm, The Problem of Pain and God in the Docks, which is a collection of his speeches, Radio addresses and letters. From what I have read, Lewis never out right says what he believes on this, he more or less gives the impression that he thinks it’s possible that people who have never been told of Jesus, but have spent their lives desiring truth and love, will go to heaven. He also gives the impression that he feels that hell may be more of a purgatory situation and that there is some sort of purification after death that may eventually lead to heaven. He throws the possibilities out there as a maybe.
“To the man who persistently tries to change the truth into untruth, God does not owe eternal patience and therefore deliverance.” – Karl Barth
C.S. Lewis’ book “The Great Divorce” paints a very compelling picture of and case for a hell that is chosen by its occupants. All who go to hell, choose it, and i suspect many will deny that it is hell at all.
I cannot personally reconcile the many scriptures referencing hell and speaking of people being and going there with any argument that hell does not exist or will not be the destination of many.
I can, however, easily see cogent argument that hell may eventually empty, either through annihilation or conversion. But all who are saved will be saved though Christ.
Carole, thanks for thoughtful response. I haven’t read Lewis’s The Problem of Pain and can definitely use some more Lewis in my reading diet, so I’ll put it at the top of my list.
I’m very much looking forward to receiving my pre-ordered copy of Bell’s book, though I’m trying to keep my expectations in check since this will be the first Rob Bell book I’ve read. Despite that excitement and my own regular curiosity of similar topics, I’m finding myself move slowly into a “Who cares?!?!” position.
This should not be mistaken for apathy, but a position that I’m sick and tired of the back and forth arguing of the theological elite. Similar to Steve’s frustration being judged for carefully-researched conclusions, I’m overwhelmingly frustrated by the pastorate elevating themselves to the heavens through their biblical prowess.
If I remember my Sunday school stories correctly, Jesus was only elevated twice, once on the cross and the other in his ascension to heaven. All other times he lowered himself as a servant, quite different from today’s model of pastoral ministry.
I’ve done a fair amount of biblical digging, as well as readings of commentaries and scores of biblical interpretations. But I’m this close (i.e. squishing the air with my finger and thumb) to saying I’m done with it all, and simply attempt to live out my life as best I can following Jesus’ example. Honestly, I’d rather not have to get to that point, but the more pastors continue to act out the same childish behavior and rhetoric as our politicians, the closer I become to also going independent in the faith arena.
I love Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis. Didn’t think too much of Sex God or Jesus Wants To Save Christians. Yet, I look forward to Reading Love Wins.
Not sure if Rob Bell will promote universalism or not? Yet, maybe we should all put our focus/emphasis on the ONLY issue that matters–Am I going to be saved?? I have a big enough ‘log’ of my own to deal with without concerning myself with someone elses ‘speck’. Let’s not work so hard to save the world that we miss the boat ourselves.
From what I can tell, many who take the position that it’s perfectly OK to speak out in public against Pat Robertson, but when it’s Rob Bell, not so much.
Rob Bell does not say offensive, counter Biblical, borderline hateful, things to people immediately after they have just suffered a tragedy. There’s a difference.
Emily, you have a valid point. And I certainly don’t want to defend Robertson. But many of the reasons given for why nobody should call Bell out would apply to Robertson if the people saying them were willing to apply the same standard that they are asking for across the board. What this Bell drama has shown is that many of the people who claim to be open-minded are just as closed-minded as the groups they claim to not be part of. In other words, folks are reviewing Bell’s video clip and book according to positions they already held prior to this thing.
I’m all about withholding judgment until reading the entirety of what Bell has to say, but I’m not sure that defending all questions is the best position, either. I think that we’d all agree that while defending free inquiry is a good thing, I don’t think that this position implies that all questions are designed with that in mind: some are designed to stack the deck so that predetermined answers seem like the only obvious solution. Not all questions are created equal.
I just posted a follow up to this on my blog, “My Review of the Reviews of Rob Bells New Book, Love Wins” http://carolesmithturner.com
I just want to point out that Larry S has been posting as he reads through this book, one chapter at a time. Great stuff. Makes good, well-thought-out points.
http://www.larryshallenberger.com/2011/03/15/love-wins-preface-and-chapter-one/
Regarding the controversy of Rob Bell, I already have my conclusions because I started questioning the hell doctrine several years ago. After much bible reading and research on early church fathers I am convinced that God is not in the hell and damnation business except for the devil and his angels.
That said, I can empathize with my brothers and sisters in Christ that believe in damnation. On an emotional basis, I want Hitler to suffer for all eternity. The criminals in Connecticut that tortured and then torched a family would fit in a fiery landscape of my imaginings.
But that is not true to the nature of Jesus. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus and as ministers of reconciliation, ambassadors, fear is not the beacon of truth.
I read the book! I finally read the freakin book!
We got it in our office last week so I shut my door, turned on Pandora and read through the entire thing! Here are some thoughts. While Bell may not be a “Universalist” per-se the eschatological trajectory he sets in “Love Wins” seems to propel him towards it. His notion of “Hell” being a method of God’s perfecting chastisement smack of doctrines of purgatory or some form of justification through works. Bells asserts that “good” people (like Ghandi) must be good for a reason. Which is true, but that reason may not be enough to justify and reconcile us to God.
Also, in his chapters “There Are Rocks Everywhere” and “The Good News Is Better Than That.” Bells starts off his exposition from a faulty premise. In “There are Rocks Everywhere” Bell uses Exodus 17: 1-7 and 1 Corinthian 10:4 as way of implying the possibility of salvation coming to those who don’t worship Christ specifically, but follow other religions. So, pious Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and so forth can be saved apart from faith in Christ? Here’s the problem….there was only ONE rock to strike that provided water. And, in reading the Exodus account, and Paul’s comment to the Corinthians in context we don’t see salvation for the Israelites….but rather hardening and condemnation. 1 Cor 10:4 is great….but not much use without verse 5…that whole complete the thought thing is kind of important.
As far as “The Good News is Better Than That” Bell divorces the the Prodigal son parable from it’s surrounding context. Jesus’ intent was sotieriological….not eschatological. Not to mention the fact that Bell undercuts Christ’s punchy ending by implying that the older brother is saved! The narrative stops for a reason!
Bell may be a Universalist, but until he writes something with more of a conclusion, we wont know for sure. It certainly doesn’t look good thus far.
If I had read Bells book 4 years ago, I wouldn’t have received the message but rather thought that Rob was deluded. However I have spent a few years searching for truth in the ‘hell’ matter and (it’s vital to go back to original meaning of words like hell, eternal and many more). Since two years back I belive with very good reason and all my heart that God will reconcile the world back to Himself and one day be all in all. I read ‘Love Wins’ last week and I love it.
There’s only one way to the Father, through His Son. Our Almighty God who desires all men to be saved and is in fact LOVE, how can He possibly fail. I believe there will be judgement but an endless torteruous hell fire, well, I don’t believe that about God anymore.
After being a christian for 22 years I can truly say that the News are Good, the news bring Peace, Joy, Hope and Love.