Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Rob Bell's New Book: Controversial?
On the theological blog front, the main news, besides Japan, has been the critiquing of Rob Bell's new book titled: Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Do I have an opinion? Oh, yes I do. My friend Justin and I were just talking about it at Starbucks yesterday. However, I am going to first give you all a chance to watch this video about the book and give me your opinion about it in the comments section. If you find anything abnormal, comment. I would love to hear your opinion. Happy commenting! :)
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17 comments:
I'm glad you posted this. I heard tons of feedback about this video on twitter when it first came out (most of it negative), yet there were also a few who said it never explicitly taught hell didn't exist and that we should just wait and see what was in the book.
Unfortunately, it looks like the vast majority of people were right and his book is very far from the Word of God in what it teaches. Even though most of us haven't been able to get a copy yet, you should check out this review somebody wrote after obtaining an early copy of it. I found it very insightful and it seemed to confirm the thoughts I'd already been having.
Oh my heart hurts. :( Ghandi didn't go to hell, huh? ANYBODY who doesn't accept Jesus as their Savior will not be going to heaven. I am so, so, so disappointed in Rob Bell. I LOVE his NOOMA series. What is happening? Rick Warren, Piper, and now Rob Bell?
Curious as to see what views you hold about the book/controversy.
You know what I just remembered? Apostasy is a sign of the end times.
I actually JUST watched this video at my small group just a couple of hours ago! :)
I actually have two main reactions: my first was, yeah, okay, I get it. I see what he's saying. I get it: I see why he would want to believe that.
But then, that is followed up with: he really doesn't know what he's talking about! I mean, I don't know much about this guy, but he speaks as if he believes in God, and even considers himself a Christian...but it doesn't make much sense that you can believe in God, yet ignore his many, many words that talk about hell. Our group had the thought, does Rob Bell just pass over Bible passages like Luke 16:19-31, which is the story Jesus tells of the rich man and the beggar? That little passage right there should be enough proof of hell!
Ay ay ay, I just don't know about this guy... Okay, well I do, but you know what I mean :P
I am shocked. I had no idea someone as learned as him could be so far from the truth. What is he thinking? “participating in the ongoing creation and joy of the world” (p. 180) Us partners with God?!?! Excuse me, but I do believe that would either have to bring God down to our level or us up to His...actually, either way, it would be bringing God down from His holy, flawless, immaculate, perfectness, and bring us up to match it. This is IMPOSSIBLE!!! And then, of course, there's the matter of hell. I do not care what he says he believes. What he wrote is what he believes. No fire and brimstone, no hell. If you don't mind, I think I'll repost this on my own blog! and I'll add the link that Dakota put in his comment. People need to know about this!
I must have missed something. I didn't hear him say there was no hell. What I did hear him say is that we don't KNOW God. If we did, we would WANT to love Him. He has been consistant through the ages, and has been with us even when we didn't recognize him, or acknowledge Him.
I think that I am really glad I am not God, He is the only one who can justly decide our fate. Ghandi? God alone knows.
I'm reading His love letter to me again with a different eye. One that's looking to know Him in a deeper way. Being rewarded with truth daily.
Ah the age old quandary... MY God wouldn't (fill in the blank... Let people suffer, go to hell, allow starvation, etc)
2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
There's no controversy here; he's wrong (has he actually READ the Bible - the WHOLE Bible - in context)? Romans 9:19-29 & 10:6-10 are great weapons against this philosophy. (The entire Bible screams against it!) This is SO sad, but what's already been mentioned is it's necessary to fulfill prophesy. In agreement with John I say, "Amen. Come Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20) Until then, let's stick to the truth, shall we?
OH NO! I couldn't get the video to load! I'll try back later, but what I see on the comments here, it must not be very good!
At the heart of it all is a very lopsided view of God's amazing holiness and man's wretched sinfulness.
Albert Mohler wrote an excellent review of Love Wins. Check it out here:
http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/03/16/we-have-seen-all-this-before-rob-bell-and-the-reemergence-of-liberal-theology/
Thanks alot Josh for making me watch this video. I am sad that this lie from the garden of eve keeps getting spread" did God really say...." Yes He did now go and obey it repent and believe. Please pass this on to all of the leaders of the church so they can protect the flock.
your brother Floyd Say Hi to mom dad sisters and chickens too.
Hey guys,
Check out this video as well of Rob Bell being interviewed on MSNBC. It was very interesting to watch.
http://thisido.blogspot.com/2011/03/love-wins.html
Ever heard that, "still, small voice" become louder & louder? I've had a passage bouncing around in my head all day & I just "heard" something along the lines of, "POST IT YOU FOOL" ;) Ok, I get it!
I commented earlier without actually addressing love & if Mr. Bell is going to propose love as a Christless gospel, then true love must be addressed; however since my words are pointless here's the passage... "Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God's child and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins."
Whew! (That was 1 John 4:7-9, but I highly recommend reading 1 John 4 in it's entirety as it also addresses false teachers & teaching.
In Christ's endless amazing merciful love
D.
Dakota,
Thanks. Challie's review was very profound. It was a big help. :)
May,
What do you have against Piper? I agree with all the others. But, Piper? Hmmm... :)
Lauren,
Yeah, Bell does call himself a Christian. It is very sad. I also think that he does not know what he is talking about. But, he is leading many people down the wrong path. That's for sure. :)
Anna,
Yes, people need to know about this. Thanks for posting about it on your blog. :)
Deborah,
Read my latest post. It will help a lot. :)
Aunt Debbie,
I could not agree with you more. Preach it sister! Let's stick to the truth and completely hold fast to it no matter the cost. Sounds like a good plan to me. :)
Sarah,
When you get the chance, watch it and read my latest post. Thanks for the comment. :)
Ink Slinger,
Excellent statement and thanks for the resource. Al provided a fine review. :)
Floyd,
Thanks brother. I will definitely say "hi" to everyone out here. Please say "hi" to everyone out there for me. Love you and miss you bro. :)
May,
I too would love to know what you've heard about John Piper. I don't want to put him up on a pedestal by any means (perhaps that's why so many other leaders have fallen), but I haven't yet heard anything bad about him and I'd like to know if there's something we should beware of.
In Christ,
Dakota
Ok, wellllll.... Piper invited Warren to speak at the Desiring God conference held here in Minnesota at his church in the Twin Cities. I do not know if Piper holds the same beliefs as Warren. (In the link below, Piper says that he does not believe Warren is emergent (???).) HOWEVER, I am investigating the situation myself, so I regret that I jumped the gun on throwing him into the mix until I sort out the answer. I just found this link. If you like, you can watch the video on the page about this very topic:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/03/31/john-piper-and-rick-warren/
Yeah, I knew Piper invited Warren to his church for the Desiring God conference, and I just listened to the video. It just goes to show you how Piper is willing to give Warren a chance despite what he has said in the past. It was an eye opener for me at the time, but I don't have any bad thoughts about it one way or the other, since Piper is still holding fast to the truths of the Gospel. Definitely nothing has changed with his theology. He is still a Calvinist that preaches the truth straight on. So, I am not in the least bit concerned about Piper.
However, if he starts preaching like Bell, then there would be a major cause for concern. But, I doubt that would happen. :)
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