{"id":32,"date":"2011-05-14T17:18:28","date_gmt":"2011-05-14T17:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingtheology.com\/?p=32"},"modified":"2016-06-25T16:59:02","modified_gmt":"2016-06-25T16:59:02","slug":"love-wins-rob-bell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readingtheology.com\/love-wins-rob-bell\/ ","title":{"rendered":"“Love Wins” -Rob Bell"},"content":{"rendered":"

[one_half]
\nIn this post I will be giving my Review of the book “Love Wins”, but first, a preamble is probably needed for context and\u00a0clarity.
\n[\/one_half]
\n[one_half_last]
\n\"\"<\/a>\"\"
\n[\/one_half_last]<\/p>\n

Preamble<\/h4>\n

On March 15th 2011 Rob Bell’s book, “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived”<\/a> was released to the public. \u00a0Of course at this point the Christian Blogosphere had already been buzzing about the short and provocative\u00a0Love Wins video<\/a> released a couple weeks earlier where in the very short clip Bell gives an anecdote about an art show at his Church followed by a lot of questions related to “heaven and hell”. \u00a0Based on this short clip many started writing and blogging about Bell being a Universalist, and most of \u00a0their writings were done without actually having read the book. One prominent pastor even tweeted, “Farewell Rob Bell<\/em>” again without even having read the book. \u00a0: (<\/p>\n

It was at that point I decided I should take a step back, read the book, read it twice, listen to some interviews and videos of Bell about his book. Having done so, I am\u00a0now prepared\u00a0to give my review.<\/p>\n

Review<\/h4>\n

Rob Bell’s Book “Love Wins..”<\/a> has 8 short chapters. He starts out his book talking about the importance and place of questions in following Jesus, of whom Bell says, “(Jesus) responds to almost every question he is asked with …a question.<\/em><\/strong>” This essentially, is also Rob’s way of exploring faith. He is often re-evaluating old formulas of faith with fresh expressions and understanding.<\/p>\n

He then follows up with many questions asking how many people think they know who by name is literally burning in hell right now. Bell tells a story about how his Church had an art show and one of the pieces of art had a quote from Gandhi. Many people were inspired by the quote, but one person decided to stick a note on the art saying, “Sorry, Gandhi is in Hell<\/em><\/strong>“. Bell wonders how someone can know this with such certainty about Gandhi.<\/p>\n

Now the following two chapters are about Heaven and Hell. I believe these two chapters are Bell’s strongest chapters within the book. Bell critiques the common interpretation of Jesus’ ” kingdom of heaven” message, \u00a0often understood as \u00a0a reality which is arrived at somewhere else<\/em>, beginning after this earthly life ceases. He points out that Jesus’ central teaching about “the Kingdom of heaven” was one that spoke of a reality that one is to participate in right here and right now. Heaven isn’t a reality we hope to escape to someday , but rather one we pray for and work for on earth. Bell says:<\/p>\n


\n“..Jesus doesn’t tell people how to ‘go to heaven’. It wasn’t what Jesus came to do..” <\/em><\/strong><\/strong>“Heaven is that realm where things are as God intends them to be..”<\/em>“A proper view of heaven leads not to escape from the world, but to full engagement with it, all with the anticipation of a coming day when things are on earth as they currently are in heaven.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

First heaven, now hell.
\nIn this chapter bell explores all the different words that often get interpreted by many folks as the singular<\/em> concept of Hell. This has to be done because if your happen to still be reading from the highly influential King James Version<\/em> of the bible you would read the English word “Hell<\/strong>” across the board in the place of four different words<\/strong>. Bell begins explaining the context of these different words along with their different meanings. While Bell begins articulating how these words had varying and different intentions of meanings, you begin to wonder how the many\u00a0translators\u00a0justified\u00a0rendering\u00a0all these as one word -Hell.<\/p>\n

The old testament Hebrew word for the place of the dead<\/em> is Sheol<\/strong>, and its new testament Greek equivalent \u00a0is Hades<\/strong>. \u00a0Bell then points out that the word Jesus most often used to talk about “hell” is “Gehenna<\/strong>“. Ge<\/em><\/strong> means “valley<\/strong>,” and Henna<\/em><\/strong> means “Hinnom<\/strong>“. Gehenna is the Valley of Hinnom<\/strong>. This was an actual valley on the south and west side of the city of Jerusalem. Gehenna, in Jesus’s day, was the city dump<\/strong>.. I won’t explain it all here, but he has some striking points which again, this chapter alone would be worth the read.<\/p>\n

In the chapter, “Dying to Live”, bell explores what happened when Jesus died on the cross (Atonement Theology<\/a>). He talks about how there are many different metaphors utilized within the New Testament which give explanation to the meaning of the atoning work of Jesus. He sums up this part here:<\/p>\n

“So, back to the question: What happened on the cross?<\/strong><\/strong>Is the cross about the end of the sacrificial system
\nor a broken relationship that’s been reconciled
\nor a guilty defendant who’s been set free
\nor a battle that’s been won
\nor the redeeming of something that was lost?Which is It?<\/p>\n

Which perspectie is the right one? Which metaphor is correct? Which explanation is true?<\/p>\n

The answer, of course, is yes.<\/p>\n

..The point, then isn’t to narrow it to one particular metaphor, image, explanation, or mechanism. To elevate one over the others, to insist that there’s a “correct” or “right” one, is to miss the brilliant, creative work these first Christians were doing when they used these images and metaphors. They were reading their world, looking for ways to communicate this epic event in ways their listeners could grasp.<\/p>\n

The Point then, as it is now, is Jesus. The divine in flesh and blood. He’s where the life is.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The remaining chapters of the book have very interesting observations and questions that are worth pondering about the ultimate fate of everyone who has ever lived. Along with Bell’s great skill at observing and asking excellent questions, he begins some attempts at constructing some<\/em> answers. Now, it has often been rightly<\/em> said that Bell is great at questions and weak on answers. \u00a0On questions of ultimate salvation for all people he seems<\/em> to suggest that this is a strong\u00a0possibility.<\/p>\n

Some times you think he is saying that in the end all people will ultimately choose the gift of life offered in Jesus. \u00a0And in the following sentence he will then say that love demands freedom, love is not coerced. He really sets a tension up here and never gives a definitive\u00a0conclusion whether or not he resolutely has planted his feet in this belief. In fact, he says we can’t resolve this tension.<\/p>\n

Bell asks, “Will everybody be saved, or will some perish apart from God forever because of their choices?<\/em>” He follows with, “Those are questions, or more accurately, those tensions we are free to leave fully intact. We dont’ need to resolve them or answer them because we can’t..<\/em>” There in lies the answer to many people’s question, “Is Rob Bell a universalist?”. He wants to be but never definitively states that is his absolute belief.<\/p>\n

Now I think Bell’s arguments loose steam in his chapter, “There are Rocks Everywhere.” It is here where he begins making some arguments that are not all together very convincing to me. Especially his use of these passages: John 10 and 14, and Colossians1. He seems to be meandering through some ideas that I think are just not articulated well or very persuasive. And his scripture references don’t seem to hold up his argument as tightly as he is trying to make them do so.<\/p>\n

After all is said, I do think much good can come from this book. Bell has brought much needed critique to the current formulations and understandings of heaven and hell. His book serves as a kind of catalyst, a conversation starter. By no means should his book be considered comprehensive or the last word on these subjects. Much of the strong critical reviews that I have come across on the blogosphere at many times were assuming that Bell was giving a version of his own Summa Theologica<\/a>. Rather, I suggest quite the opposite; that Bell’s intention was not to be the last word, simply just an initiatory word in hopes to re-liven the conversation about long unchallenged beliefs concerning “the end”. He does not come out decidedly on the question of Universalism, he merely invites you to enter into a tension with him. This book should be read as a starting point only. In fact, once one reads any of Bell’s books, it is soon realized that Bell is having a conversation, he is pointing things out that have often been overlooked. He is asking questions, giving some answers, but by no means is he saying this is the last word. Even more so, in this book, I believe that is true. Thank you Rob.<\/p>\n

The following excerpt is from a very recent interview with Relevant Magazine<\/a> and Rob Bell:<\/p>\n

Based on your understanding of universalism, do you consider yourself a universalist?<\/strong>
\nNo, I don\u2019t.And you see the difference being what?<\/strong>
\nMy observation would be that people mean lots of different things with that word. I think for some people, apparently the word means nothing matters. It doesn\u2019t matter what you believe, it doesn\u2019t matter how you live\u2014nothing matters. And I simply don\u2019t believe that. Certain paths are destructive. Certain paths are wrong. Certain paths cause all kinds of toxic harm to other people and it\u2019s not loving your neighbor. So if by \u201cuniversalism,\u201d people mean it doesn\u2019t matter\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter what you believe, it doesn\u2019t matter what you do\u2014that\u2019s just complete rubbish. So, no.Secondly, sometimes when people say the word \u201cuniversalism,\u201d I think they mean that at some point God just swoops everybody up into heaven. Like, \u201cCome on, everybody\u2014everybody is in.\u201d And the problem with that is, I believe love wins, and the very nature of love is freedom. So if at any point God co-opts your ability to choose, we no longer are dealing with a loving God. And if there are people who are in heaven who don\u2019t want to be there, then it\u2019s not heaven. Like God is saying, \u201cIt\u2019s a party\u2014and you\u2019re going to like it!\u201d<\/p>\n

The question that I do think is terribly interesting, and which as a Christian we must wrestle with, it is written in a letter to Timothy, \u201cGod wants everybody to be saved.\u201d Now this is fascinating. God wants everybody to be saved, so perhaps the important question is, is God a universalist? And I do think as a Christian it is our duty to long for the things that God longs for, and to want the things that God wants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Here is a link to an interview with Eugene Peterson<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[one_half] In this post I will be giving my Review of the book “Love Wins”, but first, a preamble is probably needed for context and\u00a0clarity. [\/one_half] [one_half_last] [\/one_half_last] Preamble On March 15th 2011 Rob Bell’s book, “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived” was released to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,45,12,3],"tags":[5,44,58,123,20,67,69,68,18,122,15],"aioseo_notices":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Atonement Theology"},{"value":45,"label":"Christian 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