Does Love Really Win?

The media tizzy that has swept across evangelicalism over the last several weeks regarding Rob Bell's book Love Wins has been intriguing to say the least. The subtitle reads, A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived raised more than a few eyebrows of mostly the low brow evangelical type. It's interesting that I haven't heard much commentary from folks in mainline denominations about the book and the controversial figure behind the book. HarperOne, the publisher of the book, released a video with Bell introducing the book by telling a story about how the eternal destiny of Ghandi, this alone has made people denounce Bell, his book, and his salvation. I followed a few of the comments in blogs, Twitter, and Facebook and had a few conversations with people about Bell and the book, but I was convinced that I wouldn't make a judgment call about the book until I read it for myself. Sadly, many of the people who cast Bell and Love Wins into outer darkness reacted to a provocative video without ever reading the book for themselves.

I received my copy about a week or so after it was released. I can honestly say that Bell is quite good at asking questions, challenging the status quo of faith in a typical post-modern fashion...he provides lots of questions and very few answers. I think it is important for many in the church to realize that the rising generations (millenials, etc.) are quite comfortable with all the questions that may or may not lead to hard, conclusive answers.

Bell is aware that what he shares in this book is controversial and on the fringes of Christian tradition (many would consider is conclusion to be outside the bounds of historic Christian orthodoxy while others would permit the freedom to hold to different views on the destiny of everyone who has ever lived within the broader umbrella of Christian faith in the Living God). Bell is what he calls an exclusive inclusivist, meaning he believes that Jesus is the way to salvation but that the "all-embracing, saving love of this particular Jesus the Christ will of course include all sorts of unexpected people from across the cultural spectrum." He calls it "exclusivity on the other side of inclusivity" (155).

While I disagree with Bell's conclusion, I think intrinsic to his argument is the truth that we are finite human beings who cannot begin to fathom the depths of the mind and heart of God. Yes, we have the Bible, God's written revelation of his relationship with his people and how he has chosen to reveal himself to the world, most particularly in the person and work of Jesus Christ. That being said, I don't believe that I serve a God who is limited to act in only the ways he has acted in the pages of the Bible, if I did, I believe my view of God would be diminished because that would be a small God to serve. If God spoke creation into existence, made redemption possible through the cross of Jesus Christ, and is still at work in people's lives then who am I to pretend to know the mind of God and his complete plan of redemption. Let me reiterate, I am not a universalist or and inclusivist like I believe Bell is, nor do I think scripture can truly defend those positions, but if God wanted to save people through Jesus in a way that I don't fully comprehend based on the knowledge of God that I have and the revelation of scripture then he isn't a very big God. All that being said, I don't think that will be the case (that God will save people through Jesus even after this earthly life is over) but I am willing to let God have the final verdict on that topic.

A few things sadden me about Bell and his book...1. The lack of grace given to a fellow brother or sister in Christ. I am not saying that heresy should go unchecked within the body of Christ, but shouldn't the effort always be made to restore someone who holds erroneous beliefs about the faith. Ultimately, no one else is the judge of Bell's own heart and relationship with God except God. I am truly grieved that Christians who have experienced God's grace we are often the least likely people to be dispensers of the grace to other people (inside and outside of the church). 2. I regret that someone as influential as Bell would come to the conclusions he has reached, although I think he ultimately throws his hands up and says that he's not 100% sure of people's eternal destiny, but this (his questions and thoughts in Love Wins) are his attempt at trying to make sense of it all. Questions are good things, especially about faith...I am reminded of a quote I found from C.S. Lewis not long ago that says, "I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away." His influence as a pastor and leader are somewhat troubling when he reaches these conclusions but I would also point out that for me, him getting this wrong doesn't negate his own life change and being right in other areas of his own theology. I think ultimately Love Wins like other books by Bell is an attempt to work out his own theology in the context of writing, which can be very dangerous. I strongly encourage anyone to read the book before joining the masses in condemning Bell, you may reach the same conclusion, but at least you will have made that decision for yourself.



Some other interesting Blog posts about Rob Bell and Love Wins:
http://www.brookhillscollege.org/?p=1284

http://www.gregboyd.org/blog/rob-bell-is-not-a-universalist-and-i-actually-read-love-wins/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/03/13/rob-bells-love-wins-a-response/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/03/14/rob-bell-love-wins-review/

http://www.redletterchristians.org/love-wins-rob-bell-and-the-new-calvinists/

http://www.patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/2011/03/23/rob-bell-and-c-s-lewis-by-jeff-cook/

 http://www.patheos.com/community/jesuscreed/2011/03/02/waiting-for-rob-bell/

http://fromagetoage.posterous.com/10-rob-bell-articles-that-didnt-make-the-cut
This one might be my favorite!