Love Wins chapter 3

Chapter 3 is simply titled, "hell."  This chapter is certainly the most theologically "meaty" so far.  Though I am regularly annoyed by Bell's neglecting of verse references (he only lists chapter numbers), I was surprised at some of the depth for which Bell was willing to go in his analysis of hell.  While Love Wins is far from a scholarly work, Bell at least provides some knowledge of concordance use.

Since the doctrine of hell is a difficult and complex subject of debate, it is not my intention to delve into any major disputes with Bell's views on whether punishment is conditional or unending.  However, I will say that Bell's analysis is naive at best.  And its not so much what Bell says is incorrect, but what he doesn't say.

While Bell isn't incorrect in how he defines the relevant biblical words (i.e. hell, sheol, etc.), I think he misses some important points in various contexts.  Luke 16 is one of these places.  While he says a few interesting things about this passage, his primary point is flawed:

"In their previous life, the rich man saw himself as better than Lazarus, and now, in hell, the rich man still sees himself as above Lazarus.  It's no wonder Abraham says there's a chasm that can't be crossed.  The chasm is the rich man's heart!  It hasn't changed, even in death and torment and agony." (p. 75)

While its quite true that the ethical aspects of this parable are there in how we should treat our neighbors; it is not the case that this is the chasm that Bell seems to imply.  Moreover, the parable goes against one of Bell's key points in this book; that there are second chances after death.  How Bell misses this aspect of the parable is beyond me.  But it is quite clear that the parable emphasizes one important thing: the rich man's request for mercy is refused.  Therefore, it is of eternal importance that we embrace the gospel and love our neighbors right now, or else it might be too late.

"Jesus did not use hell to try to compel 'heathens' and 'pagans' to believe in God, so they wouldn't burn when they die." (p. 82) 

Bell couldn't be more wrong in this admission because Jesus did this very thing in Luke 12:4-8,

“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;”

Notice that Jesus, after providing the warnings of hell, compels His audience to confess Him before men.  While Bell does admit that Jesus provided stern warnings of judgment, it is not the case that the judgments are not a means by which Jesus compelled his audience to repent.

One thing seems to be clear thus far; Bell holds to some form of conditional punishment.  However, he not only seems to set himself against the traditional view of hell, but against the annihilationist who believes that the judgment of the wicked is final.

Love Wins chapter 2

Chapter 2 is dealing with questions relating to heaven and what it means.  Aside from Bell's "twitter-esque" writing style, I found this chapter to be relatively enjoyable.  This is probably because I can relate to many of Bell's thoughts as it relates to heaven.  As he correctly observes, many Christians hold to the misconception that eternal life means going somewhere else.  With that, we are left with a fuzzy, spacey, cloudy, and floaty picture of what the "where" in eternal life is.

However popular this notion might be in Christian circles, this is not the Scriptural position (again, as Bell correctly observes).  Instead, eternal life for believers starts right here, right now; on earth.  Unfortunately, Bell says very little, if anything, about the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and its connection to the kingdom.  If the kingdom of God is coming to this earth (Matthew 6:10), then we should live in accordance with this reality; not in terms of living out a so-called "social gospel," but actively proclaiming the good news of eternal life and what one's must do to enter (Matthew 7:21).

Though it may be premature for me to say at this point, I anticipate a reason for which Bell will not speak too much about the exclusive nature of the kingdom; that is, if he believes it is exclusive at all.  The next chapter is on "hell."  I'm very curious to see how Bell views this difficult subject.

Love Wins chapter 1

Assuming you're not living under a rock, most Christians are somewhat aware of the "firestorm" that ROB BELL'S new book, LOVE WINS, has stirred in Christian circles on the internet and elsewhere.  Even before the release of the book, many were weighing in because of the provocative TRAILER VIDEO.  Though some were critical of the critics, it is beyond dispute that Bell's video was questionable.

Though my review will pale in significance to many well known reviewers and bloggers, I figured it would be beneficial for me to have some familiarity with these important issues as they relate to Rob Bell.  That is, I have no intention of adding anything to the fire.  Instead, I hope to have the opportunity to provide clarity to those who might feel lost after reading Bell's book.  In addition, I would hope to offer warning and correction to my friends, co-workers, family, etc. who might buy into some of Bell's ideas.

In a way, this review is more for me than anything.  If I can write about it, then it is likely that I will be able to explain it to others.  And if i didn't take the time to read this book, why should others listen to me when I seek to offer correction?

With that said, i'd like to review one chapter at a time.

As I anticipated, Bell offered his fair share of skeptical and provocative questions as they relate to heaven, hell, and salvation.  One can only assume that Bell felt he covered all the bases.  However sincere Bell was in his efforts, I found them to be severely lacking.  Though Bell was only "asking questions," I didn't think he offered anything short of a strawman in his representations of various beliefs.  What's worse is, I never found my view to be questioned or mentioned.  Putting hell aside for a moment, I saw no attempt on Bell's part to even attempt to ask accurate questions concerning Reformed Soteriology.  I don't want to assume too much as Bell might have purposefully avoided this perspective.

I say all this because I felt like Bell's questions could have been far more smart than they were.  If Bell had offered more sophistication and accurate representation in his questions, I would have been far more provoked.  Instead, I read through this chapter thinking, "these questions are easy!"  If I had to guess, Bell's book seemed to be geared towards ones who are not quite as theologically astute as they could be.  Perhaps these are ones that grew up in a back-woods southern baptist church and heard "fire and brimstone" sermons all the time.  Or these could be persons who grew up in a "seeker-sensitive" church where the gospel was reduced to, "believe in Jesus and you'll go to heaven."  Whatever the case, there are many who could easily relate to Bell but I am not one of them.

At this point it is difficult to know where Bell is going in all of this.  After all, he is just "asking questions," even though its obvious that his questions are, in a sense, meant to be objections.  However, as obvious as they are, these questions can only provide impressions though I will be hoping for clear thoughts and little ambiguity as I continue reading.