ROB BELL - Summary

I have written four blog posts during my reading of Rob Bell's book "Love Wins", and here’s my final commentary.

The criticism I have levied is not directed at Rob Bell. I do not judge Rob Bell as a person. Rob Bell is indeed a very likeable person. What could possibly make Bell less sympathetic though is when he rails against (jokes) and more or less mocks Christians, those with a more traditional view. But, as I said, I do not judge the person. On the contrary, what ‘we’ did, and what everyone is obliged to do, is to test and evaluate (judge) the message.

Rob Bell's book is about heaven and hell. But the concept of heaven and hell according to Bell is not primarily about the future, but (his) heaven and hell concerns how we experience our lives here and now.
-Heaven is defined as experiences of "joy, peace and love, in this (earthly) life" (p. 59).
-Hell is defined as the "failure to trust God's story (direction) of our lives" (p.173).

In the brief section where Bell deals with an eventual hell following death, it is a time-limited (temporary) hell with an opportunity to re-select heaven. And, writes Bell, the love of God is likely to melt the hardest heart, so that all will eventually choose Jesus.

Bell has no doubt drawn inspiration for these ideas from theologian NT Wright, who is a highly respected theologian. But N.T. Wright also makes some strange utterances. He says:
"Hell is that which is ‘ongoing’ in order that people say to God, in whose image we are created:
We do not want to worship you
We do not want our lives to be shaped by you
We do not want to be transformed by the love of Jesus, He who died and was raised again for us
We do not want any of these things
We want to remain who we are and take care of ourselves "
(http://youtu.be/vggzqXzEvZ0)

If hell’s reality is ‘to not worship God and to simply look after yourself’, I think a great many people would first of all like to continue to live in (this) hell for eternity. I see them driving around in fancy cars, dressing in fine clothes and living their lives in the fashion of a non-stop party. If that is hell, it's surely the most attractive place for many people to be. The hell that I read about in Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament has markedly more far-reaching consequences than that.

When one takes out the compass at an orienteering event and begins to run in a slightly different direction than the correct one, not much harm is done. However, if one continues to run in totally the opposite direction one will finally end up in completely the wrong place.

It is often said that, “the problem is not the Prophet but the Prophet's disciples”. In that Bell develops N.T. Wright's theories (pronouncements) there is the risk that the alternative course (path) takes us away from where we ought to be. And what happens when in turn Bell's disciples recounts Bell's thoughts?

I believe our decisions in life have eternal consequences. I believe that Jesus was serious when He so passionately urged us to be prepared and that some will miss the celebration because they weren’t ready. I believe that Jesus means ‘eternity’, when he says ‘forever’. Who will spend eternity where is not for me to judge. It is Jesus who will judge, and I am sure that He will judge fairly (a fair trial). I believe that Jesus will judge every man in accordance with the person’s life choices offered (and made) through life. But I do not know, and I do not have to worry about how Jesus will judge.

I could be wrong, and Bell may be right, when he says that hell is essentially (duration) time limited and with the possibility of reversing one’s decision. But I won’t take that risk. I dare not preach Bell’s doctrine - what if Bell is wrong! I do not want to hear in eternity: "Well, Peter told you it was not so bad with hell and that we could choose again."

Therefore, I continue to compel people to choose Jesus here and now. Jesus has called me to continue Jesus' teaching about the consequences of our choices in life. God does not want that any peope shall be damned. He wants all people to have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life"

Peter Baronowsky

Translation from Swedish: Dr. Sven Ljungholm