Love Wins (3)

Can a loving God punish people in hell and torment forever? This agonizing question seems to be at the heart of Rob Bell’s reappraisal of the traditional theology of judgment, hell and punishment. Read the quote below:

“Does God punish people for thousands of years with infinite, eternal torment for things they did in their few finite years of life? This doesn’t just raise disturbing questions about God; it raises questions about the beliefs themselves.” [Love Wins, 2011, Kindle, 3%]

What it sounds to me like is that Bell cannot reconcile a loving God with a God of justice. God does indeed punish people for things they did in their few finite years of life. In Matthew’s gospel, for instance, there are many passages about being cast out, judgment of fire, and being punished.

 

When Jesus sent out his twelve apostles, among many of the instructions he gave, he reminded them…”Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” [Matthew 10:28].

Does this raise questions about God? 

Does this raise questions about fundamental Christian beliefs?

It certainly does!

Reverential fear and awe at the power of Almighty God, along with his inscrutable, sovereign ways are at the heart of this instruction that Jesus gave his disciples. An awareness of the limitations of human ability to get rid of people that do not suit their agenda lies at the heart of this instruction that Jesus gave his disciples.

True to what one has come to expect from Rob Bell, he questions all traditional theology. His approach to judgment leaves me asking more questions about his hermeneutics and biblical theology.

To me, what is more disturbing is that people can ask questions about God that are designed to cast doubt regarding the divine will and purpose. To me, what is more disturbing is that people are willing to jettison traditional beliefs that are fundamental to the Christian.

I totally get the idea that Rob Bell wants to make the Christian message more palatable to the non-Christian. But I think he is going against the grain of Scripture when he is trying to make the Christian message more palatable to the Christian! After all, if Christians do not get the message of eternal punishment, who would?!

More to follow…

In Christian love, Curtis

Love Wins (2)

This book arrived in my Kindle today. I read the Preface and want to respond. Rob Bell begins by saying…

 “First, I believe that Jesus’ story is first and foremost about the love of God for every single one of us. It is a stunning, beautiful, expansive love, and it is for everybody, everywhere.”

  Do you know what I thought of when I read this statement? John 3:16.

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV).

 At this point, I totally agree with Bell. Jesus’ story is indeed stunning–in so many different ways. It is stunning that the Divine chose to become human. It is stunning that God broke into human history and changed it forever. It is stunning that man’s evil choices actually accomplished the will of God. It is stunning that one so sinless would even want to die for someone like me so sinful! So many things are stunning indeed about the story of Jesus!

Jesus’ story is indeed beautiful–in so many different ways. It is beautiful to see the role of servant elevated by Jesus. It is beautiful to see the priority that Jesus places on the dignity of human persons. It is beautiful to see Jesus take children into his lap. It is beautiful to see the story of Jesus unfold in surprising ways. It is beautiful to see the work of Jesus begin in my own heart, and faithfully sustain me until God is finished with me. So many things are beautiful indeed about the story of Jesus!

Jesus’ story is indeed about his expansive love. The word “whoever” is universal, for everybody, everywhere. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. All peoples and all nations are invited to look to the one who was lifted up for the sins of humanity. “Whoever” is such a universal appeal, and often it is hard to understand how God, Jesus and the Spirit could be so indiscriminate. No ethnicity, no language, no culture, no country, no nation, no continent is excluded from this universal offering of love.

God so loved the world!

I am anxious to see how Rob Bell testifies to this truth. Stay tuned for more comments.

In Christian love, Curtis

Love Wins (1)

You may have heard on the radio or other media about Rob Bell’s new book. It is entitled: Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. It is published by Harper Collins and also available on Kindle. You may want to access this link and listen to the video clip promotion: Love Wins Promo

With the book not being out yet, and only going by the video clip it is hard to tell exactly what Rob Bell is going to say. The value of all this is that apparently people in the public workplace all over have been discussing its potential message. The blogosphere has certainly been inundated with responses and opinions at this point. I want to reserve my judgment and critique of the book until it comes out.

At this juncture here are a few points I do want to make:

 
1.  A book like this is addressing ultimate concerns and eternal questions.


2.  A book like this is putting on the table in the midst of the public square dynamic issues of destiny.


3. A book like this re-invigorates the discussion and forces every Christian back to the Bible to see what he or she believes.


4. A book like this challenges traditional thinking on heaven and hell, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.


5. A book like this will eventually need someone on the larger stage of Christian orthodoxy to respond seriously to it, if indeed it does tout any form of universalism (which is what I have seen and heard already).


6. A book like this motivates us to learn more about God’s love.

So, does love win? Perhaps the metaphor of winning and losing is the problem. Perhaps the metaphor of a bride falling in love is the better one. Does God and Christ love the bride? Just as a covenant relationship with God is the core truth of the Christian faith, so the metaphor of a bride and bridegroom aptly sets the stage for understanding God’s love. I personally think the better question is…does Love ever commit?

I just downloaded my Kindle edition that will be coming on March 15. I eagerly await…as does the rest of Christendom!

In Christian love, Curtis