Rob Bell in His Own Words (Part One)

"Several years ago we had an art show at our church. I had been giving a series of teachings on peacemaking, and we invited artists to display their paintings, poems, and sculptures that reflected their understanding of what it means to be a peacemaker. One woman included in her work a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, which a number of people found quite compelling.

But not everyone.

Someone attached a piece of paper to it.

On the piece of paper was written: "Reality check: He's in hell."

Really?

Gandhi's in hell?

He is?

We have confirmation of this?

Somebody knows this?

Without a doubt?

And that somebody decided to take on the responsibility of letting the rest of us know?

Of all the billions of people who have ever lived, will only a select number 'make it to a better place' and every single other person suffer in torment and punishment forever? Is this acceptable to God? Has God created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish? Can God do this, or even allow this, and still claim to be a loving God?" (Excerpt from "Love Wins" Chapter One)

This is the beginning of Love Wins by Mr. Bell. I'm confused about this opening. Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

I know Mr. Bell likes to ask questions, and in the light of the scripture let me answer them for him, or should I say I will let God's words answer them:

Q #1 "Really?" Yes, really, considering that Gandhi was a life long Hindu, if Gandhi repented and confessed with his mouth that Jesus was his Lord before his death, then no he's not in hell he's with God in heaven. Gandhi believed that all religions were roads that led to God. This is contrary to the path of salvation talked about in the Bible.

Q #2 "We have confirmation of this?" If you call the Bible confirmation, then yes, we do have confirmation of this. Again, if he repented and believed that Jesus was his Lord he found salvation.

Q #3 "Somebody knows this?" Yes, I do, I don't like the fact that Gandhi's in hell, but I do know that if he was Hindu and didn't believe that salvation comes from Christ then he is in hell.

Q #4 "Without a doubt?" Yes, to be clear, I believe what Acts 4:12 says. I could also back it up with various other whole sections of scripture.

Q #5 "And that somebody decided to take on the responsibility of letting the rest of us know?" I guess somebody did decide to let the rest of us know. Like I am now. Do I think this was the appropriate response to a peacemaking art show, no. Do I think the person who posted this on the art piece was vindictive, offensive, and maybe even not saved themselves, yes I do. But if someone is going to pose some questions to me, even in a book, I'm going to answer them truthfully and honestly.

Q #6 "Of all the billions of people who have ever lived, will only a select number 'make it to a better place' and every single other person suffer in torment and punishment forever?" Yes, only a select number, "make it to a better place". Only those who find salvation in Christ.

Q #7 "Is this acceptable to God?" Yes, it is. He is Just. Does He want all to come repent and be saved through faith in Christ, yes. Do all repent, no.

Q #8 "Has God created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish?" Simply put, yes. If they don't repent and go God's way.

Q #9 "Can God do this, or even allow this, and still claim to be a loving God?" Yes. There are many things I don't understand about God. But God is loving and just. I don't think it works without both (Although I do think God can do whatever He wants). If He is love and not just is it really love at all. If He is just without love He would just be a judge and not God.

So there are some answers. Before you go dismissing them please understand that I am just using a very clear piece of scripture that Mr. Bell seems to want to ignore. If you are thinking, these are just questions he is posing to make us think. Understand that teachers use questions to teach with, which is what Mr. Bell is doing here. Then ask yourself, what is he trying to teach you?

My Day

6:20 a.m. Get up with Will and Lucas.

7:30 a.m. Pack lunches.

7:50 a.m. Take the kids to school and drop off Tonya's grading.

8:15 a.m. Breakfast with Will.

8:30 a.m. Play with Will.

10:00 a.m. Will's nap time. (This means it's Daddy's nap time.)

11:40 a.m. Will's up and at um. (So is Daddy.)

12:00 p.m. Make Will Lunch.

12:30 p.m. Do the dishes and a load of laundry.

12:45 p.m. Will and I go to the store to get mommy some medicine and Gatorade.

1:00 p.m. Do some more dishes. (I knew that some were not dishwasher safe, I just didn't know which ones so I had to hand wash A LOT of them.)

1:30 p.m. Watch the ROAR movie with Will.

2:30 p.m. Do some more dishes. (It's funny how fast they pile up when no one is doing them for a couple of days. I also noticed that we don't have one of those handy things to set them on so they can air dry. After rinsing them I had to dry each one by hand. Did you know that all drying towels are not created equal?)

2:55 p.m. Take Will and pick up the kids from school.

3:10 p.m. Noticed we were low on gas so we had to get some.

3:20 p.m. Have to go get some more groceries. (I guess I missed the extra text.)

3:45 p.m. Get home.

4:00 p.m. Reinforcements come in the form of Aunt Su Su and Uncle Dan. (They distract the kids so I can get a little bit of work done with the printer.)

5:45 p.m. Make dinner for the kids. (Hot Dogs on the grill and chips.)

6:30 p.m. Put on Mega Mind for the kids so I can do some research for the church.

7:30 p.m. Give Will a bath. (Washing his hair for me is a challenge. Even though it's "no more tears" I don't want to get any of that soap in his eyes.)

7:45 p.m. Put clothes on Will and brush his hair.

8:00 p.m. Put Will to bed. Ask Sidney to get in the shower. Play Angry Birds with Lucas.

8:30 p.m. Tell Sidney and Lucas to go to bed. Watch a couple of TV shows.

10:17 p.m. Now.

Before you go thinking I'm super dad just know that this is the kind of day my wife puts in everyday. Except for the fact that she fits her job into that schedule.

It wasn't easy. Now I'm tired and think I may have to do it over again tomorrow. I love my wife and she has had a miserable couple of days. Please pray for her.

Men we need to take care of our families. God has called us to. What kind of husband, father or pastor would I be if I didn't take care of them when they needed me the most.

Goodyear Blimp

On our drive to take my father-in-law back to LAX we happened across the Goodyear Blimp touched down off the side of the 405. It was kind of an impressive site. Sheldon said he had never seen the blimp parked before. I was under the impression that there were blimp hangers for these parking jobs.

But as I thought about it I realized that it was a brilliant move on Goodyear's part. The blimp was sitting by the 405 in a grassy field. It had lights shining on it from both directions. Basically it was a huge billboard for Goodyear tires. Instead of storing it away between events now, they get more bang-for-their-buck, so to speak, by parking it off of one of the busiest freeways in the world. And isn't it true that when we all go to buy tires we really want to know how much the Goodyears are?

I then started thinking, because I'm a pastor, about our lives. When I am parked what am I advertising. As Christians, if you are one, shouldn't our lives advertise Christ even in the midst of rest and relaxation. My primary job is a pastor of the Branches Community Church. When I am in other locations and I am resting or playing is Christ what is read on the side of my blimp? (Are you saying you're fat Pink?!? Of course I am, I need to start working on that.) Do people know, in all facets of my life, that I am someone they see Christ in? Isn't that the goal, to let the Holy Spirit write on my life His words?

If you're not a Christian you have a choice as well. In your down time what do you advertise for? People will label you with what they see you doing with the majority of your time. Are you helping, encouraging, and caring for others? Or are you into yourself and your own things.

Some blimps shout keep away! (And no, I'm not calling you fat.) Some blimps say come over to this grassy field and let's hang for a while.

Love Wins by Rob Bell

There has been much said about this new book by Mr. Bell. I have read the book over the past 24 hours and have many observations. Here are a few:

Mr. Bell is very upset at the way the church of his youth and many churches today go about teaching people about salvation. I too am very upset about the way many churches go about telling people the truth about salvation. The difference between Mr. Bell and myself is that although we come to many of the same conclusions we come to some very different solutions. Mr. Bell has come up with a solution that is unbiblical. The answers he comes up with cannot be supported by the entire tone of the Bible. He does an interesting tap dance by taking single verses, or even bits of verses to try to support the fact that he believes that everyone and everything will be restored. Unfortunately the most basic reader would not understand that reading these verses in context and out of context are two very different things.

Mr. Bell has ignored and is continuing to ignore whole sections of scripture. This is very common in many denominations today. Mr. Bell is not alone. The last church I ministered at along with it's denomination and yearly meeting have done a very good job taking what they want from scripture and leaving the rest, I guess, for someone else.

Mr. Bell does not use the two words Holy Spirit in this entire book. I noticed this towards the middle of the book and then was looking for it as I read the remainder. Why not mention the Holy Spirit? Seems like that was intentional to me. I have some theories that I may share in another post.

This book and it's content are very weak. It does not have a shred of scholarship attached to it. In many ways it is the kind of book I would like to write. It's easy to put thoughts down on paper and then sell it like it is supported by people throughout history. I believe that Mr. Bell did this intentionally. He wants people who are not familiar with what the Bible says to read this work and believe what he is saying is biblical. It's very easy reading. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can read it. I do have a love for this type of book, I don't mean the content, I mean the ease of read. I like reading short books that have something to say that I can pull thoughts from easily. I also think the general public has a right to them. Unfortunately this book is expounding thoughts and ideas that lead people away from the truth instead of to truth.

This is by no means the extent of my thoughts on this book. I highlighted things I agreed with and things I didn't agree with while reading the book. Over the next few weeks I will post Mr. Bell's thoughts with my responses to them on this blog. It's easier for me to handle it one topic or statement at a time.

Please Don't

Hey Christians, we should really try, when dealing with people who don't call Jesus their Lord, to earn the chance to speak the truth with love. If you can't follow this simple rule please don't speak.


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I love this post.

Mark Driscoll has posted a great paper on hell on the resurgence page. Here is the link: http://theresurgence.com/2011/03/14/to-hell-with-hell

It is long but it is a must read for anyone who has ever wanted Biblical teaching on hell. The good news is that I don't have to write it (not that I would have done near the job), he has already researched and written it. Much of the information in "To Hell with Hell" comes from the book he has co-written called Doctrine.

In Honor of St. Patricks Day