Well, as soon as Rob Bell’s book “Love Wins” was released in the USA I was able to take ownership of my copy via Kindle for iPad. This book is now so very well known becasue it has become so controversial. It has sparked some ferocious bogging and tweeting with everyone from John Piper to Mark Driscoll and many others wading in. Personally I was quite astounded how many people entered the fray before even reading the transcript of the book – Piper included. Personally I was interested in what Bell would say in this book as I found his book ”Velvet Elvis” a tad concerning (You can read the review here, or download the PDF) to say the least and yet there seemed to be little in the blogasphere at the time I wrote it.
All that changed when Bell released a video about his new book – Love Wins – which appeared, at best, to leave him wide open to being misunderstood as being a “Universalist” which fuelled speculation that he was indeed Universalist. This time the blogasphere was rampant with claims stating that Bell is undoubtedly a Universalist and suggestions that he believes that Hell is devoid of humans because they are all in heaven.
Given that there is so much now being written on this throughout the world I have decided at this point in time not to enter the fray myself but will of course continue to read his book. Looking at the material now being written it looks like much of what I wrote about Bell in my review of his book “Velvet Elvis” is true of this book too!
So I will simply point you in the direction some of the best responses I have seen so far.
God Is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School Is Still True: A Review of “Love Wins”
It is interesting how this has been the kick for poeple to express their grave concerns over Rob Bell. I think before he has walked a very fine line which has had many people very concerned but not enough to raise like this. However this time I think he has gone far enough away from orthodox Christianity for it to warrant comment.
Driscoll has had things to say about Bell before and largely because originally he was part of the same Emergent folks in the 90′s before parting on doctrinal grounds.
I think Rob Bell would make an excellent Politician since he never actually answers a question. That Martin Bashir interview is fascinating. Bell redefines everything when answering questions so his answer never responds to the actual intended meaning of the question.
Also interestingly about this debate or ‘conversation’ is that the folks on the critical side have only pointed out the errors in what Rob Bell has said and in no way been personal in their attacks. The reverse cannot be said of his supporters from what I can see!
One thing I also find interesting is that no one, or very few, really want to use the H word. At the end of the day, from what I gather without having read the actual book, what he sais would be considered Heretical by any orthodox measure.
Interested to hear what you do actually think of the book even if you don’t publish it.