At times I have thought it prudent to be quiet.
At times I have been a coward.
But here is the truth. Rob Bell is a good man and a good pastor.
More than that. He has good theology.
I don’t agree with everything he’s ever said, and I don’t expect to agree with everything he ever will say. He is a human man, and he sins like the rest of us. But he is a brother, and a co-worker in the ministry, and I am deeply deeply embarrassed for my church that has crucified him in the eye of public opinion the way we have. It’s bullying, and it’s disgusting.
We’ve been accusing him of heresy since the book was first announced. well now the book is out. The results are in, and guess what?
Rob Bell is not a Universalist.
I’ll say that again.
Rob Bell is not a Universalist. And all you christian leaders who took time away from teaching the bible in order to string him up in the public square are guilty of lieing to your congregations.
James 3:1
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Luke 17:2
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Rob Bell believes in Kingdom Theology, and with it he accepts a variant understanding of heaven and hell than the one that is commonly taught. It’s actually a fascinating variant, and one I’m partial to myself.
Simply speaking heaven is coming now, beginning here on this earth, Our eternal lives start now and in so much as we live them in the presence of God we are already in heaven. In so much as we reject God we are in hell.
This notion does not preclude a traditional conservative interpretation as well (It’s quite possible that after we die hell becomes much more flamey, and there’s nothing about this theology that says it can’t be)
Bell also expresses awareness of the mystery of salvation. He doesn’t know who is saved and who isn’t. I’m very concerned about any supposed biblical teacher who claims anything different. The bible says there will be those who cry “Lord, Lord” who will not enter.
And he believes that we will have the ability to choose Jesus even after death. I don’t think that’s biblicaly justified. So there you have it. Then again, I can see where he gets that idea based on the character of God.
S0 Rob Bell is batting 2/3 for his horrible heretical book that is going to lead this generation astray. What about you, conservative christian leader? I sincerely doubt you will find a reading of scripture that is as tolerant of your lies as it is on Bells NotUniversalism.
So why don’t you repent? go ahead and turn from your evil ways. Write a retraction to your articles, post follow ups to your facebook statuses, and admit you lied. Our God is abounding in steadfast love, and he will forgive all of us for the way we have hideously cannibalized one another. If you still don’t like Rob Bell that’s fine, but he’s not guilty of what you accused him of.
And while you’re at it… Do you remember that supposed 9/11 Victory Mosque?…Yeah…That too….And that ordinance we lied about… and that… and that…
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