Oops. Looks like Rob Bell may have spilled some paint.
Rob Bell is either a genius or, well, something else. He has recently released the video above to generate a stir around the upcoming release of his new book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and The Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. If by “stir” he meant “whirlpool,” “tsunami,” or “rain falling sideways so hard that it still gets through the quarter-inch crack at the bottom of the open window and soaks your important papers,” then I’d say it worked.
There are a lot of people – some that have really big names – that are doing a fantastic job of jumping to conclusions about a book they’ve never read, and I don’t want to be one of them. My thoughts about his book will come after, well, I’ve read it. For now, I’ll just share a few of my thoughts about the video and all the fallout from it:
- Rob Bell’s marketing team is brilliant. His yet-to-be released book is already #20 in Amazon’s bestseller list. Again…it isn’t released yet. Wow.
- The ends don’t justify the means. At some point, if we’re going to use social media like Facebook,blogs, and and other “shoot from the hip” tools like Twitter, then we’ve got to be responsible about it. Bell does a great job of asking really controversial questions in an attempt to get us to read his stuff, and sometimes what we read calms our fears about what we thought he meant. But what about the people who never actually read it? What conclusions do they draw from the marketing that has surrounded the pre-release?
- The number of thoughtless, reactionary tweets followed by explanations and/or retractions reminded me of all the guys in the NFL who sat in front of their TVs and tweeted about Jay Cutler in the NFC championship game. Just to make sure you understand the insanity of that, let me restate: the guys tweeting about Cutler’s performance (or lack of) were actually not performing. Sideline critics really drive me nuts.
Since the only thing I know about this book is the title and that it’s about heaven and hell, let me close with a few thoughts about that. I hope that Bell isn’t going to end up being a universalist (believing that hell isn’t necessary because all of us will eventually end up in heaven anyway), and I can’t make that call without reading his words later. I have read this excerpt from the book that gives me pause:
“Could God say to someone truly humbled broken and desperate ‘sorry too late?’ Many have refused to accept the scenario in which somebody is pounding on the door apologizing, repenting, and asking God to be let in only to hear God say through the key hole ‘Doors locked, sorry If only you had been here earlier, I could have done something but now its too late.” (copied as is from a pre-release, non-edited version found here).”
Now, until I read the context of that, I won’t know what he’s trying to say, but based on that alone it makes me wonder if Bell knows that Evan Almighty wasn’t based on the actual Biblical account. People died because they ignored the way of escape which God provided through Noah. I can imagine a neighbor of Noah’s pounding on that door and hearing the words “too late.” Is it sad? Absolutely. Should we do everything possible to make sure people don’t have to hear those words? Most definitely. Are we? Not really. But our lack of obedience to God and compassion to others will never change the absoluteness of eternal reality. It feels as if Bell would like it to. “Lord, since they were all jerks and didn’t tell me the truth, would it be possible for you to change it on my behalf?” That sounds reasonable from our perspective, but from God’s perspective, it’s a slap in the face. My last point will (hopefully) clarify what I mean by that.
I think the title of the book is the wrong tense, and that sometimes a simple mistake (or intentional wording) like that can really change the meaning. Love Wins says to me that there is always the likelihood that rules can be changed or even done away with so that, when it’s all said and done, love can come out on top. As if somehow the end of the story isn’t written yet, and from the perspective of our human journey, I agree and am glad that there is still time to write my story.
But on the cross, love won. Jesus said “it is finished” because His work there was complete. He didn’t say that “it is being finished,” as if somehow He still had to work out the details of His ending. His part is done. He is the second ark that’s been provided ahead of the coming flood. The only question now is are we smart enough to actually choose to side with Him? If we aren’t, then the fact that we knew who won and still chose otherwise won’t only be tragic, but downright foolish.
Love may indeed win, but people who make that choice won’t. They can’t, because they still haven’t seen that their sin is real, and so is the hell that Jesus paid the price to save them from. The seriousness of that reality makes me grateful for people like Bell who continue to write, question, and explore this faith of ours (or as he termed it in his book, Velvet Elvis, “repaint the Christian faith”).
My prayer for him – and all of us who are trying to engage the culture around us in a discussion about the truth of Jesus – is that we will paint carefully. This is a painting that is worth our time and care. One which demands we spill as little paint as possible.
As always, debate away. Discussion is good for the soul.
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I’m so glad you posted this. Haven’t heard of the release and certainly was outta loop with the controversy this has stirred up. I share your irritation for commentators. I feel the exact same way about folks who regurgitate opinions of others rather than researching to form their own. I have been guilty of doing this before and it is always humiliating. Sadly, people will not read books like The Shack because of irresponsible criticism. After browsing the blog you linked to, I formed my own opinion and am looking forward to reading the book.
I am thankful to have authors like Bell who cause us to question and discuss our stand. Can’t wait to read!
Paul, thank you for tackling this topic. Since we don’t know what the book holds, I’ll talk about the Universalist Movement in general. Don’t they know that “there is a way that seems right to man, but that path leads straight to hell”? Don’t they know that if we create a god into an image that fits our preferences that we are creating false gods? Have they forgotten that our righteousness is like filthy rags compared to His?
I can wait to read the book. The Daytona 500 was recently televised….I didn’t watch it until the highlights were posted on Youtube. There is just so much of the 4 hour race that seems pointess. I’d rather watch the video on Youtube and catch all of the most exciting parts in 8 minutes. That’s why I really look forward to reading your review on “Love Wins”. I realize letting you read it for me makes me look lazy. I’m not lazy. I just have a lot of compromising to do now, since love wins anyway.
So, you want me to watch all future Daytona 500 races for you AND read Love Wins, too? You’re asking a lot, since I usually fall asleep during most NASCAR races.
Nah, just a book a week is good :o)
Excellent post. Thanks for this info.