By now, you have heard of Rob Bell’s new book Love Wins. There are lots of opinions about Rob Bell’s theology and his controversial book. I have posted responses to the book here (Post One and Post Two). I want to continue to speak about the important issues Love Wins addresses.
I don’t believe Rob Bell addresses a deeply important theological issue in Love Wins. I believe he purposely avoids it because it does not seem palatable at first glance. It is the Final Judgement and Wrath of God. He does talk about the judgement of God in the book (pages 37-39, 49-50, 89-90), but as present judgement and justice, not once-and-for-all Great White Throne-Wrath of God Judgement found in Revelation 20:11-15.
I believe Bell leaves the concepts of “wrath of God” and “final judgement” out of Love Wins on purpose. Who wants to talk about those? Talking about God’s wrath does not seem to win friends and influence people toward a loving God. Love does not seem to go with Holiness.
Or does it?
A final judgement, does not fit into Rob Bell’s Liberal Narrative Theology which includes Universalism (He proposes that all “could be” saved in the end. That is a form of Universalism). Leaving the chance for all to be saved does not glorify God because God does not leave that option open in the Biblical Scriptures. Let me grab just one passage of Scripture here. As mentioned earlier, Revelation 20:11-15 speaks of a Final Great White Throne Judgement for those who have not believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior during their lifetime. Those who do not know Jesus as Savior are waiting to be judged by God almighty. Satan has been judged, “thrown into the lake of burning sulfur forever” (verse 10) and now human beings who have not accepted Jesus as Savior during their life on earth will be thrown into the lake of fire also (verse 14) out of the presence of God almighty once-and-for-all forever. “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (verse 15)
…forever for eternal-ongoing-punishment out of the presence of God Almighty.
Our God is an all or nothing loving God. He does not second guess his plan of redemption. He can’t come close to sin. This is why He offered the answer! Jesus Christ is the way, truth and life for eternal salvation for all who accept Him while they are lived on earth (John 3:16, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:1-10).
One reason Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins is to rescue us from Final Judgement and the Wrath of God. There is a real Judgement coming for those who do not know Christ. The Book of Hebrews in the Bible describes, “a fearful expectation of judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:27). It calls us to live “with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Jesus warned the people of His day to “flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7). Jesus himself will be “revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not bey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction (forever), away from the presence of God and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). This does not sound like there will be a second chance after you die to me. You will not find this in Love Wins. (More verses to read: Revelation 14:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 9:28).
On one hand, this is not fun and is very scary to talk about. On the other hand, there is hope worth talking about because God has provided a way during this lifetime to be saved and to spend eternity (forever) with this God who provided the way (Yes, there are mysteries about God, but not on this issue). His name is Jesus Christ and the cross is the center of salvation. He died to provide us a way to be saved from the wrath of God, but we need to believe in Him as Savior (John 3:16).
This sounds like a God with a tremendous amount of love for you and I.
Afterall, the only way into the Kingdom is through the cross.
On another note…
I am reading another book right now called, Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day. I highly recommend this book to regain fresh perspective on Orthodox Evangelical Doctrinal and History for our day! Several have contributed to the book, but what is so encouraging is the ages of the authors are generally younger. This is not a dusty book in the since that it is a revision of an older theological book. It is a fresh, insightful, piece written and edited by a younger man who is reminding us of our Orthodox Evangelical Faith. Where did we come from? Where should we be going? These are important issues for those of us who want to be throughly Biblical, fresh in our methods, yet completely Orthodox not swaying in our belief rooted in a long line of Christians. I might be blogging on this book in the future, but I wanted you to know about it. Pick it up. Grab a cup of coffee and chair. Enjoy the read.
What do you think of all of this?
