Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Matthew 7:25
Most of us have become aware of Rob Bell and his new book, Love Wins. The controversy over his teachings is suddenly blowing up in the Christian media. Honestly, I find the way some Christians are behaving over it, very disheartening. Just a few years ago, his Nooma videos were being shown all over the place, including the baptist church we attended.
Rob Bell is a very effective inspirational speaker. I wonder how many lives have been impacted for Christ because of this man. The way he explains God’s love is tangible.
Do I think he has been led astray? I honestly don’t know and here’s why. I have NOT read his book. Until I do, I am going to withhold judgment. I have seen some pastors whom I trust and respect say he is a false teacher. I still want to read his book before I agree because I believe that’s what we should all be doing.
Here’s what I’ve been witnessing and truly find disturbing. The nasty and mean comments by other Christians about Rob Bell. How can you attack someone that you just enjoyed a few years ago? How can you pass such judgments without having so much as touched his book?
The thing that is bothering me the most is how some Christians find it okay to make fun, say cruel things, and just be outright mean. What kind of witness is that to fellow believers and non-believers? We just confirm what a lot of non-believers think and feel by acting like a cruel hypocrite.
If Rob Bell is a false teacher and has taken a misstep in his walk with Christ, wouldn’t it be more effective and loving to pray for him? The power of prayer is much more powerful than words that tear down an individual.
Are we any better than the offender when we attack someone because they don’t agree with us? Where is the love we are supposed to show our enemy? The bible tells us that we are to love above all else because love covers a multitude of sin.
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
Now before anyone goes off on me, hear me out. Yes, I think false teachings should be brought to the forefront and addressed. However, the way that is handled tells a lot about our character and where we are in our walk with Christ. Let’s refrain from going for Rob’s jugular and state the facts, biblically. Leave the personal stuff at the door.
The world is watching. Non-believers are watching. Which will we show? Christ’s love or the sinful flesh that longs to be right? How often do we take to heart someone’s words when they are being ugly? Even if those words have truth, they tend to get tuned out.
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44
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Very well said.
Withholding judgment is the key; which is exactly what I said in my own post dealing with this (Questing whether LOVE WINS based on a glimpse – http://www.ecksermonator.com/?p=1402).
The saddest part is that those who condemned it the loudest did so before it was even released… they hadn’t even had the opportunity to read it themselves.
There’s a video on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfboAzw-XGU) where Ps. Bell clarifies matter. It’s well worth a few minutes to check it out.
I’ve read several in depth reviews from Bible teachers/authors I greatly respect who read his book. I agree with you that false teaching needs to be addressed, especially with souls at stake!
Renee, you should just go ahead and read the book. There are no souls at stake here. Rob Bell does not deviate at all from the gospel message that Jesus saves. Period. That’s the main thing that we all need to agree on, right? The only thing he explores is the idea of an eternal hell, a perspective that has been held by the majority of Biblical scholars since Jesus walked the earth.
I will tell you this – I was raised with what I’m going to go out on a limb and assume was a similar idea of heaven and hell as you probably know. I recently came across the theory of restorationism (Christian universalism) shortly before Bell’s book was released. I understand my God in a way I never have before, I’m more in love with Jesus than I was yesterday, and I have a renewed excitement about eternity with Him. It’s worth reading, even if you totally disregard all that Rob Bell puts out there.
I don’t know why I just wrote a novel to you, lol. Sorry about that 🙂 Be blessed!
Thank you for saying this. You are absolutely right. The world IS watching. Rob Bell gas been on Good Morning America, Fox News, and tons of other major media outlets preaching the gospel message. Even if you don’t agree on his views about Hell, he is sharing the love of Christ in a way that hasn’t been done in a long, long time. Beyond that – I’m with you on actually READING the book before you go nuts on his ideas. It’s brimming with scripture and he’s putting out an idea that was held by the majority of church scholars since Christ (the current idea of eternal punishment in evangelical Christianity is actually the minority view when you look at history).
Great post. Amen!
I have not read the book either. You make some excellent point about the judgments that are being placed on him throughout the Christian community. Even if he is blatantly wrong, it still wouldn’t give anyone the authority to criticize him as a person, he will need to make these (alleged) very public sins right with God.