Many have asked what my opinion on the whole Rob Bell situation is. To put it plainly, I have never really been a fan of Rob Bell, for numerous reasons. Although some of his Nooma videos are great, when I read Velvet Elvis I was deeply disturbed by a lot of his views. I will clear up some of those bellow.
First, as I have stated before, this blog exists to see current issues in the light of worldview, philosophical, and orthodox ancient thought. Once we see what Rob Bells underlaying assumptions are, it will be clear why Rob Bell writes what he does.
If we come to Rob Bells book, Love Wins, without knowing what Rob Bells philosophical worldview is, than it will be very easy for us to get taken away in his presupposing arguments where he tends to take Scripture out of context, and his emotional prods towards his worldview.
Rob Bell's book Love Wins reads very easily; I actually read it in one night.
So why does Rob Bell write like he does? What are his presuppositions? To find this out it is important to know that Rob Bell was mentored by Brian McLaren. For Brian McLaren, who is one of the main thinkers in the 'emergent conversation', absolute truth is hard to find. This comes from McLaren's philosophical worldview, which would lean towards postmodernism.
Postmodernism is simply defined in religion as a suspicion towards objective truth. Now, McLaren and Bell do not deny the objective truth of the bible, however, they tend to assume that objective truth is near impossible to find in the bible.
This is very easy to find in Velvet Elvis and Love Wins. In Velvet Elvis Rob Bell plainly says that Christianity is not about objective truth. If you have read Velvet Elvis, you know that Bell uses an analogy of bricks and trampoline springs. Bell says that Christianity should not be about a brick wall, where we have doctrines (i.e objective truths), because when one of those bricks falls than the whole wall falls. Instead, Bell says, we should invite people to jump on a trampoline, and when some doctrines (i.e objective truths) break than people still jump. He says that doctrines can bend and break and people can still jump. This is Rob Bells version of saying that objective truth should not be concrete and objective. Bell thinks it should be bending and breaking truth, which is not solid and defined at all. This is clearly an idea coming from his postmodern worldview, not biblical Christianity.
Christianity is about bricks, as much as Bel wants it not to be. Rob Bell talks about the virgin birth as an example, and says that if the virgin birth "falls out of the brick wall" than the entire wall will fall. This is true. If Jesus was not born of a virgin than he has an earthly dad; if Jesus has an earthly dad than he isn't God; and if Jesus is not God, than there is no salvation -- that is a pretty big deal, wouldn't you say? Take out one brick and the entire wall falls! But for Bell, we should not view it this way. We should view doctrines like a trampoline where the springs can bend and break -- one doctrine (or truth) can be lost or distorted, and we can still jump. I believe this is wrong, and it is clearly coming from Bell's worldview which is influenced by postmodernism.
In Love Wins, Bell does the same thing. Bell bends, and possibly breaks, the doctrines of salvation, atonement, hell, general revelation, final judgment, etc. Bell takes long strides to say that we cannot know how to be saved. I believe that is one of the greatest errors in Love Wins. Although Bell does give a universalist view of salvation, there is something at the root of this universalism, and it is his belief that there is no objective way to find salvation in God. Bell quotes numerous bible verses out of context to show that we cannot find the objective truth of how to be saved. It seems like he is basically saying that even the bible is not clear about it, and he goes far to prove this. His argument then follows that people all over the world are saved even though they do not know it, because they love, and that since God can save everyone and wants to save everyone, than he will save everyone, despite their lack of belief.
After reading Rob Bell's book, there is only one thing someone can really say: "I am confused..." Bell likes to ask a lot of questions, and not give any answers -- this is typical of postmodern thought, because again, answers are objective truths, so asking questions with no answers goes along with the the view that objectives truths cannot be found.
It is important to know this when reading ideas from the emergent church, and really, although postmodernism seems like a new way of thinking, it is nothing new.
In John 18:37 Jesus says, "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth."
In response Pilate says, "What is truth?" I do not think this was a question, but a statement. Pilate is most likely saying something like, "Truth? We can't find that! What is truth?!"
Postmodernism is nothing new, and we should recognize it. Jesus came to testify to the truth, which is concrete, objective, and can be found!
One last note, if you do decided to read Bell's book, it is important to realize that there is a lot of truth in the book, and it easy to get taken away by the error because we find truth! but sometimes, as C.S Lewis said, "by mixing a little truth with it, they had made their lie far stronger."
Specifically, Bell is right on when it comes to the presence of the kingdom and heaven as here and now. He is also right to put emphasis on the restoration of all things in the new heaven and new earth. He is also right to say that we cannot do anything to contribute to our salvation, including belief, but he missed the point that repentance and belief is still necessary for salvation, but it is just a gift from God.
But, although there is some truth in the book, it is important for us, and Christian thinkers, to be able to pick out truth and lie, and not fall for lies because convincing truth lies beside it.
If you read Bell, or other emergent thinkers, I hope this is helpful for you to understand their underlying assumptions and beliefs which deeply effect their theology.
For a more detailed review of Bells book, here are some good resources:
Kevin DeYoung Review - http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/03/14/rob-bell-love-wins-review/
Relevant Mag Review - http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/reviews/25070-love-wins-by-rob-bell?start=1
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