Rob Bell believes in a literal hell - he says so in the book - and before you bash someone you better be sure you know what they believe. Check out his church's belief page:
http://marshill.org/believe/ (click the bottom link)
One of my favorite quotes from a theologian is from Brennan Manning and he says, “The great cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who proclaim Jesus on their lips and then walk out the door and deny him with their lives. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” (if it sounds familiar, this quote was in a DC Talk song)
So yes, the world is watching… all the while asking, “Who are Christians?”
Sadly, we’re people who often pass judgment, we’re finger pointers, we’re crazy, or we’re just like everybody else; and if that’s what the world thinks of Christians, I’m scared of what the world thinks of Jesus.
In a book I read a while back, there was a quote from an atheist named Penny that went something like this, “Eastern religions are more attractive to me, because they focus more on being kind to others, loving other people of other spiritual beliefs even if they are different from you, treading lightly, and being humble. I think that was similar to the message of Jesus, but that’s the opposite of what I experienced from church and Christians.”
Now, an ubelieving world might read that and nod approvingly, but a conservative Christian will read that and shake their head in disgust… “That’s universalism” they would say. And in a nutshell, universalism is a “no tolerance policy” towards other faiths our outside thought. And just to be fair, the bible does make very exclusive claims.
And here is where I want to spend a few moments… I don’t want to talk about how Christians “judge the world,” and are the critics of all thing secular. I believe Paul takes that head on in 1 Corinthians and he says it much better than I can.
No, I want to turn the accusing finger ironically in and talk about how Christians judge other Christians.
It seems another of “us” have taken it upon themselves to pick up the first stone - and hurled it – at yes, you guessed it, Rob Bell.
Justin Taylor submitted a “book review” (if you can call it that) of Rob Bell’s “unreleased” book, Love Wins. In a nutshell he admits that he has not read the book, but is merely judging it (and Rob) by a few early “wiki-leaked” chapters and publisher blurbs; and in the review he calls Rob a universalist.
Why is that so bad? Well it has started a chain reaction of Christian judgement across the twitterverse that according to Jason Boyett has “more than 20,000 Facebook recommendations and 1,000 comments.” So much so that the accusations floated all the way up to “Christian Super Hero,” John Piper who then perpetuated the rumor by tweeting three words…
“Farewell, Rob Bell”
Which I assume is John Piper calling Rob an apostate. You don’t think so? Consider the definition…
Apostasy is what we call people who have left the faith either by their own volition or who we deem “too radical” to be included. The word derives from the Greek αποστασία (apostasia), meaning a defection or revolt, from απο, apo, “away, apart”, στάσις, stasis, “stand”, “standing”. It literally means someone who “stands over there.”
Apostasy is an “outsider.”
And “Farewell” is what we say to people who are leaving. (cue Steam)
But unlike Simon the stylite, Rob has not been hiding from a watching world, far from it. He is one of a very small group of celebrity preachers. And Rob might cringe at that title, but it’s true. He is an author, sought after public speaker, pastor of a mega-church, innovator, creator, mover, shaker and purveyor of fine salsas. And when any celebrity comes under fire by the critics of the world, history has shown us that it’s par for the course.
There is a Japanese proverb that says, “the stake that sticks up, gets hammered down.” It Sounds very similar to our American saying, “Anytime you poke your head above the crowd, someone will take a poke at it.”
America has made a business out of celebrity-bashing. And it’s no surprise that sometimes the easiest way to make a name for yourself – is to tarnish somebody else’s name.
Rob has spent his life being a Eucharist to others – he has literally broken open his life and poured it out for others – and that’s a costly thing.
Fortunatly there is another wise saying from Epicurus, ”I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.”
In other words, “if you don’t get the joke, maybe it’s not for you.” If everyone else around you is laughing, but you are not – it doesn’t mean that it’s not funny. You might not have “got it” but obviously a lot of people did – so the joke was not for you.
I would argue that Rob is writing and speaking for Penny and the universalists of the world. Rob doesn’t write to appease his critics. I bet you a million dollars he didn’t write this new book for Justin Taylor or John Piper. Rob is speaking for the outsiders and the people who don’t “get it.” And sometimes to reach that audience – you need to use that language – and pose those same questions; and I guess the price for this is – to get lumped into that same crowd as well.
I seem to remember the religious leaders of Jesus day making those same accusations about Jesus (Matthew 11:19). They called him terrible things and accused him of hanging out with the wrong crowd (Mark 2:13-17). And sadly this happens to modern prophets as well.
