Just discovered this video and the book it talks about.
Rob Bell is one of the ebst and most compelling communicators I know. This topic is one I have been wrestling with for a long time!
Unfortunately the book is already creating a lot of controversy. Though no one has read it yet, many evangelicals are condemning Rob as a heritic. I posted this link on my Facebook and even there a bit of a debate developed.
Here's what I wrote in response: "I think the Biblical texts on the subject are hard to understand and even harder to put into a coherent framework, I am not sure it can really be done. I think we need to form a starting point, and I agree with Rob that our starting point should be 'the character of God'. Maybe that's why so many evangelicals are all upset: because they realize if the starting point is a loving and gracious God who will go to any length to redeem people and indeed creation (as indeed He demonstrates in dying for us himself on the cross), they loose their special place and priviliges?"
Anyway, will let you know what I think when the book does come out...
Follow-up comment on March 18th, 2011:
Wow... the book really has sparked a lot of controversy. I have had a ton of conversations about it. I have to say: my enthusiasm has diminished somewhat. There are several good reviews online. Here's one I just found. I also thought Andrew Jones' overview of how 'a new generation of Christians' is going to respond to the question of heaven and hell was VERY good and helpful!
I just listened to the audioversion, here is my quick response:
Why all this noise about a book (the rumours started even before the book was out) that does not, in anyway, tell us something new?
Bell is a master in raising questions without clearly answering them. it is a good thing that he raises some questions (or: recalls questions that others raised before) on some orthodox notions about heaven, hell, redemption and stuff like that.
What he does not do is fall into the usual pitfall of suggesting a universalist alternative. He just puts different opinions in juxtaposition and then says: it's ok if you believe that, you can still be a christian.
He does so in a beautiful way when he asks the question `does god get what he wants', concerning whether or not all people are to be saved. He persists asking this question for almost one chapter and then finally turns everything upside down by refraiming the question: if i would ask `do we get what we want?' the answer will surely be YES!
That is brilliant and proves the great rhetoric gift of the author. But it's not revolutionary, far from that...
There is no heresy in this book, at least i didn't find it.
Posted by: peTer | Thursday, May 05, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Bell positions a statement: "Can it be correct that God will throw all millions upon millions into Hell." Subsequently, he positions another statement: This is what the Church believes. Lastly, he states: This is not Good News. He uses the techniques of the demagogue. He may or may not be a heretic - that depends of course on your own starting point - but he is certainly someone whose words need to be meticulously weighed on their merits. For his art is one of presenting an attractive proposition which may or may not be true.
Posted by: Hans | Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 05:08 PM