You may have heard that the Christian corner of the internet blew up this weekend over the always controversial topic of hell.
In case you missed it Rob Bell and his publisher, Harper Collins, released an extremely provocative trailer and synopsis for his new book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Then Justin Taylor, vice president of editorial at Crossway, announced that Bell is a “universalist” and started a chain-reaction of high-profile pastors denouncing Bell on Twitter before they had read the book. Most notably, Bethlehem Baptist Church pastor John Piper tweeted, "Farewell Rob Bell. http://dsr.gd/fZqmd8" linking to Taylor's post.
In an interview with Christianity Today Scot McKnight noted, “Rob is tapping into what I think is the biggest issue facing evangelicalism today, and this fury shows that it just might be that big of an issue.” I totally agree, but this is a horrible way to start the conversation.
Like it or not, the questions that Bell raises in the video trailer for the book are the very questions I’ve wrestled with since childhood along with so many in my generation.
Will only a few select people make it into heaven?
How does one become one of these few?
Are people like Ghandi and Anne Frank really in hell, along with millions and millions of other people?
Do we need a loving Jesus to rescue us from a hateful God? Is this what the gospel is all about?
Is the gospel good news or bad news?
What is the essence of God's character?
These are important questions that every generation must grapple with for themselves. However, it is important to remember that these are also deeply personal questions. They can be used to incite, to provoke… or to sell books. As John Deyer notes, by never directly stating what he really thinks and releasing just enough to get everyone excited, Bell and Harper Collins hit a publicity home run. It doesn’t really matter what the book actually contains, the longer Bell stays silent, the more traffic the blogs and tweets generate, and the higher Bell’s sales go. The result? Love Wins wins.
Still, the rigid certainty in Piper’s theological interpretations, and the interpretations of his close followers, make it extremely difficult for anyone to ask these questions. As Jason Boyett points out “there is no meaner, more hateful person on Earth than a Christian who suspects you have gotten your theology wrong.”
Reading and understanding the Bible involves a lot of interpretation. And theology is best done with humility and a recognition that certainty will be very hard to come by. When Paul urges us to “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (Col. 3:16), the Greek verbs are to “instruct” and to “challenge” or “confront.” This certainly includes holding people to obey the Bible, but it means more than that. It means working together to understand the implications of the Word of God for our life together. We are being directed to read, discuss, mutually instruct, challenge, and make reasoned arguments about the Bible together until it shapes the way we live. We are to read and argue and study the Bible together to come to deeper unity of faith and to consensus about how to be the people of God in our particular time and place.
I agree with Taylor and others that these issues are central, not peripheral, to the gospel. But instantly using the label "heretic" for anyone who raises them does not display the gospel's equally central teaching of humility and love. On the other hand, these issues are far too important to be used as a publicity stunt.
After all, these are not new questions. Christians (yes even Evangelical Christians) have been having these discussions for years and will for years to come. While there is general agreement on the final state of believers: that they will be resurrected to a transformed and embodied eternal life with the Lord. And clearly Jesus and the rest of the New Testament teaches judgment and hell for the impenitent, that is just where the questions begin...
Is hell the destiny of all people who do not put their trust in Christ in this life? If so, what is the nature of hell? Was Jesus speaking in literal or metaphorical terms? Does eternal destruction mean destroyed for eternity or eternally conscious torment? (I feel a sermon series coming on).
In the end, I am grateful our generation has the opportunity to discuss these questions anew. I just wish we could have gotten off to a better start.
Paul... thanks for this. Living here in Grand Rapids, MI at the "epicenter" of this controversy means we are inundated with anti-Rob Bell news almost by the minute. I have not read the book, but am thankful for the reminder that the Bible is my guide, not Rob's book - it's merely a tool and a jumping off point (one of thousands), if used as such.
Posted by: Meghan VanBeek | March 03, 2011 at 08:29 AM
Wise words Pablo...glad I have smart friends like you to fill me in on what else is going on in the world. Did Charlie Sheen weigh in on the topic?...Ah...cause that's where I've been focusing my attention lately. I should really make better use of my time.
Posted by: Dave Strom | March 10, 2011 at 09:20 AM