July 6, 2011

A Strong Opinion About Rob Bell's Message

I'm not always up on all the news and latest and greatest out there in the world.  I prefer to remain optimistic and I tire easily of the constant coverage of bad news. That means I may be slow here in responding to the recent controversy surrounding pastor and author Rob Bell.

I must confess I just went out to Youtube to find the controversial video recently produced by Rob Bell introducing his new book about hell.  Can I tell you that I am deeply disturbed and irritated with what I just watched?

From what I can tell he is proclaiming that there is no hell.  He is insinuating that because God is a loving God, that he would not condemn people to hell.  Rob Bell couldn't be more wrong.

No one can take what they like about scripture and leave what they don't like.  Scripture is clear, and over and over again Jesus himself talks about hell, and that the only way to God is through him.  God is love, but He is also just.  We see countless examples in the Old Testament of God exacting His justice on many who were disobedient.  Those who did not obey the commands of the Lord were put to death.

"So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded." Joshua 10:40

If what Rob Bell suggests were true, there would have been no reason for Jesus to die.  If God didn't demand payment for our sins as our way into heaven, then Jesus didn't need to die for us.

"For the wages of sin is death
but the gift of God is eternal life 
in Christ Jesus our Lord." 
Romans 6:23

The word "hell" is mentioned 14 times in the New Testament, and many of those were spoken by Jesus himself.  Was Jesus just making that up?  Why would he mention a place that wasn't real?

I invite you to study the scriptures for yourself.  It is very clear.  You don't need to be a scholar to understand it.

  • Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
  • "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Matthew 23:33
  • But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:5
  • Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.Mark 16:16
  • Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36
  • If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15
Many are called and gifted by God to spread His message of salvation in and through the church.  But when someone suddenly goes in the wrong direction, don't follow.  Investigate.  Ask questions.  Pray.  Read your Bible.  Study.

All Scripture is God-breathed and truth.  Not just part of it.... ALL OF IT.








iFellowship

7 comments:

  1. I checked out the video on Rob Bell's new book and ...was very disturbed! He speaks so smoothly and if someone were not grounded in their faith, I could see how Rob would be able to draw them in. He is recreating God in a way that suits him and not what the Bible says. The Bible warns us about false teachers. I am all about love but I also know that God in love sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins. That was done in love.

    Thank you for speaking out about this. It caused me to do a little research as I want to know what is being said and taught. I guess people are hearing what their itching ears want to hear and that's so sad.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  2. So true! It is scary to think how many are deceived by him and others that preach things like this. :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. What if those 'places' are within us, and not an Outside, external place? We create our own heaven and hell every day by the choices we make about what we think, eat, say and do. Scripture is the written word, and how we interpret it is very personal.
    I admit I did not watch his video, but I do believe there is a lot of interpretation that can be had from the bible. I do believe that it is the Word, yet it is hard to say that an exact interpretation can apply. Our English language is itself is so far from pure, how can we say that any one (English) sentence is an exact interpretation of what the original message was meant to be?
    One thing I do Know is that we all experience God differenty, that God is Love, no matter what.
    Love you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Most of God's Word is easy to understand. What isn't easy is the accepting and embracing of the hard truths.

    I think when we come across something we don't like, we are tempted to either become creative story writers who imagine things differently or lawyers who try to find loopholes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well done! :) It's not for us to remake the meaning of God's word. Shame on them for trying.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love it when people stand up for what is right using the Bible. I 'youtubed' the Nooma series late last year as I had seen it in the Koorong flyers (a Christian bookstore in Australia). It was so scary the kinds of things he was preaching. The one I saw was about God believing in you... rather than us having faith in God. SCARY.

    Anywho. Awesome blog. I hope you enjoy iFellowship. I just found their site and it looks amazing. Hope to get involved.

    God bless,
    Liz

    ReplyDelete

I am so glad you that you stopped by today! What's on your mind?

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...