My Take On LOVE WINS by Rob Bell

A CHAPTER TO CHAPTER REVIEW OF “LOVE WINS” BY ROB BELL

Recently I purchased an audio version of LOVE WINS, written and read by Rob Bell himself.  I could not resist attempting to write my own comments after hearing him read each chapter.

In the following are those attempts, one chapter at a time, in sequence as I heard them. 

For the sake of pursuing Biblical truth,

                             Alan Latta

Chapter 1:  WHAT ABOUT THE FLAT TIRE? 

     In this first chapter, Rob Bell raises what appear to be some good questions concerning salvation and the forgiveness of sins. However, the confusing case he tries to build begins to fall apart, with a simple little Biblical promise that says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

     How a person calls on that Name - that is above every other Name - may vary from case to case, but the promise remains the same, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (JOEL 2:32 & ACTS 2:21)

     In every Biblical example Rob Bell raises, from which he attempts to imply and convey contradiction, the fulfillment of this little promise is always what is happening.  The Savior is called upon in one way or another and He responds.

     By the way, God still responds, as Bell himself shares from his personal testimony in Chapter 8.

     Mr. Bell's foundational chapter here really begins to crack up when he attacks the truth of our need for a personal relationship with God and when we actually begin reading the Words of Jesus Himself; e. g. Christ's predicted words of judgment, ".....I never knew you; depart from Me....." sounds a lot like the need for a personal relationship to me. (MATTHEW 7:23).

     I do not know much about Pastor Rob's former Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan but here is what I think should be taught in every Christ Honoring  Church around the world.

     The gospel is simple, Jesus did not come to condemn those who are already condemned, but He came to save those who would call on Him for salvation from their condemned state.

     The effects of this condemnation can be seen on the nightly news and in our daily newspapers.  Something is clearly wrong with the human race.  Our condition is what the Bible calls sin and it separates us from God and one another.

     No matter how big or how bad the world gets, we still need a Savior Whom we can call upon for help.

ROMANS 10:11-13

For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." 12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, 
for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.  For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."

     People can experiment with other gods' names if they like, but I am sticking with the One whose English name is Jesus Christ.

     At this point in the book, Mr. Bell's use of the word "orthodox" seems to be misleading.

Chapter 2:  HERE IS THE NEW THERE

     Never let it be said that Rob Bell does not know how to write.  The man can write well!

     Let me clarify that last sentence.  The man can write well, if he is going for a great grade in a College English Class but such is not the case here.

    I am sure he does not use a ghost writer as some may do and for that I can honestly commend him.  As a wannabe writer myself, I do enjoy those who master the art.  This author really is among the best.

    However his cleverly written thoughts on Heaven and eternity fail to shine in the light of the Holy Bible and its declared truth about the everlasting Kingdom of God.  How can any writer tackle the amazing subject of Heaven and miss seeing the Gospel of the Kingdom? 

     The Kingdom of God is a major theme of the Bible and yet many of us continue failing to see and value its reality.  Understanding God's government - that Jesus proclaimed everywhere he went - will make books like this one pale in comparison.  Being wise in his own opinions, perhap's Bell's thoughts have blinded him to the eternal government of the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

     His thoughts on what he calls "the fires of Heaven" come from Scriptures that point to the Day of Judgment and not to a purgatory-like part of Heaven.  (Somebody made that up).

     Wanting to have his cake and eat it, he tries to discredit those who think of Heaven as a place and then later he speaks of it as though it is a place.  Why author such confusion? 

     Continually changing the definitions of words - like God, heaven, forever, eternity, time and age - for whenever and however it suits him, surely undermines the very case Mr. Bell is trying to make here.  Saying that heaven sometimes means heaven – but at other times it means God – is an example of the shifting sands this book is building on.    

     Manipulating concrete Biblical truths into pliable substances makes them impossible to use for foundational purposes.  Nailing jello to a wall will not stick when the heat comes.

     Pastor Bell needs to revisit his roots and discover the significance of the name of the congregation he serves called Mars Hill.  Check it out.  The following is from Paul’s address on Mars Hill.

ACTS 17:24-31                                                                                                        “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.  And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,  so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.”

30)   “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,  because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising.”

     The Holy Spirit of God, Who inspired Paul to say the above words and for Luke to record them, "now commands all men everywhere to repent."  Everywhere, including Granbury and Grand Rapids, all people need to turn from their sin to God.

     This same Holy Spirit of God also has predicted a day on which He "will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained." 

     We all have assurance of this coming day of Judgment through Christ's resurrection from the dead.

     Are we ready for that coming day?  Have you called on the name of the Savior to save you?   Only He can help us to repent.

Chapter 3:  HELL

     By playing hopscotch with Bible verses, one can try to prove or disprove almost anything.  Such is the case in this interesting chapter about hell and eternity. 

     At its best, the author lays some ground work for presenting a belief in a Catholic form of purgatory.  (I know a Catholic apologist who would love to quote some of this material).

     At its worst, this chapter is an attempt to muddy the waters of our understanding about everything Jesus said concerning hell and everything else the Bible says about judgment and eternity.

     If Jesus used exaggerations to motivate us to live righteously – as this book insinuates - then He is a liar and guilty of distorting the truth about hell and eternity.  Like an angry parent using idle threats to get his children to obey him, this is the picture being painted from the the teachings of the Son of God, i. e. the Word of God made flesh.

    Turning strong warnings into hyperboles and metaphors simply because they are too strong for anyone's spiritual palate is not enough reason for doubting that Jesus Christ believed in an eternal judgment.

     God forbid that any of us should yield to the temptation to water down anything the Savior said.

MATTHEW 10:28                                                                                                                ‘And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.'

MARK 9:43-48

'If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.'45)   And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched — where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.'                                                                                                                     47)   And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.  It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire — where 'THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.'

     As far as Divine judgment is concerned, I think Rob Bell has confused God's judgment in this life - that begins with the house of God - with the judgment that is to come.  Perhaps this is because there is far too little teaching today on God's present day chastening in our lives.  (Spiritual vacuums - such as this – can often open the way for heresy).  

Check out HEBREWS 12 sometime.

     Could it be the following passage would mess up the case the writer tried to build in this Chapter, so he skipped it?  I think so.

REVELATION 20:10-15                                                                                                          

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  11)   Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.  And there was found no place for them. 12)   And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.                               13)   The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.  And they were judged, each one according to his works.   14)   Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

     

     For whatever the reason, this book's contents seem like someone is trying to chip away at Biblical absolutes.  Perhaps we should let the Bible form our opinions and not the reverse.

Chapter 4:  DOES GOD GET WHAT GOD WANTS?

     Same song - new verse; assuming that he has done an adequate job in the previous 3 Chapters, this best seller continues trying to please the itching ears of those who do want to face the message of what the Bible actually has to say - as a whole -  about God’s judgment for sin and those sinners who do not want to repent. 

     Centuries ago, Paul the apostle warned another pastor about avoiding ear tickling like this.

2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

2)   Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

3)   For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine,

but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears,

they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their  ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  5)   But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions,                                                               do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

     Giving as much weight to his own thoughts as he seems to give the Bible, Mr. Bell pushes ahead.  (Even though there is a pile of errors in this book already, he goes on).

     Beginning by quoting a few statements of faith from the websites of typical evangelical churches, Bell launches once more into his sales pitch for what he is trying to say.

     Using single Scriptures, half Scriptures and verse fragments from the Bible – all of them taken out of context – Pastor Bell attempts to persuade his readers into thinking that God would be unloving, if an eternal hell in the afterlife is a reality. 

     Here is one of those verses that this chapter seems to lean on the most.

2 PETER 3:9

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,

but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish                                             but that all should come to repentance.”

     Previously minimizing the need to repent for eternal salvation, this book basically now tries to say that everyone is going to repent, based on this Scripture.  Playing games with Biblical absolutes previously, this talented writer now wants to make a strong stand; but by looking at the verses surrounding this verse, we can easily see error.

     Without anyone's thoughts chiming in to explain things away for us, let’s read this verse’s surrounding context for ourselves and let the Bible speak for itself.

------------------------------------------------------

2 PETER 3:1-14

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle  (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying,"Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."  5)   For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

7)   But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  8)   But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9)   The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10)   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11)   Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of

persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and

hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements  will melt with fervent heat?  13)   Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14)   Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent

to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;…. 

Simon Peter ends this Chapter from his second letter with this warning:

17-18)    You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware  lest you also fall from your own steadfastness,being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

     By re-reading verse 9 again in its context above, we can easily see that this is not a promise of no judgment but rather a reason for God’s slowness in judging the world.   His love is being demonstrated now by His longsuffering with us all but His judgment will surely be demonstrated later.

     This is only one example of how Bell’s premises continues to fall short of being secure promises.

     Jesus Christ gave plenty of commands for us to observe and warnings for us to heed, many of which would have no real meaning if Rob Bell’s book is right. 

MATTHEW 7:13-15

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is  the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.  15)   "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

MATTHEW 7:19-27

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  20)   Therefore by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  22)   Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  23)   And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'  24)   "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on

that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  26)   "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

MATTHEW 16:24-26

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  25)   For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26)   For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

     Keep in mind that Jesus also said that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no one can come to the Father except through Him.  He also agreed with those who believed that He had the words of eternal life.

     In the last book of the Bible, The Word of God continues to communicate to us in the same way, yet much stronger.

REVELATION 22:11-15

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy,  let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."  12)   "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."  14)   Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.  But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

-----------------------------------------

     In order to bolster this book's arguments, the author does a little digging in Church History to find some quotes to use for support.  I am not sure about all of these deceased leaders but here are four he should have left alone.

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

     I do not think Clement of Alexandria would agree with this book either.  Look at what he said about those who will be excluded from the kingdom of God.   (Perhaps Bell’s book is quoting him out of context also).

"Make no mistake. The sexually immoral, worshipper of idols, adulterers, passive perverts, homosexuals, those who pursue profit, robbers, drunkards, people who use abusive language, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God." We used to be such, but "have passed through the purifying waters." 457 But they purify themselves for this licentiousness. Their baptism is out of responsible self-control into sexual immorality. Their philosophy is the gratification of their pleasures and passions. They teach a change from self-discipline to indiscipline. The hope they offer is the titillation of their………... 458 They make themselves excluded from the kingdom of God instead of enrolled disciples.”                           CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA

-------------------------------------------------------

ORIGEN

      I would not embrace anything this guy said because at one time he was considered a teacher of heresy by many since he: 

“…….denied that Jesus was raised from the dead in a physical body and like today’s Mormons he believed in the pre-existence of the human soul.”

-------------------------------------------------

JEROME

     Like Clement of Alexandria, I do not think that Jerome would be a fan of “LOVE WINS”.

     Google “Jerome” and you will find that this man warned that anyone replacing false interpretations for the genuine  meaning of the Scriptures was a part of the “synagogue of the Antichrist”…..  Jerome wrote,“He that is not of Christ is of Antichrist.” He also believed that “the mystery of iniquity” written about by Paul in 2 THESSALONIANS 2:7 was already in action when “every one chatters about his views.”  

------------------------------------------------------

AUGUSTINE

     Picking and choosing what he likes - from what he does not like – when quoting the Bible is also this writer’s way of using Church History.  If Augustine is a legitimate witness for the purposes of this book, let’s take a look at something else he said. 
  

"Woman does not possess the image of God in herself but only when taken together with the male who is her head, so that the whole substance is one image. But when   she is assigned the role as helpmate, a function that pertains to her alone, then she is not the image of God. But as far as the man is concerned, he is by himself alone the image of God just as fully and completely as when he and the woman are joined together into one."                                            AUGUSTINE

     How can anyone seriously use anything a person like this has to say to add legitimacy their book?

     Is Rob Bell actually a fan of Augustine’s or does he just use him, hoping no one notices the other elephants in his living room?

     With these things being said in reference to Chapter 4, let me conclude by saying that no one is going to use human logic, man-made sympathy or even the Scriptures to blackmail God into not doing something He has warned us about and into doing what He has not promised.  Those who twist the Scriptures, do so to their own destruction.   (2 PETER 3:16)

     Please do not bank on a second chance to follow Christ and His way of living later.  The Bible says that today is the day of salvation.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-2

We then, as workers together with Him also plead                                                             with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2)   For He says: "IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME I HAVE HEARD YOU,

AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE HELPED YOU."

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Chapter 5:  DYING TO LIVE

     This Chapter has me thinking that somebody wants to be cool more than he wants to be truthful.  To clearly say that the Early Church preached about the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ primarily because it was relevant to their day when people were seeking to appease the gods with blood sacrifices; is simply not true.  The shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ was the total fulfillment of the sacrificial system that God Himself had inspired Moses to organize and had nothing to do with imitating other religions.

     The shed blood and literal death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ was the message of the first Christians; not just because it was relevant to their day but because it actually happened and it was the way that God chose to reveal His plan of redemption.  Without this message, there is no Christianity.  

     Unlike methods of communication that change with the times, the full message of the gospel is timeless and it is nothing for us to be ashamed of.  People are not morons, they can be taught the importance of the blood of Christ, which is still successfully being done all over the world every week. 

      Like so many growing up in boring churches, perhaps Rob Bell never actually heard the gospel as it was being preached in his home congregation because he was so annoyed by archaic communication methods.
      The message of the blood of Jesus is here to stay for all true believers but our methods for communicating it often needs improvement.  This is where our creativity should be directed.

      May God inspire us all to present His message with cutting edge art and technology as well as the best apologetics available with grace, mercy and unconditional love. 

     With that being said, the coolness of the gospel has never been God's aim, according to the Bible.  In fact, He exposes man's foolishness by offending him.  

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-29

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:                                                 "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT."

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 
that no flesh should glory in His presence."

---------------------------------------------------

      Contrary to what this book says is true, I have never actually met an unbeliever who has rejected Christianity because it was too small.  They usually have excuses - they are proud of - for not believing, which should be discussed with them openly and honestly; but for us to dumb down the message of Jesus just to suit them is not evangelism but rather syncretism, (which could be a related subject here).

      While the message of the Kingdom of God is huge in its panorama, it is very narrow in its focus.  Yes, Jesus Christ did say that He was the only way to the Father, which some may say is too narrow minded for them but if it is true, who is right?  Isn't north the only way to the North Pole?

      Let us take the following words of Christ seriously.

MATTHEW 7:13-15

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is  the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 
                      ‘

LUKE 13:24

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, 
will seek to enter and will not be able."

MATTHEW 20:16b  "....... For many are called, but few chosen."

MATTHEW 22:14  "For many are called, but few are chosen."

     Here is a point we should never forget, God wins!   Yes, in the end, God wins and rebellious man loses.  Many are called but few are chosen.

Chapter 6:  ROCKS ARE EVERYWHERE

      As already demonstrated, much of what this book says is based on some scriptures - taken out of context - and some creative thinking coupled with  talented efforts. 

      The issue of communicating truth beautifully and creatively is important for helping people learn and understand right from wrong thinking and living; but unlike painting velvet Elvises, it should never involve playing games with what is true about the truth of Jesus Christ and His salvation: as though one were picking and choosing what colors to leave in or out of an artist's color palette nor should it involve watering things down for the sake of appeasing pop culture.

     Being brief, I shall only try to address one example of such an error; where the writer draws heavily on the point that the freed Israelite slaves - on their long wilderness journey - drank from a rock that they did not know was Christ.  Hence, Bell says that people could be saved by Jesus without knowing Him or His name.

     While it is true that the Israelites did not know this rock "was Christ", it is important to note that they certainly did know at the time that this "rock" was their only source of water.  If anyone did not know or recognize this, they would have died of thirst.

    I am sure the author will defend this book by crying foul whenever he thinks his detractors are quoting him out of context and yet he gives himself gross liberty to do such a thing with New Testament verses such as the ones from this story.

     

1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-14

"Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.  But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.  Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.  And do not become idolaters as were some of them.  As it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY."  Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

-------------------------------------------------

     For those taking the time to look up 1 CORINTHIANS 10 in their own Bibles, they will be able to easily see for themselves that Bell's primary points in this chapter simply do not ring true.

      A major truth that can easily come to those who will actually study                                 1 CORINTHIANS 10 is that with every temptation and struggle - the freed Israelite slaves faced in the wilderness - God gave them a remedy that pointed to Christ; thus the rock that gave them water "was Christ" who gives living water to all who come to Him.  ( JOHN 4:13-14;  7:37-38 ) 

      Another important point is that those who continued to sin in the wilderness were not blessed and many were punished without remedy. 

      With the above being said, let's at least try to see if Chapter 6's point can hold perhaps a little water by looking at the original story upon which it is based.

     The original story of this rock that "was Christ" centers around EXODUS 17:6.  From this story we learn the following.

     Those who drank from this rock knew there was not another source of water for them and if anyone - for some reason - did not like its water, there was no other water available.

     From here, the application of this Bible Story appears to be a misapplication.

     Since the title says that ROCKS ARE EVERYWHERE, let's look at a few other examples of rocks from the New Testament to see why perhaps this chapter did not use them.

     In MATTHEW 7:24-27, there is the rock that the wise man built his house upon, which is equated with doing what Jesus commands.  (Those who do not do what He says, Jesus said are building their lives on unstable sand).      

      Also, there is the "rock" that Christ said He would build His Church upon; which the gates of Hades cannot prevail against.  ( MATTHEW 16:18 )   Those who are not a part of this Church that He is building do not have this promise concerning overcoming the prevailing of Hades.

      There is the rock that Christ said "whoever falls on it will be broken but those who it falls upon will be ground into powder".  ( MATTHEW 21:44 and LUKE 20:18 ).

     For those who read VELVET ELVIS, this rock is not like a trampoline spring.

      There is the Lord Himself, who is the stumbling stone, ROMANS 9:32-33; chief cornerstone, EPHESIANS 2:19-22; and a living stone, 1 PETER 2:4-8.

      Are rocks everywhere?  Yes they are - and so are we - as we too are living stones, being built up a spiritual house for the Lord's purposes.   1 PETER 2:4-12

     When books like this one fade and turn yellow, the rock of truth is going to continue to rock on!

Chapter 7:  THE GOSPEL IS BETTER THAN THAT

      How can I say, "Amen!" and "Oh me!" simultaneously?  This chapter really mixes it up.  Probably excited with the impossible challenge before him, the author continues to mix good and true truth with his own ideato weave a web that is, at least so far, full of holes.  

      While doing a masterful job of confronting those who are working to pay for their own salvation, Bell inappropriately throws them in the same boat with those who believe the Gospel, i. e. we are only saved by trusting in the works of Christ alone through God given faith. 

      Through distortion he makes a scarecrow of what the real Gospel is and throws rocks at it by saying, "The Gospel is better than that." 

     Beautifully conveying the truth about those who are enjoying God and His grace versus those who think they must earn His favor, Bell starts continues to belittle Biblical truth by saying "The Gospel is better than that."

      It seems Pastor Bell wants to honor the finished work of Christ while giving eternal life to people with good works even though they are not born again believers.
      This sounds like a message of salvation by our good works again.

         According to this chapter, everyone is spiritually alive and - while they may be bad - all they need is for God to make them better.  If He does not do this, then God should be turned in to the police or Child Protective Services. 

       The true Gospel story is one where everyone is born spiritually dead - separated from God -  and Jesus Christ came to make alive, all those who will call on His name. 

     Jesus did not come to make bad people better but He came to make dead people alive.  According to JOHN 10:10, He came to give us life and life more abundantly.

      Look at what Paul understood as our pre-salvation and post-salvation condition.

EPHESIANS 2:1-10

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires 

of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, 
just as the others.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

COLOSSIANS 2:13-14

"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

UNDERSTANDING THE SIMPLE GOSPEL

     For a detailed understanding of the Gospel and what Jesus Christ has done for all who will call upon Him, we can simply read the New Testament in its context.  Start by reading the Book of JOHN and go on to ACTS.

ANOTHER THING

      Using the story of the Prodigal Son, this chapter boldly declares that the parable is about Heaven and Hell.  Wrongly assuming that a quality case has already been built by previous chapters, perhaps the writer now thinks that he can state such claims - and get by with it - to continue his literary creations; like Heaven and Hell bumping up against each other.

      Using real life illustrations, as this one was, Jesus Christ was calling people to repentance and receiving the redemption that He alone would provide.  These stories also told of how God's Kingdom works.  Never were they secret messages for writers - like this one - to reveal to the rest of us lost in following Christ's commands. 

      Human opinion seems to trump the Scriptures in the writer's view of truth and reality.  Perhaps he has been mesmerized by the world of popularity and political correctness or he thinks his ministry needs an upgrade but the message of the Gospel is the same.

      I know that the Church and its leaders are called to reach as many people as we can for Christ in the world, but not at the expense of changing the truth  - to make it more appealing - simply for the sake of numbers.

      Church growth can be important for the cause of evangelism; while changing our methods is very important for the sake of church growth.  However, to change the Gospel message for such growth falls short of genuine evangelism and Biblical discipleship.

          Strong statements like, "The Gospel is better than that!" is true when dealing with false and distorted gospels but to say so - in some humanistic effort - to sell a watered down version of the Gospel could be a subtle lie.  

         Anytime we take a truth and make it "The Truth" - to the exclusion of other truths - we will always fall into error.  While it is true that God is love ( 1 JOHN 4:8,16 ), it is also true that God is a consuming fire         ( HEBREWS 12:28-29 ) and that He is jealous - DEUTERONOMY 4:24.

      According to what this chapter implies, the God of the Bible is not safe.  I wonder who made lions, tigers, sharks and killer whales?

     While it is true that we are to love God, which is the first and greatest commandment, we are also to respect Him to the point of what is understood as Godly fear, which is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.  ( PSALM 111:10;  PROVERBS 1:7; 9:10; 15:33; etc.).

      Let me also say that God Almighty is awesome; Who will not be tamed nor dumbed down by anyone wanting to give Him a makeover.   While He is not a slave-driver, He will not bow down to our liking and be our slave.  

     Finally, as a missionary's kid, I want to say Rob Bell's insinuating characterizations of us are simply not true.  

     Good writers are better than that! 

Chapter 8:  THE END IS HERE
   

     The final essay here seems like an exercise in double-mindedness.  How can a guy share his touching childhood conversion story, then belittle it while embracing it at the same time?  How confusing!

     Perhaps this confusion comes from trying to reconcile the differences between the author's Christian experience with his now espoused theology; which does not line up with the context of the New Testament Scriptures, (nor his experience, apparently).

     Another great concern I have is how the teachings of Jesus are handled in this book and chapter.  After giving a brief listing of some parables, in which Bell wrongly includes what Christ said about God's dividing of the sheep and goats on Judgment Day, he says that these stories are "about how time moves forward, not backwards or sideways...".  

     That is a dumb statement - to say the least - and is an insult to the intelligence of the greatest Teacher.  To teach such a thing would have been meaningless.

      The Word of God was made flesh to teach us about how time is linear?  Little children already know this from the time they begin to understand the differences between yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

        To the readers who have enjoyed this book, please do not embrace its teaching as Biblical and true.  While you may have been offended by so called Christians, it still does not justify vandalizing what is the the truth about God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

       When commenting on LOVE WINS by Rob Bell, Christian apologist Ravi Zaccarias said that if he had read it as Hindu - in his younger days - he would not have become a Christian.

         The end is here for sure and true love wins but falsehoods lose.