I am not saying he is, but I am not saying he isn't.
I'll let you decide. Now, lets not be theological calculators. Put on your discerning glasses and be humble.
Full Article
Excerpt:
There’s a passage in one of Bell’s books, however, that leads me to think that Bell really is asserting that life, forgiveness, and even the Spirit of God is already possessed by every single human being ever. The only hitch is that some people don’t realize it. Here’s the relevant passage from Velvet Elvis (page 146):The fact that we are loved and accepted and forgiven in spite of everything we have done is simply too good to be true. Our choice becomes this: We can trust his [God’s] retelling of the story, or we can trust our telling of our story. It is a choice we make every day about the reality we are going to live in.
And this reality extends beyond life.
Heaven is full of forgiven people.
Hell is full of forgiven people.
Heaven is full of people God loves, whom Jesus died for.
Hell is full of forgiven people God loves, whom Jesus died for.
The difference is how we choose to live, which story we choose to live in, which version of reality we trust.
Ours or God’s.
I don’t know how else to understand this: What Bell is asserting here is a bizarre kind of universalism in which every human being is forgiven and yet some forgiven people end up in hell anyway. The NOOMA might be slippery, but this passage from Velvet Elvis isn’t at all, and that may offer some insight on what he’s actually saying in NOOMA. The only way I can see to understand it is that Bell is telling lost people that they are forgiven, that they are in relationship with God, even that the Spirit of God lives in them and is waiting to guide them and sanctify them if only they’d wake up and realize it.
That kind of thinking though is devastatingly misleading to lost people. To be lost is not merely to be ignorant about the fact that you are already in relationship with God, forgiven, free, and full of his Spirit. To be lost is to be separated from God and under his judgment. That’s a crucial part of the gospel, not just because Bell’s alternative involves the absurdity of forgiven people suffering in hell; it’s crucial because, unless you understand that God hates sin and judges it, the cross doesn’t make any sense. In fact, it becomes kind of superfluous. The fact is, somebody could hear Rob Bell’s version of the gospel in NOOMA and walk away feeling forgiven and Spirit-filled without a single thought about Jesus’ death. And at that point, what you have is something quite other than Christianity.
11 comments:
Thanks, I was reading these articles yesterday, and found them quite insightful. Also, the all caps title is a nice touch.
I think the title of this post may be a bit over the top, but the message is very important. We need to evaluate teaching not based upon how slicky its presented or how it may resonate with some of our experiences as human beings, but rather if it reflects what God says in his word.
I've read the articles and trust that the author is giving a fair view of Bell. If that is the case, there are definitely some things to be concerned about. I don't want to make a definitive statement because I haven't read his books, met him or watched his video series, but there does seem to be cause for concern.
When it comes down to it, we need to be people who are seeking to evaluate and discern. The Bible says that false teachers and false doctrine is a reality that we need to be aware of. We need to be constantly evaluating what we are absorbing in light of scripture. We don't get to "turn off" this discernment with certain books or teachers. Even some of the best Christian thinkers and writers throughout history had imperfections and weaknesses in certain areas.
I have watched at least one of his videos and it was like the critique described.
Yeah, I know what you are saying. I did make the title scandalous on purpose - to get peoples attention. As I said in my post, I am not taking a side.
I agree we don't know Bell's motives. But we know his words. Jesus says we are not to judge. He didn't say we are not to declare people to be false teachers (I am not necessary sure on Bell yet, since I haven't done enough of my home work), since Paul says that we are to stay away from false teachers. If Rob Bell really does think everyone is forgiven (universalism), then I would say it is safe to call him a heretic - for he would then be distorting the gospel of Christ. The problem with Bell is that he leaves a lot open to interpretation - which could be as dangerous as flat out heresy.
Sorry, I deleted my previous comment to re-edit again. I didn't think I was clear before.
Clarification: Not that I am saying what Rob Bell is teaching is not wrong.
Clearly, what is mentioned in the article shows him teaching something which is contrary to the gospel and the Bible. That needs to be addressed.
As you said, I just wasn't sure that the title of the post was particularly helpful.
My only thought was that we don't depict Bell as someone who is necessarily and purposefully raging against the doctrines of the Bible. The doctrinal errors could have slowly come as a result of a godly desire to reach more people for God that went too far. His motives won't make his teaching right, but it does help to determine how you approach someone like that. And certainly, when we fail to use charitable judgment and assume the worst motives in people it can entrench both sides in a pride that makes correction or discussion difficult.
Once again, not a critique of your post per se, but rather something to keep in mind as we cruise the Internet and read about people being called out for false teaching. We need to be aware of it and act accordingly, but we also need to guard against hate or fear in our hearts towards those who espouse these teachings and seek to reach out effectively to those who listen to them.
I do agree that we have to be very careful.
Two Questions:
1) Do you think one should have the title of false teacher if they teach false things (anything contrary to the Bible) if they don't mean to - or if they just slipped into it slowly because they are trying to reach lost souls?
2)Do you think hate/fear is always associated with labeling someone a false teacher?
Thanks for responding. These are good things to work through.
1. Yes, I think the term false teacher applies to someone regardless of motives. The term "false teacher" aims to describe the quality and content of the teaching rather than the character and motives of the teacher.
I just know my gut reaction can be to make assumptions about said teachers and people who follow then which may or may not be well founded. Which can lead to some unhelpful situations, such as if someone brings up that they are reading "Blue Like Jazz" and I get more concerned and preoccupied with criticizing the book and the author than preaching the gospel.
2. No, hate or fear are not necessarily implied by calling someone a false teacher. It's a matter of discernment that can come out of a godly heart. I was trying to point out common temptations, at least in my life.
I don't think we disagree too much here, mostly just trying to highlight different points. Thanks for your input!
Yeah i'd be careful. from just reading the exerpt I'd say that Rob Bell might just be stating the widly held Arminian belief of unlimited grace, i.e. that Jesus's atonement was for all people.
the thought process goes like this:
jesus died for the world. (john 3:16)
everyone has the opportunity to come to God through Jesus's attoning work on the cross.
I think they would also hold that there is no double jeapordy. So people in Hell are there not for specific sin, and their sin nature, but rather for the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ for their atonement of sin.
therefore, there are forgiven people in hell.
-just some thoughts.
I liked the article. Is he a heretic? Am I suppose to answer that here?
I've seen a few of the Nooma videos (5 of them). They are very well done, so they can easily capture someones emotions. Some are actually pretty good (very few but some).
The majority however are unclear, some even seem heretical from what Bell implies or fails to clearly state. Also, all of his videos consistently leave out a clear Gospel presentation, at least from the way it's worded in much of the new testament. Or maybe they don't leave it out and he clearly presents the Gospel as he understands it.
If you can find any articles where Rob Bell is clear about what he believes I would be interested in reading.
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