"So that means if I'm a Christian, I have to consign all Buddhists to hell?.....Is God like that? Is that the kind of God Jesus talked about? That view has a lot of answering to do. It has a lot of answering to do."
 |
| Rob Bell, Creator of Nooma videos |
Bell's view, which he develops at length in the newly released "Love Wins," is what is known as "Christian Universalism." Christian Universalism is the belief that God's love is his primary attribute, and that because of this, God MUST save all people eventually in the end. Christian Universalists believe that Christ on the Cross constituted the "mechanism" (Bell's word) that will enable ALL people to end up in heaven eventually.
“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” (Job 38:2-3)But as any discerning Christian can see from Bell's statement above, the problem with Bell's theology is that he has it all wrong who, exactly, has the power. Do Christians have the power to consign anyone to hell, as he implies? No, in fact, Christians are actually so burdened with the realization that many are headed for hell that they act in obedience to Scripture that commands them to:
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)We also know from Scripture that the power to bring ultimate judgment belongs to God and God alone:
"And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)In closing, let me point out that Rob Bell was not as straightforward about his views when he first burst onto the Christian scene 20 years ago. And due to his quick wit and approachable teaching style, he rapidly became extremely popular among churchgoing youth. But let me go on the record here in stating that Rob Bell is a dangerous heretic who has unmasked himself in his latest book. We now know where he stands. I therefore urge all parents reading this post to make sure they are taking an active role in safeguarding their kids against Bell's false teaching. We must heed the exhortation from Scripture not to simply hand the instruction of our children over to others but to actively take responsibility, as parents, in biblically guiding, teaching and discipling our own children:
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (Deut 6:6-9)
photo credit: xxxCurtisxxx via photopin cc
Additional Resources
