By Christopher Robertson
Rob Bell, pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church, is known by many for his NOOMA videos and progressive perspective, but recently some consider him a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
His new book, Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, is due for release March 29. It’s hard to say exactly what the book is about, because it hasn’t been published yet, but according to a promotional video, Bell is daring enough to question the existence of hell. This has led several people to suggest his voice should be muffled and his perspective discounted.
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but that’s exactly what Justin Taylor, associate publisher for Crossway, has done. He posted a blog about Bell’s upcoming book that has reached every corner of Facebook.
“It is unspeakably sad when those called to be ministers of the Word distort the gospel and deceive the people of God with false doctrine,” Taylor says. He goes on to say or at least suggest that Rob Bell is a Universalist.
After Taylor’s comments, John Piper tweeted, “Farewell, Rob Bell.” It isn’t clear if Piper is predicting the end of Rob Bell’s ministry or consigning him to hell, but we are left to wonder why Christians would treat other Christians this way.
Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, got in on the conversation in an article that affirmed it is unfair to judge a book by its cover, but he is convinced that Bell’s promotional video clearly reflects a Universalist theology. Mohler warns us to beware of Bell and all the emergent types because their efforts at understanding Jesus are little more than “theological striptease.”
There has to be a better way to address theological diversity than “blog bashing.” Surely, the Christian church has enough room for differing biblical interpretations and serves a God big enough to entertain all our questions.
If we search through Baptist history, we just might uncover a better way. Since their inception, Baptists have affirmed the authority of the Bible while also insisting that all people have the freedom and responsibility to personally engage the biblical text. Since we are all made in the image of Christ, Baptists believe that everyone should be free to make their own decisions in matters of faith. Diversity is welcomed, even celebrated in the Baptist tradition.
I’m no doctor, but it seems to me that some Baptists have amnesia. They have forgotten their history — their distinctive characteristics. We are and have always been a diverse group of Christ followers that affirm personal engagement with the Bible. We believe diversity, while messy, leads to growth.
When we spend all our time with people who agree with us, we walk away from conversations affirmed and unchanged, convinced that we have all the answers. Theologically, this is a dangerous place.
Loyd Allen, professor at McAfee School of Theology, once said, “Unquestioned answers are more dangerous than unanswered questions.” Unquestioned answers lead us to believe that our interpretation of the Bible is authoritative while every other interpretation is wrong. It stifles dialogue and encourages defense.
Regardless of what Rob Bell says in his new book, none of us really knows whether or not hell exists. It is something we believe or disbelieve by faith.
As faithful Christians seeking to understand the gospel and how it relates to our life, we journey together. While we have different answers, we share the same questions. So, let us question together, and in doing so, respect God’s image in one another. It is the Baptist way. It is also the way of Jesus.