Rob Bell i-view with Martin Bashir

I really loved the way Bashir pressed Bell that he was making the gospel "palatable."

View the clip here: MSNBC Host Makes Rob Bell Squirm.

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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on March 17, 2011 at 9:04am

Juniors in theology class have had a lot of questions about Rob Bell as his book made its online splash. Because Bell's voice appeals so widely, I think the public response from Christian leaders should be firm yet gracious and earnest. My concern is not that these leaders will offend Rob Bell (who is a teacher and earns a public rebuke) but that Christian leaders can turn away the many who have valid questions and are attracted by Rob Bell's easy answers. There is a place for asking these questions, and they deserve to be taken seriously. Hell should remain a heartbreaking doctrine. As Kevin DeYoung notes in his review, "Any pastor worth his covenant salt will welcome sincere questions like this." So the doubt and heartache are valid, but Rob Bell's answers avoid the full weight of biblical truth which reveals God's own holy and awesome character. I found these three responses to Bell's book particularly helpful:

Tim Challies

Kevin DeYoung

Mark Galli

Permalink Reply by Rick Allen on March 17, 2011 at 11:21am
Additional resources: http://theresurgence.com/2011/03/15/a-chronology-of-rob-bell-on-hell

On a personal note, it's good to arm yourself with knowledge of Bell's heretical messages so that a defense can be made when he is brought up, but at the same time I feel that Bell has been given more than ample opportunity to make his case, consistently falling flat over the years, and it is time to consider this aspect of the "conversation" closed. How many times can a man fail to make his case before he is no longer considered a credible thinker? One can make a dozen fascinating claims, but after repeated failed attempts to defend them, the term "fascinating" should be dropped, and it is time to move on to another "conversation".
Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on March 17, 2011 at 11:56am
Good point. Rob Bell's marketing campaign falls in the category of things that I would not bring up on my own but that are important to address earnestly when students do bring them up. I find that many students are broadly exposed to such things (and rarely to the best and most challenging responses that exist out there). And students will not continue to raise such questions openly unless the questions are treated seriously and respectfully. However, you are right that there is always a temptation to sensationalize or entertain these kinds of questions inappropriately. In class today, the consensus was that Rob Bell disappointed us with his beliefs as well as his inability to be clear and honest about them. Students opened up with many questions about heresy, hell, church history and God’s character.
Permalink Reply by Jennifer White on March 17, 2011 at 11:38am
Thank you. Thank you for posting this interview Allison.  I read the review of DeYoungs' a couple of weeks ago, and with those I shared it, some wanted to hear Bell in his own words defend his positions.  So this is very helpful.
Permalink Reply by Rick Allen on March 17, 2011 at 2:08pm
Here is a decent critical thinker (Chris Rosebrough), who Biblically dissects an interview between Rob Bell and Lisa Miller regarding this subject. It's 2.5 hrs but if you have an mp3 player, you can play as you're mobile. Chris' podcasts are worth the time imo.

http://004f597.netsolhost.com/fftf/F4F031511.mp3
Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on March 17, 2011 at 3:02pm
You've got more knowledge of Rob Bell than I. If you would ever come in and chat with students about a current topic such as this, let me know. I'm sure they would enjoy hearing from you.
Permalink Reply by Rick Allen on March 17, 2011 at 3:34pm
Jesse, I'd be a duck out of water. I did recently give a presentation to the elders of my church about Rob Bell (and the Emergent Church) because some of his teaching was making it's way into our church. I will be glad to email that to you if you're interested. Just keep in mind when you read the lecture that I was brought up in public school. :)

I also have many books by Rob Bell and other Emergents collected in my research which I would be glad to loan to your class if they are interested in further research. I could compile a list if you're interested.
Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on March 17, 2011 at 9:20pm

I would be interested in a copy of that presentation. However, we wouldn't make use of the books by emergent authors as we have a hard enough time reading a selection of the great stuff. (I would enjoy seeing some students tackle related issues in future years with their senior thesis papers. Then they could work through some of those books. Stephen Rayner's senior thesis dealt a little with questions of emergent church theology.)

Permalink Reply by Aleta Leatherman on April 9, 2011 at 10:14pm
I really appreciate all of these comments on "Love Wins."  The line that just "jumps" out is the following:  "Hell should remain a heartbreaking doctrine."  The essence of redemption and resurrection is that God's own heart had to be broken, and there was a price paid for justice.  Without evil (hell), there is no meaning in good (heaven), and all of biblical Christianity crumbles.  I realize, once again, what a privilege it is for our family to have our children educated at CCA where Truth is taught, embraced, celebrated, portrayed, lived out daily, questioned, wept over, and poured deeply so that the shifting sands of "modern" doctrines cannot touch the Rock of belief.
Permalink Reply by Jesse Hake on May 3, 2011 at 8:14pm

Noteworthy to see the NY Times printing something like this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/opinion/25douthat.html

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