Over the course of the next days and weeks I will be writing a review of Rob Bell's book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Rob Bell is an author, he also produces the popular "Nooma" video series that is very popular with church youth groups, and he is also the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI, which is a mega church with thousands of members. Bell has a lot of influence with many Christians, he is considered by many to be some what cool or hip, and is a seen as a leader in the Emergent Church movement.
What interests me about this book though is not just Bell's views, but also the backlash that has come from what some might call "the establishment". For instance, John Piper tweeted "Farewell Rob Bell" in response to hearing what Bell was advocating in his new book. The question is farewell to what? The early buzz on Bell's book was that it advocated universalism, specifically that everyone would eventually end up in Heaven, hence, Love Wins. Piper on the other hand has a very traditional view of Heaven and Hell, for Piper some will live in eternal bliss with God while the rest will be consigned to Hell, a place where one is punished forever.
Understanding the subject matter of this discussion (Heaven, Hell, Universalism) it is hard not to wonder if Piper was saying farewell, seeing himself as part of the group going to Heaven, while Bell may be part of the other group, the one going to Hell and flippantly wishing him farewell along the way. Remember, this was a response that came after hearing of Rob Bell's supposed universalism (I say supposed because Bell himself denies that he is a universalist). Even if there was not that much thought in Piper's words, this response was beneath him and so were the responses of many people who responded to Bell, but more on that in coming posts.
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