Books have a great, and often deep and lasting, impact on people who read them. Good Christian books excite, encourage and equip Christians, and help to bring the gospel clearly and engagingly to "not-yet-Christians."
But equally, a “Christian” book which contains mistakes (theological, not spelling!) can divert, damage or even destroy Christians, and leave non-Christians not knowing what the Bible actually teaches.
Which is why a new book by a popular author looks like it needs a large health warning attached.
Rob Bell, the American pastor who produced the extremely popular Nooma videos, and who is a great communicator and writer, has a new book out this spring, called “Love wins”. Great title, but judging by the publicity, its central message is that hell is empty, because ultimately God will save everyone, whether or not they’ve accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
It’s important to say this is only the publicity: some people have helpfully pointed out it could just be a brilliant marketing strategy (if it is, then it seems unfortunate to use heaven, hell and salvation as sales-boosting tools).
The publicity video is here: and after watching it, do go here for some Bible-based, honest answers to the questions Bell asks.
For what it’s worth, I find that a helpful place to focus is Jesus’ first words in Mark’s gospel (1 v 15), a summary of His central message. However popular or plausible Rob Bell is, it’s Jesus’ words which must provide the benchmark for whether or not we welcome Bell’s book.
“The kingdom of God is near”.
What’s remarkable is not that those who choose to live without God while misusing his gifts endure life beyond death without God and without any gifts (hell).
What’s remarkable is that for people like that (us) the kingdom of God is still near, reachable, open. In reality, this is what it means to say that Love wins.
“Repent and believe the good news”. What’s wonderful is that anyone who simply:
has a guaranteed, unlose-able eternal place in it. Anyone can be won over by Love, and ask Love to win kingdom life for them.
But the Bible teaches clearly that no one is forced to ask God’s Son (Love in human form) to be their Lord and Saviour. No one is forced to go to a heaven they don’t believe in, ruled by a God they don’t like, loved by a Love they don’t want. That wouldn’t be very loving.
Wiser bloggers than me have commented on the publicity for this book: if you want to know more, check out Justin Taylor and Kevin DeYoung.
Carl is Publisher and Co-CEO at The Good Book Company and is a member of Life Church Hackbridge in south London. He is the bestselling author of The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross and God's Big Promises Bible Storybook, and also serves as Series Editor of the God's Word For You series. Before joining TGBC, he worked as a journalist and then as a teacher, and pastored a congregation in Hull. Carl is married to Lizzie, and they have two children. He studied history at Oxford University.
