A quick thought on something Rob Bell said
I haven't read Rob Bell's book "Love Wins"...though I intend to at some point. I'm one of those people who likes to read a book without paying for it...before paying for it. I want to make sure I support it before I buy it. If that makes sense.
In other words, this is not a response to his book. PLEASE, everybody calm down about this book.
Anyway. In an interview somewhere in the seas of youtube, Bell makes a comment which of course was interrupted by the interviewing journalist. The comment intrigued me because it is a doctrinal view which I have been engaging with for a long time.
He said something to the effect that he believes that much of the love of God and the purpose of Jesus' coming to earth was to be fulfilled on earth. That is, our salvation, according to Bell, seems to be wrapped up in our time on earth, not just in our final destination (be it heaven or hell).
Did you catch that? Salvation (what happens because of Christ) is not about life after death but life here and now.
To a great extent, I agree with him. Here's why:
A few years ago I was reading through the gospel of John, chapter 17. In Jesus' prayer for his disciples, Jesus says "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
I've mentioned it in various posts here and conversations elsewhere, my belief that many of the scriptures pertaining to "eternal life" are not only referencing our life after death, but our life after Christ (salvation)--on earth.
In other words, "eternal life" begins when we "know" God and Jesus. This comes from the gospel of John. My inference about scripture's many references to "eternal life" and their implication for life on earth comes from John as well.
This is simply because I believe we know God and Christ here on earth.
This sounds simple perhaps, but it's loaded with possible theological implications. I haven't dwelt on it too much.
ANYWAY, all this to say, it seems as if this idea that "eternal life" begins HERE and NOW--not after we die--is part of the foundation for Rob Bell's argument in "Love Wins." I don't know that for sure as I haven't read the book.
Of course, the idea that the Salvation of Christ is an earthly salvation does not negate an afterlife in my mind. Yes our sins hold consequences on earth (our own personal hell) and yes there are lovely experiences to be had on earth courtesy of its creator (our personal heavens). However: from what reviewers and pundits have said, Rob Bell's book may be challenging heaven and hell's existence in the afterlife. If indeed he is doing so, I'm sorry to hear it. One would have to remove scripture's status as God's Word in order to achieve this argument(a viable option for Bell, if indeed he wants to take his ministry in this direction). Does this mean that we have flawed conceptions of what heaven and hell are? Sure. I wouldn't be surprised. But Bell is treading on dangerous ground--I hope he is doing this prayerfully.
Unfortunately, it seems that Rob Bell makes his living off of getting rises out of people and creating controversy. I wish there were ways for thinkers like him to get his ideas out there without provoking people.
All that to say, I look forward to reading "Love Wins" though I wish it wasn't such a media sensation . That takes a lot of the value out of these discussions sometimes.
In other words, this is not a response to his book. PLEASE, everybody calm down about this book.
Anyway. In an interview somewhere in the seas of youtube, Bell makes a comment which of course was interrupted by the interviewing journalist. The comment intrigued me because it is a doctrinal view which I have been engaging with for a long time.
He said something to the effect that he believes that much of the love of God and the purpose of Jesus' coming to earth was to be fulfilled on earth. That is, our salvation, according to Bell, seems to be wrapped up in our time on earth, not just in our final destination (be it heaven or hell).
Did you catch that? Salvation (what happens because of Christ) is not about life after death but life here and now.
To a great extent, I agree with him. Here's why:
A few years ago I was reading through the gospel of John, chapter 17. In Jesus' prayer for his disciples, Jesus says "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
I've mentioned it in various posts here and conversations elsewhere, my belief that many of the scriptures pertaining to "eternal life" are not only referencing our life after death, but our life after Christ (salvation)--on earth.
In other words, "eternal life" begins when we "know" God and Jesus. This comes from the gospel of John. My inference about scripture's many references to "eternal life" and their implication for life on earth comes from John as well.
This is simply because I believe we know God and Christ here on earth.
This sounds simple perhaps, but it's loaded with possible theological implications. I haven't dwelt on it too much.
ANYWAY, all this to say, it seems as if this idea that "eternal life" begins HERE and NOW--not after we die--is part of the foundation for Rob Bell's argument in "Love Wins." I don't know that for sure as I haven't read the book.
Of course, the idea that the Salvation of Christ is an earthly salvation does not negate an afterlife in my mind. Yes our sins hold consequences on earth (our own personal hell) and yes there are lovely experiences to be had on earth courtesy of its creator (our personal heavens). However: from what reviewers and pundits have said, Rob Bell's book may be challenging heaven and hell's existence in the afterlife. If indeed he is doing so, I'm sorry to hear it. One would have to remove scripture's status as God's Word in order to achieve this argument(a viable option for Bell, if indeed he wants to take his ministry in this direction). Does this mean that we have flawed conceptions of what heaven and hell are? Sure. I wouldn't be surprised. But Bell is treading on dangerous ground--I hope he is doing this prayerfully.
Unfortunately, it seems that Rob Bell makes his living off of getting rises out of people and creating controversy. I wish there were ways for thinkers like him to get his ideas out there without provoking people.
All that to say, I look forward to reading "Love Wins" though I wish it wasn't such a media sensation . That takes a lot of the value out of these discussions sometimes.
posted by Your humble servant at 11:47 AM
0 comments
